Glossary:Men's Lacrosse Glossary
Published: January 6, 2012
Updated: February 1, 2012, 7:56 am
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
A stick (slang) a player's preferred stick.
adjacent man the player to the immediate right or the left of the ball.
adjacent slide a slide made by the defensive player who is directly adjacent to a teammate covering the player in possession of the ball.
advancing the ball the requirement that a team in possession of the ball must press forward towards the goal. In high school, (1) a team gaining possession of the ball in the defensive half of the field must advance the ball beyond the center line within 20 seconds, and (2) a team in possession of the ball must advance the ball into the goal area within 10 seconds of crossing the center line. In college, a team gaining possession of the ball must advance the ball into the attack area within 30 seconds. In both instances, failure to advance results in a turnover. Thus, failure to advance.
Air Gait a move invented by lacrosse legend Gary Gait while in college at Syracuse University (1987-1990). Gait would jump from behind the crease and score a goal in mid-air by dunking the ball one-handed over the crossbar, landing on the opposite side of the crease. The move was later banned in youth, high school, and college lacrosse. 
all even a term called out by players and coaches indicating that a penalized player is returning to the field of play.
All-America an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans." The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) annually selects men's lacrosse All-Americans, distinguished by first team, second team, third team, and honorable mention. US Lacrosse, the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse, annually selects national boys' and girls' high school All-Americans.
alley the area between the side of the restraining box and the sideline.
alligator arms (slang) not fully extending the arms to catch or throw a pass, or to shoot, giving the appearance of tiny alligator arms.
all right (slang) a term for a player who has a significantly dominant right hand. Thus, all left.
ankle breaker (slang) an extremely quick dodge that leaves the defender going the wrong way.
around the world (slang) a shot or pass in which the stick is wrapped around the body such that the shot or pass comes over the shoulder opposite that of the shooting or passing hand.
assist a pass to a player that directly results in a goal. For an assist to be awarded, the scoring player must not take any action that beats a defender other than the goalkeeper. An assist cannot be credited to any player other than the one who had the ball immediately before the player credited with the goal.
attack the player position in the game that is stationed in the offensive end and is responsible for offense primarily. Thus, attackers, attackman.
attack area (defensive area) the area around each goal defined by (1) a line 40 yards long, centered on goal, and parallel to and 20 yards from the goal line, and (2) additional lines drawn at right angles to the terminal points of these lines to connect them with the end lines. The box thus formed at each end of the field is designated as the defensive area and the attack area, respectively. Also known as the restraining box because during the faceoff the, attack and defensive players must remain in that box on the side of the field they are playing on during that quarter until the referee signals that one team has gained possession of the ball. In high school, goal area. 
B
B stick a player's back-up stick; an extra stick. Also, backup. Compare A stick.
back right from the perspective of the goalkeeper facing the center line, the region behind and to the right of the the goal. Thus, back left. Also, right behind, left behind.
backbreaker (slang) a trick shot where the stick is held by both hands above the head and the ball is shot behind the back and between the legs.
back door moving behind a defender to receive a feed so as to create a scoring opportunity. Thus, back door cut.
backhand to pass or shoot the ball in a backhanded manner.
backup 1. an offensive player positioned close to the end line and ready to run full speed toward the line to secure possession of the ball on a missed shot. The player closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds retains possession. 2. a player's extra or B stick
bag (slang) the pocket of a lacrosse stick, usually a very deep one.
Baggataway Ojibwe word for lacrosse baaga'adowe (derived from an Algonquian verb meaning "to hit with [something]"), and more particularly the Midwestern/Great Lakes variant of the game.
bait the act by a goalkeeper of appearing to leave an area of the goal face unprotected, thereby encouraging the offensive player to choose a shot that the goalkeeper can anticipate. Thus, baiting the shooter.
ball 1. a white, yellow, orange or lime green smooth or slightly textured solid rubber ball, between 7-3/4 and 8 inches in circumference, between 5 and 5-1/4 ounces in weight and, when dropped from a height of 72 inches upon a concrete floor, bounces 43 to 51 inches at a temperature of 65 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. a term called by a player pursuing a ground ball to inform his teammates that his intent is to scoop the ball, as opposed to blocking an opponent from scooping the ball.
baller (slang) an extremely good lacrosse player.
ball carrier the player in possession of the ball.
ball dog (slang) a dog that chases balls for you after you shoot.
ball down call made by players when the ball is on the ground.
ball hunt (slang) players in the tall grass or woods behind the goal looking for balls.
ball stop the small piece of foam or rubber that is used at the base of the stick head to soften the surface and lessen the bounce off the plastic. Also, stop, stopper.
behind (slang) the area behind the goal.
behind the back any shot or pass that travels behind the player making the shot or pass.
between the legs any shot or pass that travels between the legs of the player making the shot or pass.
big eye on man; little eye on ball a defensive expression meaning to pay attention to both the player you are guarding man and the player with possession of ball, but most of your attention to your man (two looks) compared to the ball (one look). Attributed to Johns Hopkins great Fred B. Smith.
blind-sided the act of a player being checked, usually a body check, when he is not expecting it.
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. At no time should a player initiate or receive body contact with his head.
body save a save by the goalkeeper or a defender with their body instead of the stick.
bomb (slang) see Gilman.
bounce shot a shot on goal that is targeted downward and bounces before the goal line.
box 1. the restraining box. 2. the designated area on the sideline through which substitutions on the fly must occur (table area (high school), special substitution area (college)). 3. the designated area on the sideline where penalties are served (table area (high school), special substitution area (college)).
boxla (slang) box lacrosse.
box lacrosse the indoor version of the game originating in Canada. It is played between two teams of six players each, and is traditionally played on an ice hockey rink once the ice has been removed or covered.
Brave Heart (slang) a fun alternative to overtime played in some lacrosse summer and charity tournaments where two players from each team take the field, a goalkeeper and a midfielder. The two midfielders faceoff and go one on one full field until one scores.
break another term for fast break.
broken to be scored on directly off of the faceoff.
bucket (slang) a really deep pocket or good goalkeeper pocket.
buddy pass (slang) a pass that is lobbed high and/or slowly through the air such that the recipient is blind sidedby defenders as he receives it.
bull dodge an attempt to move past a defender by protecting the stick by holding it in the outside hand behind the body, and by dropping the bottom hand from the stick. Positioning the stick so your player's body is between the defender and the ball, the player runs past the defender, extending the free arm to absorb the impact of the defender's stick.
bullet (slang) 1. the ball 2. a pass or shot thrown with high velocviot the end of a stick opposite the head. Also, butt end.
butt the end of a stick opposite the head. Also, butt end.
butt cap the cap that covers the butt end of the stick, usually plastic, but can also be made from tape wrapped around the shaft. Also, end cap.
