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

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.

Stick (crosse): 40-46" (102-117 cm) for field players (unified men's / women's stick), max 72" for goalie; Ball: standard lacrosse ball (140-149 g, ~6.3 cm diameter), white preferred; Helmet: required for all players (men's-style helmet with full face mask)

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: 70 m × 36 m (~76 × 39 yards) — substantially smaller than traditional men's lacrosse (110 × 60 m) or women's (100 × 55 m); Goal: 1.83 m × 1.83 m (6 ft × 6 ft) — same as field lacrosse; Crease: 2.75 m radius circle around each goal

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...

6 per side: 5 field players + 1 goalkeeper; Roster: 12 players per game (6 on field, 6 substitutes); unlimited substitutions on-the-fly; Officials: 3-person crew (referee + 2 umpires) at international/Olympic level

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...

4 quarters × 8 minutes running time (35 minutes total including breaks); 2-minute breaks between quarters; 5-minute halftime; OT: golden goal sudden-death (4-minute periods)

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.

1 goal = 1 point (ball fully crosses goal line, in-bounds, scored from outside crease); Total game goals decides winner; OT: golden-goal sudden-death

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

Personal foul (slashing, illegal body check, cross-check, etc.): 30-second timed penalty (player serves in penalty box; team plays short); Technical foul (interference, illegal screen, hold, etc.): change-of-possession or 30-second penalty; Crease violation: turnover

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 vs men's field lacrosse — stick checks remain but body checks are heavily restricted. Mandatory helmet + mouthguard + full pad suite.