LAX 101
Thank you for visiting Lax 101, an introduction to the National Lacrosse League and the great game of professional indoor lacrosse. We hope that you find this section helpful in your introduction to the professional indoor game. The National Lacrosse League is North America's professional indoor lacrosse league, featuring the best lacrosse players in the world. The NLL has eleven teams playing in the major markets of the United States and Canada. NLL teams each play a 16-game regular season schedule (eight home & eight away) that begins in December and runs through April, followed by the Champion's Cup Playoffs. All games are played on the weekends. Professional indoor lacrosse combines the physical play of hockey with the high scoring, fast pace and play-making style of basketball. Indoor lacrosse is played inside the confines of an ice hockey rink, with glass and rink boards intact. The playing surface consists of a green turf carpet that is laid over the hockey ice. The two teams combine to score a total of 25 goals in the average NLL game. Each team has five runners (forwards and defenceman) and a goaltender on the floor during the game. Each team dresses eighteen players (sixteen runners and two goaltenders) per game, and the players rotate on and off the floor in shifts, similar to ice hockey. The game consists of four quarters, each fifteen minutes in length. A game that is tied at the end of regulation is decided in a sudden-death overtime. There are no tie games in professional indoor lacrosse.
NLL RULES
ROSTERS:23- man roster: each team dresses 18 players for games (16 runners and two goalies). A team shall be composed of six players on the floor, who are under contract to the club they represent. TIME FORMAT: Four 15-minute quarters: two minutes between quarters; 12 minute halftime. TIME-OUTS: Each team may take two 45 second time-outs per half. SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Games ending regulation play with a tie score are decided by sudden death overtime periods, five minutes in length. Play continues until a goal is scored. More than one overtime period is played if necessary. 10 - SECOND VIOLATION: Occurs when the team on offence fails to advance the ball past midfield within 10 seconds after taking possession at their end. BACK - COURT VIOLATION A) Teams must keep the ball in their offensive half after gaining possession. If the ball is caused to go into the defensive half of the field (across the centre line) for any reason other than a shot on goal (reference Rule 44 c) Play of the Game, Record Keeping shot on goal for definition) it shall be a back-court violation. B) If the Offending team touches the ball after going back court, the referee shall sound the whistle and award possession to the non-offending team where the violation takes place. C) When the defensive team gains possession in the backcourt the 30 second shot clock shall be reset and play continues. D) When a face-off takes place at centre, the backcourt lines will be the restraining lines. E) Should a player pick up the ball between the centreline and his defensive restraining line following the centre face-off, he may throw it back to his goalie (or any person in his defensive area) F) Should a player pick up a ball over centerline and his offensive restraining line, he may throw the ball back initially to a teammate between the offensive and defensive restraining lines (only during a face-off). Any violations of these procedures will result in the ball being turned over to the opposing team. FACE-OFFS: To determine possession at the start of each quarter and after every goal, two players face their sticks at midfield, with a referee placing the ball between the heads of the sticks. SHOT CLOCK: a 30-second clock begins (counting down) when a team assumes possession of the ball. The offensive team must put a shot on goal during that time or they will lose possession. If they do shoot on goal (without scoring) and recover possession of the ball (via rebound/loose-ball recovery), the clock is reset for a new 30 seconds.