C
cage (slang) the goal.
cannon (slang) 1. the ball. 2. an extremely fast shot.
catching the act of receiving a pass or shot in one’s stick.
center behind from the perspective of the goalkeeper facing the center line, the region directly behind the goal. Also, X-behind.
center line a bold white or contrasting-colored line marked through the center of the field perpendicular to the sidelines; the line that bisects the field of play. Also, midfield line.
cheap it (cheap the ball) (slang) See Gilman.
change planes 1. when running with the ball, the act of moving towards and away from a defender in a zig-zag pattern, as opposed to running in a straight line ; 2. when shooting, the act of starting high and shooting low, or vice versa.
check 1. an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick using one's stick or body. Thus, stick check, body check. 2. the act of attempting to dislodge the ball in either of these ways.
check-up a call given by the goalkeeper to tell each defender to find his man and to call out his number. Also, check-in.
clamp the act of securing the ball during a faceoff by pinning the ball between the pocket / head of the stick and the ground.
clear an attempt by a team to move the ball from its defensive half of the field to its offensive half.
coaches area area that extends from the table area (high school) or special substitution area (college) 20 yards parallel to the sideline; it extends 6 yards from the sideline, is bounded by the table area (high school) or special substitution area (college), and is demarcated by a dotted line.
copter (slang) See helicopter check.
cradle The fluid side to side motion of the stick in order to maintain possession of the ball using its own gravity and inertia while running.
crank (slang) a hard shot accentuated by an extended wind up by a stationary shooter or full extension of the shot by a sprinting shooter.
crease a circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter. However, defensive players may not carry the ball into the crease.
crease dive see dive.
crease man the offensive player who plays the crease position. Also, crease attackman.
crease slide a slide that originates from the crease area.
crease shot a shot taken close (5 yards) to the crease.
crossbar the rigid top bar of the goal that connects the two vertical posts.
cross crease pass a pass from a player on one side of the crease to another player, also on the crease, often resulting in resulting in a quick stick shot attempt
crosse traditional name for the equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball. The wooden sticks used in early lacrosse games looked much like the crosier (la crosse) used by bishops in religious ceremonies. The modern crosse has an overall fixed length of either 40 to 42 inches (short crosse) or 52 to 72 inches (long crosse), except for the goalkeeper’s crosse, which is 40 to 72 inches long. There are other dimensions and specifications that vary across the youth, high school and college games. Also, stick.
cross check with both hands on the shaft of the stick, hitting a player with the section of the shaft between the hands. Illegal in field lacrosse but legal in box lacrosse.
cutting a movement by an offensive player without the ball, toward the goal, in anticipation of a pass and subsequent shot. Thus, cut, cutter.
D
D (slang) defense or the group of defensive players.
D-up (slang) to identify and engage a player defensively.
D-pole (slang) 1. the stick used by a defenseman. 2. a defenseman
dead ball a suspension in play indicated when an official's whistle blows due to a goal being scored, the ball going out of bounds, a time out being called, a foul occurring, or some other rules violation occurring.
de-stick to check a player in way that causes him to lose possession of the ball and his stick.
deuce (slang) a Major League Lacrosse (MLL) two-point goal.
defense the player position that is responsible for defense primarily, and are positioned in the defensive end near their goal. Thus, defender, defenseman. Also, pole, D-pole.
defensive half the side of the center line where a team is defending its goal to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
dinger (slang) a hard shot that scores, usually hitting a high corner.
dip and dunk (slang) a fake performed by a player in possession of the ball who is close to the goal. The fake is low making the goalkeeper drop, then the shooter finishes up high.
dish (slang) 1. an assist; 2. the act of feeding a ball to a shooter.
dive the act of player in possession of the ball diving into the crease while shooting; this move was elimianted by the NCAA prior to the 1999 season to protect the safety of the goalkeeper. The dive subsequently was prohibited in high school and youth lacrosse. It is legal at the professional level. Also, crease dive.
dodge 1. a calculated attempt by an offensive player in possession of the ball to elude a defender in an attempt to shoot, feed a teammate, or to advance towards the goal. 2. the act of dodging.
dominant hand a favored top hand on the stick.
double 1. when two defensive players collapse on an offensive player to take the ball or prevent that player from receiving the ball. 2. to join a single defender in the pursuit/coverage of an opposing player so that two players are defending against him. Also, double-team.
double crease when two offfensive players are playing the crease position at the same time.
draw an outdated term for the faceoff in the men's game.
draw and dump drawing a teammate's defender from them, then passing the ball back to the now open teammate so that he can shoot.
drown (slang) a failed swim dodge.
dunk (slang) to shoot with authority from very close to the goal.
E
east-west the sideline to sideline direction of movement by the ball or a player. Thus, east-west dodge.
egg hunt (slang) see ball hunt.
ejection disqualification from the game due to an especially severe foul or flagrant misconduct. Also, expulsion
elevator (slang) an underhand shot in which the ball starts low and finishes high.
end cap see butt cap.
end line the line bordering the field along one of its shorter dimensions; area beyond this line is out of bounds.
extension extending the arms away from the body when taking a shot as a means to increase the power behind the shot.
expulsion see ejection.
extra man offense (EMO) 1. the situation that results from a time-serving penalty that enables the offense to play with a least a one man advantage. 2. the group of players that practices together and has specific plans for scoring a goal with one or more players from the opposing team out of the game with a time-serving penalty. Compare man down defense.
F
4 hole (four hole) 1. the area of the goal face on the goalkeeper's upper left side. 2. a shot that scores in this region.
