Man-up in lacrosse is a situation in which one team has more active players than its opponent because an opposing player is serving penalty time. The advantaged team can use extra-man offense, or EMO, to create scoring opportunities.

The team serving the penalty is considered man-down. These situations are important in NCAA men's lacrosse and have a close equivalent in NLL box lacrosse, where the advantage commonly is called a power play.

What Does Man-Up Mean In Lacrosse?

Man-up means a lacrosse team has a temporary numerical advantage because an opposing player is serving a penalty.

During normal even-strength play, both teams have the same number of active players. A time-serving penalty can change that balance, allowing one team to attack with more players than its opponent.

Man-up is not a player position or a guarantee of scoring.

What Is Extra-Man Offense In Lacrosse?

Extra-man offense, commonly abbreviated EMO, is the offense used by a lacrosse team when it has a numerical player advantage.

The attacking team attempts to use that advantage to create opportunities to score.

Moving the ball and looking for a shooting opportunity are central objectives. The extra player gives the offense a numerical advantage, although the defending team can still prevent a goal.

How Does A Team Get A Man-Up Opportunity In Lacrosse?

A team gets a man-up opportunity when an opponent commits a foul that requires a player to serve penalty time, creating unequal numbers of active players.

In NCAA men's lacrosse, personal fouls are time-serving penalties.

Technical fouls are handled differently. Depending on possession and the circumstances, a technical foul can result in a turnover or a 30-second time-serving penalty.

Not every foul creates a man-up opportunity.

What Is The Difference Between Man-Up And Man-Down In Lacrosse?

Man-up describes the team with the numerical advantage, while man-down describes the team playing with fewer active players because of a penalty.

The terms represent opposite sides of the same situation.

The man-up team tries to create scoring opportunities. The man-down team attempts to defend until the applicable penalty ends.

How Long Does A Man-Up Opportunity Last In Lacrosse?

The length of a man-up opportunity depends on the penalty assessed and whether that penalty is releasable or nonreleasable.

NCAA men's lacrosse uses different penalty durations depending on the violation.

A time-serving technical foul can carry a 30-second penalty, while personal fouls can involve longer penalty time.

The advantage also may end before the full penalty duration if the penalty is releasable and the applicable scoring condition is satisfied.

What Is A Releasable Penalty In Lacrosse?

A releasable penalty is a penalty that may end early when the applicable scoring condition is satisfied.

During man-up play, this means a goal by the advantaged team may cause the penalized player to be released before the full penalty time expires.

The result depends on the specific penalty and governing rules.

What Is A Nonreleasable Penalty In Lacrosse?

A nonreleasable penalty must be served for its full duration even if the opposing team scores.

Unlike a releasable penalty, scoring does not automatically end the required penalty time.

This can allow the advantaged team to continue playing man-up after scoring, subject to the applicable rules.

What Happens If A Team Scores During A Man-Up Opportunity?

What happens after a man-up goal depends on whether the penalty is releasable or nonreleasable.

A qualifying goal may end a releasable penalty early, allowing the penalized player to return.

A nonreleasable penalty continues for its required duration even if the opponent scores.

Therefore, a goal during a man-up opportunity does not always restore even-strength play.

What Is A Man-Up Goal In Lacrosse?

A man-up goal is a goal scored while the scoring team has a numerical player advantage because of an opponent's penalty.

It differs from an even-strength goal because the scoring team has more active players at the time.

A goal scored after the relevant penalty has expired should not automatically be described as a man-up goal.

How Does Man-Up Offense Work In NCAA Men's Lacrosse?

NCAA men's extra-man offense occurs when a time-serving penalty gives the attacking team more active players than its opponent.

NCAA men's lacrosse normally has 10 players per team on the field, including a goalkeeper.

Penalty situations temporarily change the number of active players available to the teams.

The advantaged offense attempts to use that numerical difference to create a scoring opportunity.

Is Man-Up Different In Women's Lacrosse?

Yes. NCAA women's lacrosse has its own foul and penalty administration system rather than using the same rules as NCAA men's lacrosse.

Women's lacrosse uses green, yellow and red cards, along with different categories of fouls.

A green card can involve a one-minute releasable penalty. A yellow card can involve a two-minute penalty, with releasable or nonreleasable treatment depending on the foul.

Time-serving penalties can affect the number of active players, but not every foul creates a player advantage.

What Is A Power Play In NLL Box Lacrosse?

An NLL power play occurs when one team has more active players because an opponent is serving penalty time.

The concept resembles man-up play in field lacrosse, although the NLL uses a separate penalty system.

NLL penalty categories include two-minute minor penalties, five-minute major penalties and 10-minute misconduct penalties.

Not every penalty category automatically creates the same numerical advantage.

What Is The Difference Between Man-Up And A Power Play?

Man-up and power play both describe numerical player advantages, but the terminology and rules differ across lacrosse formats.

Extra-man offense is common terminology in NCAA men's field lacrosse, while power play is familiar in the NLL.

Both involve attacking with more active players, but their penalty durations and scoring consequences are governed by different rules.

Why Is Man-Up Offense Important In Lacrosse?

Man-up offense is important because it gives a team an opportunity to attack with more active players than its opponent.

The advantage can create scoring opportunities and make penalty decisions particularly significant.

Understanding man-up, man-down and the difference between releasable and nonreleasable penalties helps fans recognize why teams change their approach after a penalty is assessed.

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.