How Is Lacrosse Scored?
Goals, Penalty System, Shot Clock, Game Structure & Overtime — A Complete Guide
Last updated: April 6, 2026
In lacrosse, teams score by shooting a rubber ball into a 6×6 foot goal. Each goal is worth 1 point (or 2 points from beyond the arc in PLL). Field lacrosse is played in 4 quarters of 15 minutes with a countdown clock. Box lacrosse uses 3 periods of 20 minutes with a 30-second shot clock. The Olympic Sixes format features 4 quarters of 8 minutes. Penalties create man-up/man-down situations lasting 30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on the severity of the foul.
Basic Scoring: Goals and the 2-Point Arc
The fundamental unit of scoring in lacrosse is the goal. A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line inside the 6×6 foot goal (1.83 × 1.83 meters). Every goal counts as 1 point for the scoring team in standard rules.
The PLL 2-Point Arc
The Premier Lacrosse League introduced a 2-point arc — a line on the field approximately 15 yards from the goal. Goals scored from beyond this arc count as 2 points instead of 1. This innovation, similar to basketball's 3-point line, has added a new strategic dimension to professional lacrosse, rewarding long-range shooters and creating dramatic late-game comebacks. The 2-point arc is currently unique to the PLL and is not used in NCAA, IIHF, or Olympic competition.
Goal Validation
A goal is disallowed if:
- An offensive player is inside the crease (the circular area around the goal) when the ball enters the net
- The ball was propelled by a kick rather than a stick
- The shot was released after the shot clock expired
- An offensive foul occurred during the play
Goals are followed by a face-off at the center of the field, giving both teams an equal chance to win possession. This makes face-off specialists (FOGOs) among the most strategically important players on the roster.
Scoring Statistics
Goal scorers are credited in the official record with the match time. In professional and collegiate lacrosse, assists are also tracked — awarded to the player who made the final pass leading directly to a goal. A player's points total is goals + assists, similar to ice hockey.
Game Structure: Field, Box & Sixes Formats
Lacrosse is played in three major formats, each with a distinct game structure.
Field Lacrosse (Men's 10v10)
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Players | 10 per side (3 attack, 3 midfield, 3 defense, 1 goalie) |
| Quarters | 4 × 15 minutes |
| Clock | Countdown (15:00 → 0:00), resets each quarter |
| Shot clock | 80 seconds (52 seconds after a clear) |
| Field size | 110 × 60 yards |
| Overtime | Sudden-death 4-minute periods |
The clock is a running clock for most of the game, stopping only on whistles in the final two minutes of each half (NCAA rules). In the PLL and international play, the clock stops on every whistle throughout the game.
Box Lacrosse (Indoor 6v6)
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Players | 6 per side (5 runners + 1 goalie) |
| Periods | 3 × 20 minutes |
| Clock | Countdown (20:00 → 0:00) |
| Shot clock | 30 seconds |
| Playing surface | Hockey rink floor (~200 × 85 feet) |
| Overtime | 15-minute sudden death (NLL) or shootout |
Box lacrosse's 30-second shot clock creates relentless offensive pressure. The enclosed space with boards produces a physical, high-scoring game averaging 20+ combined goals per match in the NLL.
Lacrosse Sixes (Olympic Format 6v6)
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Players | 6 per side (5 runners + 1 goalie) |
| Quarters | 4 × 8 minutes |
| Clock | Countdown (8:00 → 0:00) |
| Shot clock | 30 seconds |
| Field size | 70 × 36 meters |
| Overtime | Sudden-death periods |
Sixes was designed by World Lacrosse for the LA 2028 Olympics — compact, fast, and broadcast-friendly. It combines the open-field play of outdoor lacrosse with the pace of the indoor game.
The Penalty System: Man-Up, Man-Down & Releasable Fouls
Lacrosse's penalty system directly affects scoring by creating man-up (extra man offense, EMO) and man-down situations — similar to power plays in ice hockey.
Penalty Types and Durations
| Penalty Type | Duration | Releasable? | Example Fouls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical foul | 30 seconds | Yes | Offsides, pushing, holding, stalling |
| Personal foul (minor) | 1 minute | No | Illegal body check, tripping |
| Personal foul (standard) | 2 minutes | No | Slashing, cross-checking, unnecessary roughness |
| Personal foul (severe) | 3 minutes | No | Unsportsmanlike conduct, flagrant foul |
| Expulsion foul | Ejection | — | Fighting, repeated unsportsmanlike conduct |
Releasable vs. Non-Releasable
The critical distinction in lacrosse penalties:
- Releasable (technical fouls, 30 seconds): The penalty ends immediately if the man-up team scores. The penalized player returns to the field.
- Non-releasable (personal fouls, 1–3 minutes): The penalty is served in full regardless of how many goals the man-up team scores. This means a team can score multiple man-up goals during a single personal foul.
This distinction creates dramatically different strategic situations. A 30-second releasable penalty is a brief opportunity. A 3-minute non-releasable penalty is a devastating disadvantage — the man-down team must survive for the full duration no matter what happens.