5 hole (five hole) 1. the area of the goal face between the goalkeeper's legs 2. a shot that scores in this region.
face dodge a move by an attacking player with the ball in which the player cradles the ball with the stick across their face in order to run by a defender.
fake the use of one's stick or body in an attempt to deceive a defender or the goalkeeper. Thus, stick fake.
faceoff a technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. One player from each team squats down in the middle of the field and the ball is placed between their sticks. When the whistle sounds, players fight for the possession of the ball by directing it to a teammate or by scooping it.
fast break a transition scoring opportunity in which the offense has at least a one-man advantage; often occurs when a team gains possession in its defensive area from a goalkeeper save or a turnover and then rapidly advances the ball into the attack area, or after winning a faceoff. The offense uses the extra man to split the defense so that the ball coming quickly down the field can find an easy path from undefended player to undefended player until a very high percentage shot is taken.
Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) organization established in 2008 in a merger of both the men's and women's international lacrosse associations, with responsibility for the Men's World Lacrosse Championship, World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, Women's Lacrosse World Cup, and both the Men's and Women's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships. These events are held every four years.
feed an offensive play where one player passes the ball to a cutting teammate for a shot on goal. Also, feed pass.
field a men's lacrosse field is 110 yards (100 Meters) long and 60 yards (54 meters) wide; the long sides of the field are designated sidelines; the short sides are designated end lines; he field has 3 main sections: the attack area (college) or goal area (high school), and the defensive area (college and high school) which are at each end of the field and are 35 yards (30 meters) wide, and the wing area in the middle of the field which is 40 yards (36 meters) wide.
field player any player other than the goalkeeper.
Final Four the NCAA national semi-finals and championship games in men's college lacrosse held every year on Memorial Day.
finalizer an offensive move performed on the run behind the goal; the player in possession of ball changes direction with a roll dodge, and then then quickly changes direction again with a split dodge, dropping his stick low and beneath the stick of his defender. Popularized by Syracuse great Ryan Powell, who said the name derived from the time he used the move to score a winning goal in overtime versus Virginia.
five and five the area five yards to the side of the goal and five yards upfield from the goal line extended; an offensive ball carrier who reaches this point is a threat to shoot or feed.
flip a short, underhand pass.
flag see penalty flag.
flag down 1. verbal signal made by an official in a situation where a flag has been dropped due to a defending player commting a foul against an attacking player when an atacking player has possession of the ball. The whistle is withheld until: the a goal is scored by the attacking team; the ball goes out of bounds; a player on the defending team gains possession of the ball. the ball moves from inside the attack area to outside the attack area; the attacking team commits a foul; the ball touches the ground outside the attack area; the attacking team requests a team timeout; the period ends; or, a player loses any of the required equipment in a scrimmage area, or a player is injured in a scrimmage area, and the official is required under the rules to blow the whistle. 2. call made by players and coaches to indicate such a situation. Also, slow whistle.
FOGO acronym for "faceoff, get off", describing a player who is only on the field during the faceoff. The term most often refers to a player involved in the actual faceoff, but can also apply to a player on the wings.
foot save the act of preventing a shot from entering the goal by blocking it with your foot.
foul 1. a call by the referee that punishes a rules infraction and awards either penalty time or a turnover of possession. 2. to act outside of the rules.
foul out the act of player being disqualified from a game for accumulating 5 personal fouls.
free play a possession to restart game in which a player is awarded the ball, with no player allowed to position himself closer than 5 yards to that player.
frozen rope (slang) an extremely fast shot.
full strength describing a team that has no players serving penalty time.
G
get it in/keep it in hand signals and calls made by an official in the college game warning a team in possession of the ball that it must (1) move the ball into the attack area, and (2) keep it in the attack area. Failure to do either results in a turnover. The "get it in" warning is used when the ball is outside the attack area. An official signals and verbally announces “get it in.” The team in possession must advance the ball into the attack area within 10 seconds and keep it in the attack area. The "keep it in” warning is used when the ball is inside the attack area. An official signals and verbally announces “keep it in,” after which the team in possession must keep the ball in the attack area. Get it in/keep it in” situations are (1) under two minutes remaining in the game when the game is not tied; (2) when the ball leaves the offensive half of the field through actions of the offensive team; (3) when a game official has determined that the team in possession of the ball is stalling.
Gilman (clear) (slang) the goalkeeper or other defensive player throws the ball as far as possible towards their opponent’s goal from their defensive end. Allegedly named for Gilman School, a private preparatory school for boys located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland that is a perennial lacrosse powerhouse. Thus, Gilman the ball. Also, bomb, cheap it.
goal 1. a structure consisting of two vertical posts joined by a rigid top crossbar. These posts are 6 feet apart, and the top crossbar is 6 feet from the ground, thus forming an opening or goal mouth that is 6 feet wide and 6 feet high (inside measurements). Goals are constructed of 1-1/2 inch (outside diameter 1.90 inches) metal pipe and are painted orange at the youth, high school and college levels; goals are centered between the sidelines and placed 15 yards from each end line. 2. A goal is scored when a loose ball passes from the front, completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edges of the goal line, the goal posts and the crossbar of the goal, regardless of who supplied the impetus.
goalkeeper player position directly responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring a goal. Normally plays in the crease directly in front of the goal, and uses a larger stick head to block shots. Also, goalie, keeper.
goal area See attack area.
goal face the open front of the goal.
goal line a line drawn between the goal posts to indicate the plane of the goal.
goal line extended an imaginary line that extends from the goal line to each sideline.
goal plane term for the goal face extended, the imaginary plane of the goal extended to the sidelines.
ground ball 1. a loose ball on the playing field. 2. A loose ball that has been scooped from the playing field and brought into possession by a player.
H
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 used to catch, throw and shoot.
helicopter check a stick checked out of one's hands so that it flies into the air spinning like a helicopter rotor. Also, copter check. Watch the video.
I
Indian pick-up (slang) a method of picking up a ball by rolling the top inside of the scoop over the ball, starting it moving in that direction, while turning the head under the ball quickly to collect it in one motion. So named because the early Iroquois versions or the Huron, Cherokee and Choctaw versions of the game featured sticks with no scoops. Also, Baltimore Crab.
J
K
keeper see goalkeeper.
keep it in see get it in/keep it in.
L
loose ball a ball not in player possession.
M
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of seven teams in the United States and one team in Canada.
man down defense (MDD) 1. the situation that results from a time-serving penalty which causes the defense to play with a least a one man disadvantage. 2. the group of players that practices together and has specific plans for defending the goal with one or more players out of the game with a time-serving penalty. Compare extra man offense.
