Lacrosse Sixes vs Lacrosse — Same Game, Different Rules

The official lacrosse ball must be solid rubber. Per World Lacrosse specifications: Circumference: Not less than 19.7 cm (7¾ inches) and not more than 20.3 cm (8 inches); Weight: Not less than 142 g (5 oz) and not more than 149 g (5¼ oz); Color: White, yellow, or orange for men's field; yellow or...

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)

The men's lacrosse field is a rectangular grass or artificial turf surface with the following official dimensions per World Lacrosse Men's Field Rules:

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 consists of ten (10) players on the field at one time: 1 Goalkeeper (GK); 3 Defensemen — primarily positioned in the defensive half; 3 Midfielders — free to play the full field

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

A standard men's field lacrosse game at the international level consists of four (4) quarters of fifteen (15) minutes each, for a total of sixty (60) minutes of playing time. Overtime procedures apply if the score is tied at the end of regulation.

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 ball passes completely through the plane of the goal from front to back, between the goal posts and beneath the crossbar. The entire ball must cross the entire goal line for a goal to count.

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

World Lacrosse rules categorize fouls into two main types: Technical Fouls: Minor violations resulting in loss of possession or a 30-second suspension from the field (served in the penalty box) if the offending team had possession at the time of the foul.; Personal Fouls: More serious violations ...

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

All players must wear the mandatory protective equipment specified in Section 2 before being permitted to take the field. Officials are required to inspect equipment prior to the start of each game.

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.