NCAA men’s field lacrosse is played with 10 players per team over four 15-minute quarters, with teams using sticks to carry, pass and shoot the ball into the opponent’s goal. The game includes faceoffs, an 80-second possession clock, offside rules, legal checking and a protected crease around each goal.

Women’s field lacrosse is a separate version of the sport. NCAA women play with 12 players, use draws instead of men’s faceoffs, have a 90-second possession clock and follow different checking and penalty rules.

What Are The Basic Rules Of Field Lacrosse?

In NCAA men’s field lacrosse, two 10-player teams try to score by shooting the ball into the opponent’s goal while defending their own. Games have four 15-minute quarters and are played on a 110-by-60-yard field with 6-by-6-foot goals.

Players can carry the ball in their sticks, pass to teammates and shoot. Once a team gains possession, it must advance the ball and create a scoring opportunity within the possession-clock rules.

How Does A Faceoff Work In Field Lacrosse?

NCAA men’s field lacrosse uses a faceoff at midfield to start each standard period and restart play after most goals. A faceoff is a contest between opposing players to determine which team gains possession.

Overtime periods also begin with a faceoff.

Not every version of field lacrosse uses faceoffs. NCAA women’s lacrosse uses a draw to start and restart play.

How Does The Shot Clock Work In Field Lacrosse?

NCAA men’s field lacrosse uses an 80-second possession clock that begins when a team gains possession or possession changes.

The offense must advance the ball across midfield while 60 seconds remain on the clock, effectively giving the team 20 seconds to clear the ball from the defensive half.

Once the offense is established in the attacking half, a qualifying retained shot can reset the possession clock to 60 seconds.

That means describing NCAA men’s lacrosse as simply having a “60-second shot clock” is inaccurate.

What Is Clearing In Lacrosse?

Clearing is the process of moving the ball from the defensive end of the field into the offensive end.

In NCAA men’s lacrosse, a team effectively has the first 20 seconds of its 80-second possession clock to advance the ball across midfield.

For a new fan, the easiest way to recognize a clear is to watch what happens after the goalie or defense gains possession. Instead of immediately attacking the goal, the team first must successfully move the ball into its offensive half.

What Is Offside In Field Lacrosse?

Offside in NCAA men’s field lacrosse occurs when a team fails to maintain the required distribution of players on each side of midfield.

The rule prevents every player from simply chasing the ball from one end of the field to the other. It also helps create the familiar structure of attackmen primarily operating offensively, defensemen primarily playing near their own goal and midfielders working between the two ends.

NCAA women’s lacrosse uses its own restraining-line rules rather than the same men's offside formula.

What Is The Crease In Field Lacrosse?

The crease is the protected area surrounding the goal where the goalkeeper receives special privileges and attacking players face restrictions.

In NCAA men’s lacrosse, the crease has a 9-foot radius. A goalkeeper possessing the ball in the crease must move it out within four seconds.

Attackers cannot simply occupy the crease, but that does not mean every instance of an attacker entering it is automatically illegal. NCAA men’s rules allow certain diving or jumping shots when the shooter follows the applicable goalmouth and crease-contact rules.

What Happens When A Shot Goes Out Of Bounds?

In NCAA men’s field lacrosse, a shot or deflected shot that goes out of bounds can be awarded to the team whose inbounds player is nearest the ball when it becomes out of bounds.

This is commonly known as “backing up” a shot and explains why an offensive player may sprint behind the goal as a teammate shoots.

The rule does not mean the closest player receives possession every time the ball goes out. It specifically applies to a shot or deflected shot and includes other qualifications. 

Is Checking Allowed In Field Lacrosse?

NCAA men’s field lacrosse allows stick checking and defined forms of body checking, but physical contact must follow specific rules.

Legal body checks generally must be delivered against an eligible opponent from a permitted direction and within the permitted area of the body. Cross-checking, slashing, tripping and illegal body checks are personal fouls.

NCAA women’s field lacrosse does not use the same body-checking framework. The women’s game instead allows controlled stick checks and has its own safety rules.

How Do Substitutions Work In Field Lacrosse?

NCAA men’s field lacrosse allows players to substitute while play continues through the designated substitution area, as well as during certain dead-ball situations.