Men's World Lacrosse Championship the world championship for international men's field lacrosse that is held every four years. The 2010 championships featured twenty-nine competing nations. The United States has nine victories and Canada the other two.
midfield player position that covers the whole field, and thus requires offensive and defensive skill. Each team has three on the field and they start the game and face offs at the midfield line.
midfielder a person who plays the midfield position. Also, middie.
midfield line see center line.
Mount Washington Lacrosse Club an amateur field lacrosse club based in Baltimore, Maryland that was one the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history
N
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) an association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
north-south the end line to end line direction of movement by the ball or a player. Thus, north-south dodge.
O
offensive half the side of the midfield line where a team is attempting to shoot the ball into the opposing team’s goal.
offside a technical foul assessed when a team (1) has fewer than three men in its attack half of the field, or (2) fewer than four men in its defensive half of the field.
on the fly a substitution made during play that must occur through a designated area on the sideline called the table area (high school) or the special substitution area (college).
out of bounds (1) when a player with the ball in his possession steps on or outside a boundary line, or any part of his body or crosse touches the ground or any object on or outside a boundary line (2) when a loose ball touches a boundary line, the ground or any object outside a boundary line (including a player who is out of bounds), or when a shot crosses the plane of the end line or sideline (when determining which player is closest only).
overhead check an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick in which the defender reaches his stick over his opponent's head and checks down, pointing his stick's butt end toward the sky.
P
pass the movement of the ball caused by a player in possession throwing the ball to a teammate.
penalty flag a yellow cloth, usually wrapped around a weight, such as sand or beans so it can be thrown accurately over greater distances, that the referee throws this into the air on a penalty that does not stop action. Also, flag.
personal foul an infraction of the rules that is of a serious nature, including illegal body checking, slashing, cross-checking, tripping, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct and the use of an illegal crosse or other illegal equipment. The penalty for a personal foul is suspension from the game of the offending player for one, two or three minutes, depending on the official’s judgment of the severity and perceived intent of the personal foul. The ball is given to the team fouled.
pick an offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender guarding another offensive player. Also, screen
play on If a player commits a loose-ball technical foul or crease violation and an offended player may be disadvantaged by the immediate suspension of play, the official shall visually and verbally signal "play on" and withhold the whistle until such time as the situation of advantage, gained or lost, has been completed.
pocket the strung part of the head of the stick that catches, holds and directs the ball when passing or shooting.
poke check an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick in which the defender simply stabs the head of his stick into the hands of the offensive player, with the movement similar to using a spear or sword.
possession (of the ball) when a player can perform any of the normal functions of control, such as carrying, cradling, passing or shooting.
Q
R
roll dodge an offensive move in which the ball carrier plants a foot in front of the defender and, using his body as a shield, spins around the defender, usually switching the stick from one hand to another as he rolls.
S
save 1. the act of a goalkeeper stopping a shot on goal with his stick or his body. 2. to stop a shot on goal.
screen see pick.
scrimmage area
shooting the act of taking a shot.
shot a ball thrown with the stick towards the goal in an attempt to score.
sideline the line bordering the field along one of its longer dimensions; area beyond this line is out of bounds.
slap check an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick in which the defender slaps his stick against the stick of the opposing player in an attempt to knock the ball loose.
slide the act of a defensive player leaving the player he is covering to cover another player as a means to counter an offensive threat.
slow whistle see flag down.
special substitution area in the college game, the 10 yard wide, 6 yard deep area directly in front of the scorer's table and between the coaches areas that serves multiple purposes: (1) on the fly substitutions must be made through this area; (2) time-serving penalties are served here; (3) players intending to substitute on the next dead ball situation wait here. In high school this area is called the table area.
split dodge an offensive move in which the ball carrier, running in one direction, plants a foot and quickly changes direction, switching the stick from one hand to another as he "splits."
stalling the situation in which the team in possession keeps the ball from play by not attacking the goal; a technical foul that results in the defensive team being awarded the ball; see get it in/keep it in
stick modern name for the equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball (traditonal name is crosse). Sticks have an overall fixed length of either 40 to 42 inches (short short) or 52 to 72 inches (long stick), except for the goalkeeper’s crosse, which is 40 to 72 inches long. There are additional dimensions and specifications that vary across the youth, high school and college games.
stick fake see fake.
substitution the act of one player replacing another on the field of play; must be done through the table area (high school) or the special substitution area (college) when play is still on (on the fly).
swim dodge a type of dodge in which the player in possession of the ball drops his bottom hand from the stick and then swings his entire stick up and over the stick or the entire body of the defender as he runs past the defender. The motion is similar to the freestyle, a type of swimming stroke. Also, swim move.
T
table area in high school, the 10 yard wide, 6 yard deep area directly in front of the scorer's table and between the coaches areas that serves multiple purposes: (1) on the fly substitutions must be made through this area; (2) time-serving penalties are served here; (3) players intending to substitute on the next dead ball situation wait here. In college this area is called the special substitution area.
transition when a team changes from playing offense to playing defense, or vice versa, due to a change in possession of the ball
turnover when the opposing team gains possession of the ball from the team originally in possession of the ball. This can result from the ball being checked from a player's stick, an errant pass, a player with the ball making mistakes such as stepping out of bounds or throwing the ball out of bounds, or by someone on the team with possession of the ball being called for a foul or another rules violation.
two-point goal in Major League Lacrosse, a score receives two points if the shooter is behind a 16 yard arc drawn around each goal. The shooter must have both feet behind the line before shooting the ball in order for a 2-point goal to be scored.
U
Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships (U-19's) events held separately for men and women about every 4 years to determine the world champions for the under-19 age group in lacrosse. They were first held for men in 1988 and first held for women in 1995. The United States has dominated both the men's and women's events.
underhand shot a type of shot in which the head of the stick starts below the waist of the shooter.
upfield 1. from the perspective of the team in possession of the ball, the general area of the field that is closer to the goal it is attacking relative to the current scrimmage area.
V
W
Women's Lacrosse World Cup the recognized world championship of international women's lacrosse that is held every four years. The United States has won 6 championships; Australia has won 2 championships.
World Indoor Lacrosse Championship the world championship for international men's box lacrosse that is held every four years. Canada has won the tournament all three times it has been held and has not lost a single game.
X
X-behind see center behind.