Man-Up Conversion
At the elite level, man-up conversion rates of 40–50% are considered strong in field lacrosse. The man-up unit typically employs set plays with ball movement designed to create open shots. Common formations include a 1-3-2 or 2-2-2 setup around the goal.
Simultaneous Penalties
When players from both teams are penalized simultaneously, the penalties offset and both teams remain at full strength. However, if the penalties are of different durations (e.g., 30 seconds vs. 2 minutes), both players serve their time and the team with the longer penalty plays man-down for the remaining differential.
The Shot Clock: Keeping the Action Flowing
The shot clock is one of the most important innovations in modern lacrosse, ensuring continuous offensive action and preventing teams from indefinitely stalling with possession.
Shot Clock Rules by Format
| Format | Shot Clock | Reset Trigger |
|---|---|---|
| NCAA Men's Field | 80 seconds (52 after clear) | Shot hits goal/goalie, change of possession |
| PLL | 52 seconds (after clear) | Shot on goal, change of possession |
| Box Lacrosse (NLL) | 30 seconds | Shot on goal, change of possession |
| Sixes (Olympic) | 30 seconds | Shot on goal, change of possession |
| NCAA Women's Field | 90 seconds | Shot on goal, change of possession |
How the Shot Clock Works
Once a team gains possession, the shot clock begins counting down. The team must produce a shot on goal (a shot that would enter the goal if not saved by the goalkeeper or blocked by a defender) before the clock expires. A shot that hits the goal frame (posts or crossbar) or is saved by the goalkeeper resets the shot clock.
If the shot clock expires without a shot on goal, the offensive team loses possession — a shot clock violation turnover.
The Clear
In field lacrosse, when a team gains possession in their defensive half, they must clear the ball past midfield. The shot clock rules distinguish between a fresh possession (80 seconds in NCAA) and a post-clear possession (52 seconds), reflecting the time needed to transition the ball up the field.
Strategic Impact
The shot clock has transformed lacrosse strategy. Before its introduction, teams with a lead could stall indefinitely, holding the ball and forcing the trailing team to commit fouls. The shot clock ensures that even a team with a lead must continue attacking, creating a more exciting and higher-scoring game for spectators.
Overtime: Breaking Tied Games
When a lacrosse game is tied at the end of regulation, overtime rules vary by competition format.
NCAA Field Lacrosse Overtime
- Format: Sudden-death periods of 4 minutes each
- Face-off: Each overtime period begins with a face-off at center
- Clock: Running clock (stops in final minute)
- Resolution: First team to score wins immediately
- Multiple OT: Periods repeat until a goal is scored
PLL Overtime
- Format: One 12-minute sudden-death overtime period
- If still tied: Second overtime period, then shootout if necessary
- The PLL shootout: Each team selects 3 shooters for alternating 1-on-1 attempts from the 2-point arc against the goalkeeper
Box Lacrosse (NLL) Overtime
- Regular season: One 15-minute sudden-death overtime period, then a mini-game shootout if still tied (each team selects 3 shooters)
- Playoffs: Unlimited 15-minute sudden-death periods (no shootout)
Sixes (Olympic Format) Overtime
- Format: Sudden-death periods
- Face-off start: Standard center face-off
- Resolution: First goal wins
Strategic Considerations
Overtime lacrosse favors teams with strong face-off specialists, since winning the opening possession provides the first scoring opportunity. Coaches typically deploy their best offensive and defensive units, with less rotation. The face-off win percentage in overtime is one of the most predictive statistics for determining the winner.
Common Misconceptions About Lacrosse Scoring
"Every lacrosse format uses the same game structure"
No. The three major formats differ significantly: field lacrosse uses 4 × 15-minute quarters, box lacrosse uses 3 × 20-minute periods, and Olympic Sixes uses 4 × 8-minute quarters. The shot clock also varies: 80 seconds (field), 30 seconds (box and Sixes).
"All lacrosse penalties work the same as hockey penalties"
Not exactly. While the man-up/man-down concept is similar, lacrosse has a critical distinction between releasable (30-second technical fouls that end on a goal) and non-releasable (1–3 minute personal fouls served in full). In hockey, minor penalties always end on a goal; in lacrosse, only technical fouls are releasable.
"The 2-point arc exists in all lacrosse"
No. The 2-point arc is exclusive to the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). NCAA, NLL, World Lacrosse, and Olympic lacrosse all use standard 1-point goals only.
"Face-offs only happen at the start of each quarter"
Face-offs occur at the start of each quarter and after every goal. This makes face-off specialists (FOGOs) critically important — a team that dominates face-offs controls possession and can generate significantly more scoring opportunities over the course of a game.
"Lacrosse has no shot clock"
Modern lacrosse at every competitive level uses a shot clock. The NCAA introduced the shot clock for men's lacrosse in 2019 and for women's in 2023. Box lacrosse has used a 30-second shot clock for decades. The shot clock was one of the most significant rule changes in the sport's modern history, dramatically increasing pace and scoring.
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