Men’s field lacrosse is played with 10 players on the field per team during regulation play. Each player has a defined role that contributes to both offensive and defensive execution.
A standard on-field lineup in men’s field lacrosse includes:
Each of these positions requires different skills and equipment, which shapes team dynamics during gameplay.
While only 10 are active on the field, a full men’s lacrosse roster usually includes 20 to 30 players. This depth allows teams to manage substitutions, rest players, and cover unexpected injuries. Coaches also carry specialized athletes like:
FOGOs (Face-Off, Get Off) – Midfielders focused solely on face-offs.
LSMs (Long Stick Midfielders) – Defensive midfielders using longer shafts for extra reach and ground ball control.
Larger rosters give teams flexibility across all phases of the game, from transition to settled offense and man-down defense.
Unlike many sports, men’s lacrosse features on-the-fly substitutions, especially for midfielders. Players can sub in and out mid-play as long as they enter through the designated box. Because of the sport’s pace and physical demands, midfield rotations happen often, sometimes every 45 to 60 seconds.
This rotation system is why teams need more than just 10 capable players. Depth isn’t just about injuries, it’s essential for keeping energy high and matchups balanced throughout the game.
Women’s field lacrosse includes 12 players per team on the field—two more than the men’s game. The slightly larger team structure reflects both the flow of the women’s format and the positioning strategy across a full-size field.
A standard women’s lineup includes:
The extra two midfielders compared to the men’s format allow for broader field coverage and more support during fast breaks and clears.
Like the men’s game, women’s lacrosse rosters usually carry 20 to 30 players, even though only 12 are active at any given time. Coaches rely on rotations to manage pace and maintain intensity.
However, the substitution rules differ. Subbing in women’s lacrosse happens during stoppages, rather than on-the-fly. This means players tend to stay on longer, making conditioning and endurance even more important, especially for midfielders.
Carrying a deeper bench gives teams the flexibility to adjust lineups by match situation, opponent strengths, or fatigue levels during tournament play.
The most noticeable differences between women’s and men’s lacrosse involve contact rules and equipment. Women’s field lacrosse restricts body checking and uses far less protective gear, typically just goggles, a mouthguard, and gloves. As a result, the game emphasizes positioning, stick skills, and field spacing.
With less gear and more open space, the women's format often appears faster and more fluid, especially in transition. Players rely more on speed and anticipation than sheer physicality.
While field lacrosse emphasizes spacing and long sprints, box lacrosse shifts the action indoors to a smaller, enclosed playing surface, usually a converted hockey rink. The format is faster, tighter, and more physical.
Each team fields 6 players at a time, 5 runners and 1 goalie. The runners aren’t locked into fixed positions the way they are in field lacrosse. Instead, they rotate between offense and defense in a fluid, high-tempo style. Most teams deploy:
2 forwards
2 transition players
1 defenseman
1 goalie
The goalie uses a larger stick and wears heavily padded gear, including leg guards, chest protection, and an angled helmet with a throat guard. Unlike field lacrosse, where long poles help define roles, all runners in box lacrosse use short sticks.
Due to the rapid pace and hard shifts, box lacrosse teams usually carry 15 to 20 players on the bench. Players substitute in shifts, much like hockey, typically in full offensive or defensive lines. Some rotate every 30 to 45 seconds to keep up with the constant pressure and contact.
Teams rely on deep benches for stamina and strategic matchups, especially during penalty kills or power plays. Managing those shifts becomes just as important as the plays themselves.
Youth lacrosse doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all format. Instead, the number of players on the field adjusts by age group, focusing on skill development first, then gradually introducing complexity. Team sizes and rules scale with each level to match the physical and cognitive stages of young athletes.
At the youngest levels, teams typically play 3v3 or 4v4, often without goalies. These formats reduce confusion and encourage more ball touches for every player. The goal here isn’t competition, it’s confidence, coordination, and basic stick skills.
Coaches often use small fields or divide a regulation field into quarters. With fewer players and simplified rules, kids can stay engaged while learning how to pass, scoop, and shoot in a supportive setting.
As players get older, the format gradually shifts to reflect more traditional lacrosse structure:
10U and 12U: May play 7v7 or 8v8, depending on the league. Many programs still use smaller fields and relaxed rules to prioritize learning.
14U: Often transitions to full 10-player teams, with formal positions, substitutions, and penalties introduced.
As team sizes grow, so do roster sizes. By middle school, most programs maintain benches with 15–20 players, supporting full gameplay with room for rotation and development.
Girls’ youth lacrosse tends to follow a similar progression. Early age groups often use small-sided formats, like 4v4 or 6v6, to simplify spacing and promote stick skills.
By middle school, most girls’ programs moved to 12-player full-field play, reflecting the standard structure of the women’s game. However, some leagues may still modify field size or rules depending on player maturity and coaching style.
What’s important isn’t just how many kids are on the field, but why formats change. Smaller team sizes at younger levels allow more meaningful engagement, better coaching attention, and a safer environment for learning the game’s foundations.
Lacrosse participation continues to climb across every age and skill level. According to the 2023 US Lacrosse Participation Report, over 1.5 million people played lacrosse in the U.S. in 2022, including more than 850,000 youth players under age 18.¹
That growth isn’t limited to just recreational leagues. Club programs, collegiate teams, and professional leagues are expanding, with new teams joining the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) and National Lacrosse League (NLL) in recent years. Internationally, lacrosse is gaining traction as a developing Olympic sport, further accelerating the global player base.
More schools are offering lacrosse as a varsity sport. More families are introducing kids to the game. And more adult leagues, both men’s and women’s, are emerging across the country. Whether it’s indoor box lacrosse, traditional field play, or short-sided youth games, the sport’s footprint is getting larger, and more accessible.
The number of players needed to play lacrosse depends entirely on the format and age group. Some youth teams start with 3v3 to help kids learn the game, while adult field lacrosse may require 10 to 12 players on the field at once. Box lacrosse condenses the action with just six per side, while girls’ youth leagues typically expand toward full-field play by middle school.
If you’re just getting started, choose the format that matches your goals and experience level. Casual? Try a smaller pickup game. Looking to join a league? Check your local club’s team size rules.
And when it’s time to gear up, explore beginner gear and team packs at lacrosseballstore.com. You’ll find everything you need to get started—whether you're coaching mini-laxers, building a box squad, or prepping for a full-field game.
