Lacrosse (NCAA Women) vs Lacrosse Sixes — Same Game, Different Rules

, offsides, illegal substitution, empty-stick check, sphere violations) result in a free position taken by the offended team where the foul occurred, with no clock stoppage in most cases.

Minor fouls cover violations not specifically listed as major or expulsion fouls (Rule 7.1.1) and include interference (Rule 7.2.1), holding (Rule 7.2.3), withholding the ball from play (Rule 7.2.4), illegal procedure (Rule 7.2.7), offside (Rule 7...

Cleats are appropriate to the surface. Uniform numerals must be legible and distinct from teammates'; the goalkeeper wears a contrasting color permitting clear identification by officials.

Personal protective equipment — Men's (Rule 2.4.1M): All Men's-discipline Players are required to wear protective gloves and a protective helmet designed for lacrosse, equipped with a facemask and a chinstrap fastened on both sides. Suitable shoes must be worn.

Center circle of approximately 9-meter diameter (varies by published spec) at the center of the field; the draw is taken at the center hash by two opposing midfielders. Up to four other players from each team may stand on the center line outside the draw circle.

Field (Rule 1.1.1): The playing field for all World Lacrosse Sixes events is rectangular, 70 m long and 36 m wide, with out-of-bounds lines measured from the inside edge of the line. For events not recognized or approved by World Lacrosse, field d...

Each team fields 12 players: 1 goalkeeper, 5 defenders (including 3 close defense and 2 midfielders defensively oriented), 1 center, and 5 attackers (including 3 attackers and 2 midfielders offensively oriented). Position assignments are conventio...

Players to begin a game (Rule 3.1.3): A full team is composed of six (6) Players on the field — five (5) field Players and one (1) Goalkeeper. Each team must always have a legally equipped Goalkeeper on the field; if injuries or fouls reduce a tea...

Four 15-minute quarters (NCAA women's lacrosse adopted the quartered format in recent rule cycles, replacing the prior 30-minute half format); 2-minute breaks between Q1/Q2 and Q3/Q4; 10-minute halftime; The team in possession at the end of Q1 keeps the ball to start Q2; same for Q3 → Q4 (this is...

Under Rule 5.1.4, sudden-death golden goal is no longer used. When the score is tied at the end of regulation, play continues with a full three-minute overtime period of stopped time, and the team leading when that period ends is declared the winn...

A goal is scored when the entire ball passes the goal line into the goal, propelled by an attacking player's stick. The official confirms goals on the field; specific goal/no-goal reviewable situations may be reviewed via NCAA video review.

Goal (Rule 6.6.1): A goal is scored when the ball, whether loose or in a Player's possession, completely passes through the plane of the goal. A valid shot on goal requires the Player's stick head to be above the Goal Line Extended when the ball i...

NCAA women's lacrosse uses a card-based discipline framework distinct from the men's penalty-box model.

Minor fouls cover violations not specifically listed as major or expulsion fouls (Rule 7.1.1) and include interference (Rule 7.2.1), holding (Rule 7.2.3), withholding the ball from play (Rule 7.2.4), illegal procedure (Rule 7.2.7), offside (Rule 7...

NCAA women's lacrosse mandates ASTM F3137-compliant women's lacrosse headgear for field players (mandated by the NCAA since 2017) and ASTM F803-compliant eyewear. Mouthpieces are mandatory.

Lacrosse Sixes is designed with reduced-contact rules relative to traditional men's field lacrosse: Rule 8.3.1 makes body-checking of an opponent illegal in any form, and stick-based contact is tightly regulated through the slashing (Rule 8.3.2), ...