Important Lacrosse Terminology to Know
- Attack Goal Area: The area defined by a line drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from the face of the goal. Once the offensive team crosses the midfield line, it has ten seconds to move the ball into its attack goal area.
- Body Check: Contact with an opponent from the front - between the shoulders and waist - when the opponent has the ball or is within five yards of a loose ball.
- Box: An area used to hold players who have been served with penalties, and through which substitutions ""on the fly"" are permitted directly from the sideline onto the field.
- Check-up: A call given by the goalie to tell each defender to find his man and call out his number.
- Clamp: A face-off maneuver executed by quickly pushing the back of the stick on top of the ball.
- Clearing: Running or passing the ball from the defensive half of the field to the attack goal area.
- Crease: A circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter.
- Defensive Clearing Area: The area defined by a line drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from the face of the goal. Once the defensive team gains possession of the ball in this area, it has ten seconds to move the ball across the midfield line.
- Extra man Offense (EMO): A man advantage that results from a time-serving penalty.
- Face-Off: A technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. The players squat down and the ball is placed between their crosses.
- Fast-Break: A transition scoring opportunity in which the offense has at least a one-man advantage.
- Free Lance: A style of play on offense when no play or set offense is being used. Offensive players move freely by cutting and feeding for an opportunity to score.
- Ground Ball: A loose ball on the playing field.
- Handle (Shaft): An aluminum, wooden or composite pole connected to the head of the crosse.
- Head: The plastic or wood part of the stick connected to the handle.
- Man Down Defense (MDD): The situation that results from a time-serving penalty which causes the defense to play with at least a one man disadvantage.
- Midfield Line: The line which bisects the field of play.
- On-The-Fly Substitution: A substitution made during play.
- Pick: An offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender guarding another offensive player.
- Rake: A face-off move in which a player sweeps the ball to the side.
- Riding: The act of trying to prevent a team from clearing the ball.
- Release: The term used by an official to notify a penalized player in the box that he may re-enter the game.
- Unsettled Situation: Any situation in which the defense is not positioned correctly, usually due to a loose ball or broken clear.