That allows teams to use specialists for different situations. A faceoff specialist may leave after taking a faceoff, while offensive and defensive midfield groups can change depending on possession.

Other common specialists include the long-stick midfielder and short-stick defensive midfielder. These are strategic roles rather than additional required positions.

How Do Penalties Work In Field Lacrosse?

NCAA men’s field lacrosse broadly separates fouls into technical fouls and more serious personal fouls.

Some technical fouls result in a turnover, while others can require penalty time depending on possession and the situation. Personal fouls generally require a player to serve penalty time.

A time-serving penalty can create a man-up and man-down situation, meaning one team temporarily has more active players than the other.

How Is Women’s Field Lacrosse Different?

Women’s field lacrosse is a separate version of the sport with its own rules rather than simply men’s field lacrosse without body checking.

NCAA women’s lacrosse uses 12 players instead of 10, draws instead of men’s faceoffs and a 90-second possession clock. It also has different restraining-line rules, an 8½-foot goal circle, controlled stick checking and its own foul and penalty system.

Both versions share the same basic objective of scoring goals, but understanding their rules separately is important when learning how field lacrosse works.

Frequently Asked Questions About FloLacrosse

What Do You Get With A FloLacrosse Subscription?

A FloLacrosse subscription combines live lacrosse with replays and year-round coverage of the sport.

The NLL gives subscribers a season-long professional box lacrosse property to follow, while FloLacrosse also carries additional college, high school and event programming. Beyond streaming, fans can use FloLacrosse for rankings, recruiting coverage, scores, schedules, highlights, interviews, news and analysis, creating a destination for following lacrosse rather than simply finding a stream on game day.

What Can You Watch On FloLacrosse?

FloLacrosse subscribers can watch professional lacrosse through the National Lacrosse League, along with additional college, high school and event coverage available on the platform.

The NLL significantly expands that offering by providing a professional league fans can follow across an entire season. FloLacrosse's broader schedule also features field and box lacrosse at multiple levels, though specific event availability can vary by competition and streaming rights.

Can You Watch The NLL On FloLacrosse?

Yes. The National Lacrosse League streams on FloLacrosse as part of FloSports' partnership with the NLL.

That makes professional box lacrosse one of the biggest reasons for lacrosse fans to consider a subscription. Fans can follow NLL teams, players and games throughout the season while using FloLacrosse's broader coverage to keep up with the league and the sport.

Can You Watch Lacrosse Live And On Demand On FloLacrosse?

Yes. FloLacrosse provides live streams and on-demand replays for supported lacrosse programming.

That gives fans flexibility to watch games live or return to available broadcasts afterward. Subscribers also can watch through supported FloSports apps and connected devices, making it easier to follow lacrosse throughout a busy weekend or season.

Does FloLacrosse Have Scores, Schedules And Results?

Yes. FloLacrosse provides schedules, scores, results and other competition information alongside its video and editorial coverage.

These resources help fans track upcoming games and completed events while following leagues, teams and tournaments throughout the season.

Is A FloLacrosse Subscription Worth It?

FloLacrosse provides the most value to fans who want to follow lacrosse across multiple levels. The addition of the NLL strengthens that offering with season-long professional box lacrosse, while college, high school, recruiting and event coverage provides additional ways to follow the sport. Live games, replays, rankings, scores, recruiting coverage and original reporting extend the platform's usefulness beyond individual broadcasts.

How Do I Sign Up For FloLacrosse?

Fans interested in subscribing can visit the official FloLacrosse signup page to see current subscription options and sign up for access to available NLL games and other live and on-demand lacrosse programming.

What do you get with a FloLacrosse subscription?

Subscribers get supported live lacrosse and replays, including NLL coverage, plus rankings, recruiting coverage, schedules, scores, results, highlights, news and analysis.

Can you watch the NLL on FloLacrosse?

Yes. FloSports is an NLL streaming partner, giving FloLacrosse subscribers access to National Lacrosse League coverage as part of the platform's professional lacrosse offering.

What lacrosse can you watch on FloLacrosse?

FloLacrosse features professional box lacrosse through the NLL along with currently available college, high school and other lacrosse competitions.

Can you watch FloLacrosse on demand?

Yes. Supported games and events are available for replay, allowing subscribers to catch up on lacrosse they could not watch live.