Y
Z
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The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
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A
A stick (slang) a player's preferred stick.
adjacent man the player to the immediate right or the left of the ball.
adjacent slide a slide made by the defensive player who is directly adjacent to a teammate covering the player in possession of the ball.
advancing the ball the requirement that a team in possession of the ball must press forward towards the goal. In high school, (1) a team gaining possession of the ball in the defensive half of the field must advance the ball beyond the center line within 20 seconds, and (2) a team in possession of the ball must advance the ball into the goal area within 10 seconds of crossing the center line. In college, a team gaining possession of the ball must advance the ball into the attack area within 30 seconds. In both instances, failure to advance results in a turnover. Thus, failure to advance.
Air Gait a move invented by lacrosse legend Gary Gait while in college at Syracuse University (1987-1990). Gait would jump from behind the crease and score a goal in mid-air by dunking the ball one-handed over the crossbar, landing on the opposite side of the crease. The move was later banned in youth, high school, and college lacrosse.
all even a term called out by players and coaches indicating that a penalized player is returning to the field of play.
All-America an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans." The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) annually selects men's lacrosse All-Americans, distinguished by first team, second team, third team, and honorable mention. US Lacrosse, the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse, annually selects national boys' and girls' high school All-Americans.
alley the area between the side of the restraining box and the sideline.
alligator arms (slang) not fully extending the arms to catch or throw a pass, or to shoot, giving the appearance of tiny alligator arms.
all right (slang) a term for a player who has a significantly dominant right hand. Thus, all left.
ankle breaker (slang) an extremely quick dodge that leaves the defender going the wrong way.
around the world (slang) a shot or pass in which the stick is wrapped around the body such that the shot or pass comes over the shoulder opposite that of the shooting or passing hand.
assist a pass to a player that directly results in a goal. For an assist to be awarded, the scoring player must not take any action that beats a defender other than the goalkeeper. An assist cannot be credited to any player other than the one who had the ball immediately before the player credited with the goal.
attack the player position in the game that is stationed in the offensive end and is responsible for offense primarily. Thus, attackers, attackman.
attack area (defensive area) the area around each goal defined by (1) a line 40 yards long, centered on goal, and parallel to and 20 yards from the goal line, and (2) additional lines drawn at right angles to the terminal points of these lines to connect them with the end lines. The box thus formed at each end of the field is designated as the defensive area and the attack area, respectively. Also known as the restraining box because during the faceoff the, attack and defensive players must remain in that box on the side of the field they are playing on during that quarter until the referee signals that one team has gained possession of the ball. In high school, goal area.
B
B stick a player's back-up stick; an extra stick. Also, backup. Compare A stick.
back right from the perspective of the goalkeeper facing the center line, the region behind and to the right of the the goal. Thus, back left. Also, right behind, left behind.
backbreaker (slang) a trick shot where the stick is held by both hands above the head and the ball is shot behind the back and between the legs.
back door moving behind a defender to receive a feed so as to create a scoring opportunity. Thus, back door cut.
backhand to pass or shoot the ball in a backhanded manner.
backup 1. an offensive player positioned close to the end line and ready to run full speed toward the line to secure possession of the ball on a missed shot. The player closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds retains possession. 2. a player's extra or B stick
bag (slang) the pocket of a lacrosse stick, usually a very deep one.
Baggataway Ojibwe word for lacrosse baaga'adowe (derived from an Algonquian verb meaning "to hit with [something]"), and more particularly the Midwestern/Great Lakes variant of the game.
bait the act by a goalkeeper of appearing to leave an area of the goal face unprotected, thereby encouraging the offensive player to choose a shot that the goalkeeper can anticipate. Thus, baiting the shooter.
ball 1. a white, yellow, orange or lime green smooth or slightly textured solid rubber ball, between 7-3/4 and 8 inches in circumference, between 5 and 5-1/4 ounces in weight and, when dropped from a height of 72 inches upon a concrete floor, bounces 43 to 51 inches at a temperature of 65 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. a term called by a player pursuing a ground ball to inform his teammates that his intent is to scoop the ball, as opposed to blocking an opponent from scooping the ball.
baller (slang) an extremely good lacrosse player.
ball carrier the player in possession of the ball.
ball dog (slang) a dog that chases balls for you after you shoot.
ball down call made by players when the ball is on the ground.
ball hunt (slang) players in the tall grass or woods behind the goal looking for balls.
ball stop the small piece of foam or rubber that is used at the base of the stick head to soften the surface and lessen the bounce off the plastic. Also, stop, stopper.
behind (slang) the area behind the goal.
behind the back any shot or pass that travels behind the player making the shot or pass.
between the legs any shot or pass that travels between the legs of the player making the shot or pass.
big eye on man; little eye on ball a defensive expression meaning to pay attention to both the player you are guarding man and the player with possession of ball, but most of your attention to your man (two looks) compared to the ball (one look). Attributed to Johns Hopkins great Fred B. Smith.
blind-sided the act of a player being checked, usually a body check, when he is not expecting it.
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. At no time should a player initiate or receive body contact with his head.
body save a save by the goalkeeper or a defender with their body instead of the stick.
bomb (slang) see Gilman.
bounce shot a shot on goal that is targeted downward and bounces before the goal line.
box 1. the restraining box. 2. the designated area on the sideline through which substitutions on the fly must occur (table area (high school), special substitution area (college)). 3. the designated area on the sideline where penalties are served (table area (high school), special substitution area (college)).
boxla (slang) box lacrosse.
box lacrosse the indoor version of the game originating in Canada. It is played between two teams of six players each, and is traditionally played on an ice hockey rink once the ice has been removed or covered.
Brave Heart (slang) a fun alternative to overtime played in some lacrosse summer and charity tournaments where two players from each team take the field, a goalkeeper and a midfielder. The two midfielders faceoff and go one on one full field until one scores.
break another term for fast break.
broken to be scored on directly off of the faceoff.
bucket (slang) a really deep pocket or good goalkeeper pocket.
buddy pass (slang) a pass that is lobbed high and/or slowly through the air such that the recipient is blind sidedby defenders as he receives it.
bull dodge an attempt to move past a defender by protecting the stick by holding it in the outside hand behind the body, and by dropping the bottom hand from the stick. Positioning the stick so your player's body is between the defender and the ball, the player runs past the defender, extending the free arm to absorb the impact of the defender's stick.
bullet (slang) 1. the ball 2. a pass or shot thrown with high velocviot the end of a stick opposite the head. Also, butt end.
butt the end of a stick opposite the head. Also, butt end.
butt cap the cap that covers the butt end of the stick, usually plastic, but can also be made from tape wrapped around the shaft. Also, end cap.
