Overview
New to lacrosse? Let's find your daughter a game.
Watch your first girls' lacrosse game and you'll notice something. The whistle blows, every player on the field knows exactly what happened, and you don't. That's normal, and it doesn't last. The girls' game is built around space: an 8-meter arc, a 12-meter fan, a rule called shooting space. Once you can see it, the whole thing opens up.
This page is a guide to girls' lacrosse for families new to the sport: how the game is played, what your daughter will wear, the terms behind the whistles, the ways she can play, and how the sport grows with her.
So before you go any further, your next question might be, "What is USA Lacrosse?" USA Lacrosse is the national governing body for the sport in the United States. In practice, that means we're the ones responsible for it, from the standards to the coach education to the safety guidelines.
Everything here is free to use. When she's ready to take the field, a USA Lacrosse membership is what makes it official: she's covered while she plays, you get instruction and parent education built for families just starting out or competing at new levels. She also becomes a part of the same organization that fields the U.S. Women's National Team.
Sixes lacrosse will be played at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Whatever her first season looks like, she's starting at a good time.
Jump to any section below.
Equipment Overview
New lacrosse parents are often surprised that girls' players wear so much less protective equipment than boys' players. The reason is the rules. Boys' lacrosse allows body checking and stick checking above the shoulders. Girls' lacrosse prohibits body contact and limits stick checks, so the equipment is built for the game as it's actually played: eye and mouth protection are essential, while heavier padding is not.
Introductory formats like Flex6 are designed for first-time players and don't require protective equipment.
New lacrosse parents are often surprised that girls' players wear so much less protective equipment than boys' players. The reason is the rules. Boys' lacrosse allows body checking and stick checking above the shoulders. Girls' lacrosse prohibits body contact and limits stick checks, so the equipment is built for the game as it's actually played: eye and mouth protection are essential, while heavier padding is not.
Introductory formats like Flex6 are designed for first-time players and don't require protective equipment.
Terminology
8-METER ARC
12-METER FAN
GOAL CIRCLE
THREE SECONDS
MARKING
CHECKING
MODIFIED CHECKING
FREE POSITION
SHOOTING SPACE
8-METER ARC
The arc in front of the goal used to enforce major fouls. A defender can't stay inside it for more than three seconds unless she's closely guarding her opponent.
12-METER FAN
A wider semicircle in front of the goal, 12 meters out, used for administering fouls farther from the crease.
GOAL CIRCLE
The circle immediately around the goal that protects the goalie. No player's stick or body may cross into it.
Game Formats
There are three main disciplines in lacrosse — traditional field lacrosse, sixes and box. Field lacrosse is the predominant version of the sport in the United States. Sixes will be used for the LA28 Olympics and the USA Lacrosse Flex6 version offers adaptability for youth leagues. Box lacrosse is Canada's national summer sport and growing in popularity in the United States.
Together, these disciplines create more opportunities for participation, player development, and fan engagement. While each format emphasizes different skills and experiences, all three share the same fundamental objective: combining athleticism, teamwork, creativity, and competition through the game of lacrosse.
Traditional women's field lacrosse is played 12-on-12 on a full-size outdoor field (120 x 70 yards) using the standard women’s field layout, including the goal circle, 8-meter arc, 12-meter fan, and shooting space markings. The game emphasizes speed, skill, spacing, and team play, with rules designed to promote player safety while allowing controlled physical positioning and stick checks.
Across high school, college, and elite levels, the field layout remains consistent, while game length, pace, and officiating intensity increase as players progress. Youth and high school play prioritize skill development and safety, while college and professional competition features faster transitions, more physical defensive pressure, and advanced tactical play.
Athlete Development
We’re transforming how young athletes experience lacrosse. Grounded in research and best practices, our approach ensures every player — at every age and stage — can grow, thrive, and love the game.
Featured Athletes
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Everything that I do is to train for the Olympics, regardless of whether I am going to be on that team or not. It’s always on my mind.
Ally Kennedy
World Champ MVP
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I played a lot of sports growing up, but my true love was lacrosse. It’s taken me places I never would have imagined.
Kelly Amonte Hiller
HOF Member
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The legacy we set out to leave was to be courageous. We were a group of strong women who showed such courage in signing up for a sport that most of us had never played.
Emily Hawryschuk
Captain, U.S. Box Team
