Lacrosse is a sport that requires a combination of teamwork, skill, and strategy to play, using a lacrosse stick and ball. It is considered one of the oldest organized sports in North America, dating back to the 12th century when it was played by the Indigenous people of North America.
Through the years, the game has undergone a series of modifications, largely influenced by European colonizers who aimed to make it less violent, leading to its current form that is played at the collegiate and professional levels.
Read on to know everything in detail about the duration of the Lacrosse game and more about it.
An Overview Of Lacrosse Game
Lacrosse games are divided into halves and quarters, and each team gets a timeout. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, both teams will play an extra period.
Quarters
Every lacrosse game is broken up into four parts. Only very young youth divisions, like 8U, won’t use quarters.
Halftime
Halftime is the break between the second and third quarters. The length of halftime can change based on the age group, but most halftimes are 5 minutes long.
Timeouts
The number of timeouts each team gets depends on their age and the league they play in. Most youth and high school teams are allowed 2 timeouts per half. NCAA college lacrosse teams get 2 timeouts per half. Professional lacrosse teams in the Premier Lacrosse League have 3 timeouts per half.
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Overtime
If the game is tied at the end of regulation, both teams will play in overtime. High school and college lacrosse games have sudden death over time. Each team will play for four minutes until a goal is scored.
How Long Is A Lacrosse Game: What’s The Duration
The lacrosse game is generally 60 minutes long. However, the duration of a lacrosse game can vary depending on the level of competition. Though the structure of the game remains the same, the total time of the game and the rules for overtime may differ.
The game is divided into four quarters, each lasting 15 minutes with a 10-minute break after half-time and a 2-minute break between each quarter.
The duration of the lacrosse game can be extended due to timeouts, which can take up to 78 minutes in total.
| SKILL LEVEL | QUARTERS | AVERAGE TIME |
| Youth | 4×8 minute quarter | 50 minutes without overtime |
| High school | 4×12 minute quarters | 65 minutes without overtime |
| College | 4×15 minute quarter | 78 minutes without overtime |
| Major league | 4×12 minute quarter | 65 minutes without overtime |
| Minor league | 4×12 minute quarter | 65 minutes without overtime |
The clock stops at certain points in the game, such as when the ball goes out of bounds or when a penalty is called. In addition to the time on the clock, each team is also given a certain number of timeouts that they can use during the game. These timeouts can be used to stop the clock and make strategy adjustments.
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How To Play The Lacrosse Game?
In lacrosse, two teams of 10 players each take to the field, with each player armed with a crosse. The object of the game is to use the crosse to catch, carry, and pass the ball in order to score goals against the opposing team. Each team has a goaltender who is responsible for blocking shots on goal.
The field of play is typically 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. At each end of the field is a goal, which is 6 feet by 6 feet.