C
cage (slang) the goal.
cannon (slang) 1. the ball. 2. an extremely fast shot.
catching the act of receiving a pass or shot in one’s stick.
center behind from the perspective of the goalkeeper facing the center line, the region directly behind the goal. Also, X-behind.
center line a bold white or contrasting-colored line marked through the center of the field perpendicular to the sidelines; the line that bisects the field of play. Also, midfield line.
cheap it (cheap the ball) (slang) See Gilman.
change planes 1. when running with the ball, the act of moving towards and away from a defender in a zig-zag pattern, as opposed to running in a straight line ; 2. when shooting, the act of starting high and shooting low, or vice versa.
check 1. an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick using one's stick or body. Thus, stick check, body check. 2. the act of attempting to dislodge the ball in either of these ways.
check-up a call given by the goalkeeper to tell each defender to find his man and to call out his number. Also, check-in.
clamp the act of securing the ball during a faceoff by pinning the ball between the pocket / head of the stick and the ground.
clear an attempt by a team to move the ball from its defensive half of the field to its offensive half.
coaches area area that extends from the table area (high school) or special substitution area (college) 20 yards parallel to the sideline; it extends 6 yards from the sideline, is bounded by the table area (high school) or special substitution area (college), and is demarcated by a dotted line.
copter (slang) See helicopter check.
cradle The fluid side to side motion of the stick in order to maintain possession of the ball using its own gravity and inertia while running.
crank (slang) a hard shot accentuated by an extended wind up by a stationary shooter or full extension of the shot by a sprinting shooter.
crease a circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter. However, defensive players may not carry the ball into the crease.
crease dive see dive.
crease man the offensive player who plays the crease position. Also, crease attackman.
crease slide a slide that originates from the crease area.
crease shot a shot taken close (5 yards) to the crease.
crossbar the rigid top bar of the goal that connects the two vertical posts.
cross crease pass a pass from a player on one side of the crease to another player, also on the crease, often resulting in resulting in a quick stick shot attempt
crosse traditional name for the equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball. The wooden sticks used in early lacrosse games looked much like the crosier (la crosse) used by bishops in religious ceremonies. The modern crosse has an overall fixed length of either 40 to 42 inches (short crosse) or 52 to 72 inches (long crosse), except for the goalkeeper’s crosse, which is 40 to 72 inches long. There are other dimensions and specifications that vary across the youth, high school and college games. Also, stick.
cross check with both hands on the shaft of the stick, hitting a player with the section of the shaft between the hands. Illegal in field lacrosse but legal in box lacrosse.
cutting a movement by an offensive player without the ball, toward the goal, in anticipation of a pass and subsequent shot. Thus, cut, cutter.
D
D (slang) defense or the group of defensive players.
D-up (slang) to identify and engage a player defensively.
D-pole (slang) 1. the stick used by a defenseman. 2. a defenseman
dead ball a suspension in play indicated when an official's whistle blows due to a goal being scored, the ball going out of bounds, a time out being called, a foul occurring, or some other rules violation occurring.
de-stick to check a player in way that causes him to lose possession of the ball and his stick.
deuce (slang) a Major League Lacrosse (MLL) two-point goal.
defense the player position that is responsible for defense primarily, and are positioned in the defensive end near their goal. Thus, defender, defenseman. Also, pole, D-pole.
defensive half the side of the center line where a team is defending its goal to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
dinger (slang) a hard shot that scores, usually hitting a high corner.
dip and dunk (slang) a fake performed by a player in possession of the ball who is close to the goal. The fake is low making the goalkeeper drop, then the shooter finishes up high.
dish (slang) 1. an assist; 2. the act of feeding a ball to a shooter.
dive the act of player in possession of the ball diving into the crease while shooting; this move was elimianted by the NCAA prior to the 1999 season to protect the safety of the goalkeeper. The dive subsequently was prohibited in high school and youth lacrosse. It is legal at the professional level. Also, crease dive.
dodge 1. a calculated attempt by an offensive player in possession of the ball to elude a defender in an attempt to shoot, feed a teammate, or to advance towards the goal. 2. the act of dodging.
dominant hand a favored top hand on the stick.
double 1. when two defensive players collapse on an offensive player to take the ball or prevent that player from receiving the ball. 2. to join a single defender in the pursuit/coverage of an opposing player so that two players are defending against him. Also, double-team.
double crease when two offfensive players are playing the crease position at the same time.
draw an outdated term for the faceoff in the men's game.
draw and dump drawing a teammate's defender from them, then passing the ball back to the now open teammate so that he can shoot.
drown (slang) a failed swim dodge.
dunk (slang) to shoot with authority from very close to the goal.
E
east-west the sideline to sideline direction of movement by the ball or a player. Thus, east-west dodge.
egg hunt (slang) see ball hunt.
ejection disqualification from the game due to an especially severe foul or flagrant misconduct. Also, expulsion
elevator (slang) an underhand shot in which the ball starts low and finishes high.
end cap see butt cap.
end line the line bordering the field along one of its shorter dimensions; area beyond this line is out of bounds.
extension extending the arms away from the body when taking a shot as a means to increase the power behind the shot.
expulsion see ejection.
extra man offense (EMO) 1. the situation that results from a time-serving penalty that enables the offense to play with a least a one man advantage. 2. the group of players that practices together and has specific plans for scoring a goal with one or more players from the opposing team out of the game with a time-serving penalty. Compare man down defense.
F
4 hole (four hole) 1. the area of the goal face on the goalkeeper's upper left side. 2. a shot that scores in this region.
5 hole (five hole) 1. the area of the goal face between the goalkeeper's legs 2. a shot that scores in this region.
face dodge a move by an attacking player with the ball in which the player cradles the ball with the stick across their face in order to run by a defender.
fake the use of one's stick or body in an attempt to deceive a defender or the goalkeeper. Thus, stick fake.
faceoff a technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. One player from each team squats down in the middle of the field and the ball is placed between their sticks. When the whistle sounds, players fight for the possession of the ball by directing it to a teammate or by scooping it.
fast break a transition scoring opportunity in which the offense has at least a one-man advantage; often occurs when a team gains possession in its defensive area from a goalkeeper save or a turnover and then rapidly advances the ball into the attack area, or after winning a faceoff. The offense uses the extra man to split the defense so that the ball coming quickly down the field can find an easy path from undefended player to undefended player until a very high percentage shot is taken.
Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) organization established in 2008 in a merger of both the men's and women's international lacrosse associations, with responsibility for the Men's World Lacrosse Championship, World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, Women's Lacrosse World Cup, and both the Men's and Women's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships. These events are held every four years.
feed an offensive play where one player passes the ball to a cutting teammate for a shot on goal. Also, feed pass.
field a men's lacrosse field is 110 yards (100 Meters) long and 60 yards (54 meters) wide; the long sides of the field are designated sidelines; the short sides are designated end lines; he field has 3 main sections: the attack area (college) or goal area (high school), and the defensive area (college and high school) which are at each end of the field and are 35 yards (30 meters) wide, and the wing area in the middle of the field which is 40 yards (36 meters) wide.
field player any player other than the goalkeeper.
Final Four the NCAA national semi-finals and championship games in men's college lacrosse held every year on Memorial Day.
finalizer an offensive move performed on the run behind the goal; the player in possession of ball changes direction with a roll dodge, and then then quickly changes direction again with a split dodge, dropping his stick low and beneath the stick of his defender. Popularized by Syracuse great Ryan Powell, who said the name derived from the time he used the move to score a winning goal in overtime versus Virginia.
five and five the area five yards to the side of the goal and five yards upfield from the goal line extended; an offensive ball carrier who reaches this point is a threat to shoot or feed.
flip a short, underhand pass.
flag see penalty flag.
flag down 1. verbal signal made by an official in a situation where a flag has been dropped due to a defending player commting a foul against an attacking player when an atacking player has possession of the ball. The whistle is withheld until: the a goal is scored by the attacking team; the ball goes out of bounds; a player on the defending team gains possession of the ball. the ball moves from inside the attack area to outside the attack area; the attacking team commits a foul; the ball touches the ground outside the attack area; the attacking team requests a team timeout; the period ends; or, a player loses any of the required equipment in a scrimmage area, or a player is injured in a scrimmage area, and the official is required under the rules to blow the whistle. 2. call made by players and coaches to indicate such a situation. Also, slow whistle.
FOGO acronym for "faceoff, get off", describing a player who is only on the field during the faceoff. The term most often refers to a player involved in the actual faceoff, but can also apply to a player on the wings.
foot save the act of preventing a shot from entering the goal by blocking it with your foot.
foul 1. a call by the referee that punishes a rules infraction and awards either penalty time or a turnover of possession. 2. to act outside of the rules.
foul out the act of player being disqualified from a game for accumulating 5 personal fouls.
free play a possession to restart game in which a player is awarded the ball, with no player allowed to position himself closer than 5 yards to that player.
frozen rope (slang) an extremely fast shot.
full strength describing a team that has no players serving penalty time.
G
get it in/keep it in hand signals and calls made by an official in the college game warning a team in possession of the ball that it must (1) move the ball into the attack area, and (2) keep it in the attack area. Failure to do either results in a turnover. The "get it in" warning is used when the ball is outside the attack area. An official signals and verbally announces “get it in.” The team in possession must advance the ball into the attack area within 10 seconds and keep it in the attack area. The "keep it in” warning is used when the ball is inside the attack area. An official signals and verbally announces “keep it in,” after which the team in possession must keep the ball in the attack area. Get it in/keep it in” situations are (1) under two minutes remaining in the game when the game is not tied; (2) when the ball leaves the offensive half of the field through actions of the offensive team; (3) when a game official has determined that the team in possession of the ball is stalling.
Gilman (clear) (slang) the goalkeeper or other defensive player throws the ball as far as possible towards their opponent’s goal from their defensive end. Allegedly named for Gilman School, a private preparatory school for boys located in the Roland Park neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland that is a perennial lacrosse powerhouse. Thus, Gilman the ball. Also, bomb, cheap it.
goal 1. a structure consisting of two vertical posts joined by a rigid top crossbar. These posts are 6 feet apart, and the top crossbar is 6 feet from the ground, thus forming an opening or goal mouth that is 6 feet wide and 6 feet high (inside measurements). Goals are constructed of 1-1/2 inch (outside diameter 1.90 inches) metal pipe and are painted orange at the youth, high school and college levels; goals are centered between the sidelines and placed 15 yards from each end line. 2. A goal is scored when a loose ball passes from the front, completely through the imaginary plane formed by the rear edges of the goal line, the goal posts and the crossbar of the goal, regardless of who supplied the impetus.
goalkeeper player position directly responsible for preventing the opposing team from scoring a goal. Normally plays in the crease directly in front of the goal, and uses a larger stick head to block shots. Also, goalie, keeper.
goal area See attack area.
goal face the open front of the goal.
goal line a line drawn between the goal posts to indicate the plane of the goal.
goal line extended an imaginary line that extends from the goal line to each sideline.
goal plane term for the goal face extended, the imaginary plane of the goal extended to the sidelines.
ground ball 1. a loose ball on the playing field. 2. A loose ball that has been scooped from the playing field and brought into possession by a player.
H
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 used to catch, throw and shoot.
helicopter check a stick checked out of one's hands so that it flies into the air spinning like a helicopter rotor. Also, copter check. Watch the video.
I
Indian pick-up (slang) a method of picking up a ball by rolling the top inside of the scoop over the ball, starting it moving in that direction, while turning the head under the ball quickly to collect it in one motion. So named because the early Iroquois versions or the Huron, Cherokee and Choctaw versions of the game featured sticks with no scoops. Also, Baltimore Crab.
J
K
keeper see goalkeeper.
keep it in see get it in/keep it in.
L
loose ball a ball not in player possession.
M
Major League Lacrosse (MLL) a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of seven teams in the United States and one team in Canada.
man down defense (MDD) 1. the situation that results from a time-serving penalty which causes the defense to play with a least a one man disadvantage. 2. the group of players that practices together and has specific plans for defending the goal with one or more players out of the game with a time-serving penalty. Compare extra man offense.
