MEN'S lacrosse is a contact game played by 10 players: 1 goalie, 3 defensemen, 3 midfielders, and 3 attackmen. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.
Each team must keep at least 4 players, including the goalie, in its defensive half of the field and 3 players in the offensive half. The 3 midfielders may roam the entire field.
Collegiate games are 60 minutes long, broken down into 4, 15 minute quarters.
Teams change ends between quarters. Each team is permitted 3 timeouts, only two in a half.
Each team's players take their positions with 4 players in the defensive clearing area, 1 player at the center, 1 player in each wing area, and 3 players in their attack clearing area.
The game begins with a face off. The ball is placed between the sticks of the 2 face-off men at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to start play. Each face-off player tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can move; the other players can maneuver around in their respective areas, but must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball or the ball crosses into either goal area. Generally, face-offs are used after a goal and at the start of each quarter. They always take place at the center line.
Players can run with the ball in their crosse [stick] for as long as they want, or they can pass the ball to a teammate.
A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from the opponent's stick with a stick check, which includes the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball.
Body checking is permitted if the opponent has the ball or is within 5 yards of the ball. However, all contact must occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An opponent's stick may also be stick checked if it is within 5 yards of a loose ball or a ball in the air.
Unlike any other sport, after an unsuccessful shot, if the ball goes out of bounds, the ball is awarded to the player closest to the ball when and where the ball goes out of bounds.
Attacking players may not enter the crease [circle] around the goal, but can reach in with their sticks to scoop the ball.
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