Sidelines and endlines: Mark the boundaries. When a ball or player goes out of bounds, the opposing team takes possession. Following a shot, the player closest to spot where the ball went out of bounds has possession. Therefore, a teammate should always be in a position to back up a shot.
Goal: Points are scored when the ball passes through this six-foot by six-foot square.
Crease: Circle surrounding the goal that the offense cannot enter. Players can reach into the crease with their stick to gain possession of a loose ball, but cannot touch the goalie. Crease violations result in a penalty.
Attack area/defense clearing area: The offense has 10 seconds to move into this area after crossing the midfield line. Once the defense has possession of the ball, it has 10 seconds to advance out of this area. Also, attackers and defenders must remain in these areas during the face-off.
Penalty box: Used as a holding area for players to wait out their penalties. It is also the access area for substitute players entering and exiting the field for on-the-fly substitutions.
Wing area: Two of the three midfielders must remain in the wing area until the face-off starts.
Body check: Contact from the front that is permitted between the shoulders and waist when an opponent has possession or is within five yards of a loose ball.
Clamp: Quickly covering the ball with the backside of the head of the stick during a face-off.
Clearing: Transferring the ball from the defensive half of the field across the midfield line.
Cradle: Running with the stick in either one or both hands in a manner that keeps the ball in the pocket.
Cutting: When an attacker runs toward the goal to receive a pass and take a clear shot.
Face-off: A player from each team stands face-to-face with their sticks on the ground along the centerline. The official places the ball between the two stick heads and blows the whistle. The two players then attempt to gain control of the ball using their sticks. Typical face-off moves include the clamp and rake. If a penalty is called before or during a face-off, possession goes to the opposing team.
Fake: To make a throwing motion with the stick just before shooting it to deceive the goalie.
Fast break: When the offense exploits an unsettled defense with a quick transition downfield. Many goals are scored this way.
Feed: Passing the ball to a player to create a scoring opportunity.
Ground ball: A loose ball that is on the ground. Players scoop the ball with the stick to pick it up.
Illegal body check: A late hit, or contact from behind, above the shoulders, or below the waist.
Interference: Limiting the free movement of an opponent who does not have possession of the ball and is not within five yards of a loose ball.
Isolation: Offensive players clear out of the way to allow an opening for a teammate to drive towards the goal with the ball.
Loose ball: Ball not controlled by a player (e.g. on the ground or in the air).
Man-down: When the defense is at a disadvantage due to a penalty. Also called penalty kill.
Man-to-man defense: Each player guards one specific player. Each defenseman matches up with an attacker, and each midfielder matches up with an opposing midfielder.
Man-up: When the offense has an advantage following a penalty. Also called a power play.
Offsides: Violation called when a team has fewer than four players on its defensive side of the field, or fewer than three players on its attacking side.
On-the-fly: Substituting during play. When one player exits the field through the penalty box, another can enter.
Pick: Attackers or middies stand in a position to block the path of a teammate’s defender to create space for the teammate to receive a pass.
Pushing: Illegal shoving of an opponent from behind.
Rake: Face-off move in which a player sweeps the ball to the side for a teammate to pick up.
Release: When a penalized player re-enters the game.
Riding: Attempting to prevent a team from clearing the ball.
Scoop: Picking up a ground ball in the crosse pocket.
Screen: Offensive player stands outside the crease in front of the goalie to block the goalie’s view.
Slashing: Illegal stick check to the body of a player that results in a personal foul.
Slow whistle: Permitting play to continue during a penalty until the offense loses possession of the ball to allow an offense to maintain its advantage.
Stalling: Intentionally holding the ball without advancing toward the goal.
Stick check: Defenders attempt to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s stick by executing a poke check or a slap check.
Tripping: Impeding an opponent at or below the waist and causing him to fall.
Unnecessary roughness: Excessively violent and usually calculated contact to the opposition.
Unsportsmanlike conduct: Physical or verbal actions considered to be abusive, obscene, or threatening by a game official.
Warding off: While in possession of the ball, using a free hand to control an opponent’s stick or body.
Yard Sale: An old-school lacrosse term for when a player or his stick is checked hard enough to make him drop it.
Zone defense: Strategy in which players defend a specific part of the field, close to the goal, instead of guarding a single opponent.