Men's World Lacrosse Championship the world championship for international men's field lacrosse that is held every four years. The 2010 championships featured twenty-nine competing nations. The United States has nine victories and Canada the other two.
midfield player position that covers the whole field, and thus requires offensive and defensive skill. Each team has three on the field and they start the game and face offs at the midfield line.
midfielder a person who plays the midfield position. Also, middie.
midfield line see center line.
Mount Washington Lacrosse Club an amateur field lacrosse club based in Baltimore, Maryland that was one the most successful and well-known lacrosse clubs in history
N
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) an association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
north-south the end line to end line direction of movement by the ball or a player. Thus, north-south dodge.
O
offensive half the side of the midfield line where a team is attempting to shoot the ball into the opposing team’s goal.
offside a technical foul assessed when a team (1) has fewer than three men in its attack half of the field, or (2) fewer than four men in its defensive half of the field.
on the fly a substitution made during play that must occur through a designated area on the sideline called the table area (high school) or the special substitution area (college).
out of bounds (1) when a player with the ball in his possession steps on or outside a boundary line, or any part of his body or crosse touches the ground or any object on or outside a boundary line (2) when a loose ball touches a boundary line, the ground or any object outside a boundary line (including a player who is out of bounds), or when a shot crosses the plane of the end line or sideline (when determining which player is closest only).
overhead check an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick in which the defender reaches his stick over his opponent's head and checks down, pointing his stick's butt end toward the sky.
P
pass the movement of the ball caused by a player in possession throwing the ball to a teammate.
penalty flag a yellow cloth, usually wrapped around a weight, such as sand or beans so it can be thrown accurately over greater distances, that the referee throws this into the air on a penalty that does not stop action. Also, flag.
personal foul an infraction of the rules that is of a serious nature, including illegal body checking, slashing, cross-checking, tripping, unnecessary roughness, unsportsmanlike conduct and the use of an illegal crosse or other illegal equipment. The penalty for a personal foul is suspension from the game of the offending player for one, two or three minutes, depending on the official’s judgment of the severity and perceived intent of the personal foul. The ball is given to the team fouled.
pick an offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender guarding another offensive player. Also, screen
play on If a player commits a loose-ball technical foul or crease violation and an offended player may be disadvantaged by the immediate suspension of play, the official shall visually and verbally signal "play on" and withhold the whistle until such time as the situation of advantage, gained or lost, has been completed.
pocket the strung part of the head of the stick that catches, holds and directs the ball when passing or shooting.
poke check an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick in which the defender simply stabs the head of his stick into the hands of the offensive player, with the movement similar to using a spear or sword.
possession (of the ball) when a player can perform any of the normal functions of control, such as carrying, cradling, passing or shooting.
Q
R
roll dodge an offensive move in which the ball carrier plants a foot in front of the defender and, using his body as a shield, spins around the defender, usually switching the stick from one hand to another as he rolls.
S
save 1. the act of a goalkeeper stopping a shot on goal with his stick or his body. 2. to stop a shot on goal.
screen see pick.
scrimmage area
shooting the act of taking a shot.
shot a ball thrown with the stick towards the goal in an attempt to score.
sideline the line bordering the field along one of its longer dimensions; area beyond this line is out of bounds.
slap check an attempt to dislodge the ball from another player's stick in which the defender slaps his stick against the stick of the opposing player in an attempt to knock the ball loose.
slide the act of a defensive player leaving the player he is covering to cover another player as a means to counter an offensive threat.
slow whistle see flag down.
special substitution area in the college game, the 10 yard wide, 6 yard deep area directly in front of the scorer's table and between the coaches areas that serves multiple purposes: (1) on the fly substitutions must be made through this area; (2) time-serving penalties are served here; (3) players intending to substitute on the next dead ball situation wait here. In high school this area is called the table area.
split dodge an offensive move in which the ball carrier, running in one direction, plants a foot and quickly changes direction, switching the stick from one hand to another as he "splits."
stalling the situation in which the team in possession keeps the ball from play by not attacking the goal; a technical foul that results in the defensive team being awarded the ball; see get it in/keep it in
stick modern name for the equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball (traditonal name is crosse). Sticks have an overall fixed length of either 40 to 42 inches (short short) or 52 to 72 inches (long stick), except for the goalkeeper’s crosse, which is 40 to 72 inches long. There are additional dimensions and specifications that vary across the youth, high school and college games.
stick fake see fake.
substitution the act of one player replacing another on the field of play; must be done through the table area (high school) or the special substitution area (college) when play is still on (on the fly).
swim dodge a type of dodge in which the player in possession of the ball drops his bottom hand from the stick and then swings his entire stick up and over the stick or the entire body of the defender as he runs past the defender. The motion is similar to the freestyle, a type of swimming stroke. Also, swim move.
T
table area in high school, the 10 yard wide, 6 yard deep area directly in front of the scorer's table and between the coaches areas that serves multiple purposes: (1) on the fly substitutions must be made through this area; (2) time-serving penalties are served here; (3) players intending to substitute on the next dead ball situation wait here. In college this area is called the special substitution area.
transition when a team changes from playing offense to playing defense, or vice versa, due to a change in possession of the ball
turnover when the opposing team gains possession of the ball from the team originally in possession of the ball. This can result from the ball being checked from a player's stick, an errant pass, a player with the ball making mistakes such as stepping out of bounds or throwing the ball out of bounds, or by someone on the team with possession of the ball being called for a foul or another rules violation.
two-point goal in Major League Lacrosse, a score receives two points if the shooter is behind a 16 yard arc drawn around each goal. The shooter must have both feet behind the line before shooting the ball in order for a 2-point goal to be scored.
U
Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships (U-19's) events held separately for men and women about every 4 years to determine the world champions for the under-19 age group in lacrosse. They were first held for men in 1988 and first held for women in 1995. The United States has dominated both the men's and women's events.
underhand shot a type of shot in which the head of the stick starts below the waist of the shooter.
upfield 1. from the perspective of the team in possession of the ball, the general area of the field that is closer to the goal it is attacking relative to the current scrimmage area.
V
W
Women's Lacrosse World Cup the recognized world championship of international women's lacrosse that is held every four years. The United States has won 6 championships; Australia has won 2 championships.
World Indoor Lacrosse Championship the world championship for international men's box lacrosse that is held every four years. Canada has won the tournament all three times it has been held and has not lost a single game.
X
X-behind see center behind.
Y
Z
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