NLL RULES
TERMS OF THE TURF
BODY CHECK: Used to slow an opponent who has the ball: must be above the waist and below the neck. BREAKAWAY: One-on-one (shooter-on-goalie) scoring opportunity. CRADLE: Method used to keep the ball inside the pocket of the stick by rocking it back and forth. CREASE: Only the goalie can stand in this 9' 3'' radius with the ball. Shooters or their teammates cannot stand on (or inside) the line or their goals won't count. Any violation of this rule will disallow the goal. CROSS-CHECK: A defensive strategy using the shaft of the stick to push on an opponent to force a missed or bad shot. HIDDEN BALL PLAY: A player without the ball cradles his stick, drawing the attention of the defence, while a teammate who has the ball passes or shoots on net. LOOSE BALL: Occurs when there is no possession and the ball is bouncing, rolling, or rebounding off the boards or goaltender. LOSS OF POSSESSION: Illegal screens, touching the ball in play, pushing, and illegal procedures are among the acts that can cause a team to lose possession of the ball. MAJOR PENALTY: Five Minutes in the penalty box for infractions such as boarding from the rear, face masking, fighting, and spearing. MAN DOWN: When a team has at least one player in the penalty box. MINOR PENALTY: Two-minute penalty; there are different types, including delay of game, contact from the rear, holding, illegal body checking, slashing, and tripping, for example. OFFENSIVE PICK: The legal interference by an offensive player from a set position on a defensive player who is trying to defend the ball carrier. OUTLET PASS: The first pass from the goaltender that begins the transition from defence to offence. PENALTY BOX: Where a player goes to sit while serving a two-and/or five-minute offence. POWER PLAY: When a team has an extra man advantage because the other team has at least one player in the penalty box. SCREEN SHOT: When the goaltender can't see a shot because someone is in the way. SHORTHANDED: When one team has one or more players in the penalty box and the opponent is at full strength or has on less penalized player on the turf.
THE FIELD & GOALS
THE FIELD & GOALS
Indoor lacrosse is played on a hockey rink covered by an artificial turf playing surface, which is usually referred to as the floor or the carpet (as opposed to the field). There must be boards around the sides at a minimum height of 3'. Dimensions are 200' x 85' but may be altered. Goals are 4' high x 4' 9'' wide. The circle around the goal known as the crease is 9' 3'' in diameter. An offensive player is not allowed to intentionally step into the crease area. The large box around the crease is the offensive/defensive zone. Any penalty called against a defender in this area by an official is accompanied by a raised hand followed by a whistle blown only after the offensive scoring opportunity has ended.
PLAY OF THE GAME
TECHNICAL PENALTIES Technical Penalties are less serious in nature and include all violations of the rules of the game except those specifically listed as minor penalties, bench minor penalties, major penalties, misconduct penalties or match penalties. The penalty timekeeper will record all technical penalties. DELAY OF GAME 1) Failing to be ready for a face-off after a goal, at the start of the quarter or overtime period, or after the expiration of a timeout or after a penalty has been inflicted. 2) Any violation of the rules or position for a face-off PLAYING WITHOUT A STICK If in judgment of the referee the loose stick represents a danger to players on the floor, the referee shall immediately stop play. Play will resume with the team in possession retaining the same and the unexpired time on the shot clock available. If the ball is loose at the time play is suspended, it is faced at the nearest "X" or "O" spot. Players without a stick may participate in the game and may kick a loose ball. ILLEGAL SCREEN / PICK / BLOCK Any violation of Rule 86 is an illegal offensive screen/pick/block MINOR PENALTIES On two minute personal fouls, the penalized player is released from the penalty box if a goal is scored before the expiration of the two minutes. MAJOR PENALTIES On five minute major personal fouls, the penalized player stays in the box for the duration of the penalty, though the offending team returns to full strength if two goals are scored against them during the five minutes. When a second major penalty is imposed on the same player in a game, an automatic game misconduct penalty shall be imposed. USE OF PENALTY SHOT Since a team cannot be more than two men down at a time, if a third penalty is called, the official will award a penalty shot to the unpenalized team. EJECTION FROM GAME Players can be ejected from a game for several reasons, including being the third man in an altercation in which there is a penalty assessed or accumulating three major penalties in one game. SLOW WHISTLE (DELAYED PENALTY) If a defending player commits a personal or major penalty against an opponent in possession of the ball where there is offensive momentum and the opponent doesn't lose possession, the official raises his hand and does not blow the whistle until a shot is taken, the 30-second shot clock expires, or a goal is scored or possession is lost. COINCIDENTAL PENALTIES When each team is given the same amount of penalty time arising out if the same incident, the offending players shall not be released until the expiration of the penalty. Teams do not lose floor strength, and the ball is awarded to the team that was in possession prior to the fouls.
PLAY OF THE GAME
STAT SYMBOL LEGEND
STAT SYMBOL LEGEND
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