 |
 |
|
OVERVIEW |
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 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 dieter turf carpet
that is laid down 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 defenseman)
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 (6)
players on the floor, 5 runners and one goalie
Time Format: Four 15-minute quarters; two
minutes between quarters; 12 minute halftime.
Time Outs: Each team may take two 45-second
timeouts per half. A TV game has one timeout per half.
Sudden Death Overtime: Games ending regulation
play with a tie score are decided by a sudden death
overtime period. Play continues until a goal is
scored. More than one overtime period is played if
necessary.
10 Second Violation: Occurs when team on
offense fails to advance the ball past midfield within
10 seconds after taking possession at their end.
Face-Offs: To determine possessions 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 |
|
|
|
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
nine-foot radius with the ball. Shooters or their
teammates can not stand on (or inside) the line or
their goals won't count. Any violation of this rule
will disallow the goal.
Crosscheck: An 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
defense, 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.
Major Penalty: Five minutes in the penalty box
for infractions such as high sticking, boarding, face
masking, fighting and spearing.
Man Down: When a team has one less player on
the floor than their opponent.
Minor Penalty: Two minute penalty for
infractions such as delay of game, elbowing, holding,
illegal crosschecking, 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
or defender that begins the transition from defense to
offense.
Penalty Box: Where a player goes to sit while
serving a two and/or five minute penalty.
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 a team has one or more
players in the penalty box and the opponent is at
full-strength, or has more players on the floor.
Loss of Possession: Illegal screens, 30 second
shot clock violation, 10 second half court violation,
loose ball push, and illegal procedure during faceoffs
are among the acts that can cause a team to lose
possession of the ball. |
|
|
|
PLAY OF THE GAME |
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 non-offending team.
Ejection from Game: Players can be ejected from
a game for several reasons including being the third
man participating in a fight or accumulating two major
penalties in one game.
Slow Whistle (Delayed Penalty): If a defending
player commits a minor 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 of 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 who was in possession prior to the fouls.
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 of a minimum height of 3'
high. 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.
|
|
|
 |
|
