How Many Players Are on a Lacrosse Team?

Ten on the field, every one with a job. The positions in boys lacrosse explained, plus how women's, box and sixes lacrosse line up.

How many players are on the field for a boys lacrosse team?

For boys lacrosse, there are 10 players on the field at a time: three attackmen, three midfielders, three defensemen, and one goalie.

Each player can go anywhere on the field, with the exception that four players need to be on the defensive half at all times (typically the defenders and goalie) and three players need to be on the offensive half at all times (typically the attackmen). Cross the line when you shouldn't, and the ref will flag you offsides.

A typical college team has between 45 and 55 players, with PLL teams only allowing 19 players for each game. Whether you came up in a Virginia Beach rec league, a Section III high school program in upstate New York or a box league in Ontario, every one of those roster spots fits into the same four positions.

What are the positions in boys lacrosse?

Lacrosse has more positions than people realize. The four general lacrosse positions are attack, midfield, defense, and goalie, but within each general position there are a multitude of specific roles each player can have, each with its own responsibilities and skill requirements.

Attack

Attackmen are the players who get the headlines. They score many of the goals and get many of the assists as well. Most often guarded by a long stick, they need to be quick, strong, crafty, or a combination of the three to get by their defenders.

There are three main types of attackmen: X-attackmen, off-ball attackmen, and dodging attackmen.

1. X-attackmen spend most of their time behind the goal. They have the best vision on the team and are able to find open players with ease. These attackmen have the freedom to dodge but are often used as feeders more than dodgers.
2. Off-ball attackmen find pockets of space somewhere above the goal. As the sneakiest players on the team, they slip by defenders to get open close to the goal and should be able to finish the ball most times. These attackmen should be among the best shooters on the team.
3. Dodging attackmen handle most of the dodges coming from the attack unit. They have the ability to beat their defender one-on-one, with the option to score or feed to an open player. Dodging attackmen have very quick feet, are very shifty, and have a great stick, able to feed or shoot on the run.

Gear up: see our best attack lacrosse heads.

Midfield

Midfielders typically do most of the running. They run between defense and offense, as they are often the most versatile players on the team. In early levels of play through middle school, these midfielders typically play both ends of the field. Once you get to varsity high school and college, there are more types of midfielders: offensive midfielders, short stick defensive midfielders, long stick midfielders, and face-off specialists.

1. Offensive midfielders (OM), as the name implies, typically play offense. These players are normally the party starters on the offensive end, dodging the short stick defensive personnel to start an offensive set. OMs play above the goal, either dodging a short stick or looking for a feed from an attackman to step in and shoot.
2. Short stick defensive midfielders (SSDM) play defense and are used when transitioning from defense to offense. In lacrosse, only 4 long poles are allowed on the field at a time, so when playing defense, two players need to have short sticks. They are typically the most athletic players on the team and played multiple sports growing up. They are the gritty players, as they take the brunt of the dodges from the offense. This position is not publicly praised, but within a team, they are the glue that holds everything together.
3. Long stick midfielders (LSM) are the most technically skilled long poles on the team. They are often good at defense but also have good stick skills so they can run the transition. LSMs are often versatile, but defense is still their top priority.
4. Face-off specialists, or “face-off-get-off” players (FOGOs), are the most specialized players on the team. The term FOGO means once they finish the face-off, they get off the field. They are typically very strong or very quick with their hands (or both), which allows them to gain an advantage on the opposing player. This position is very important because at the start of each quarter and after each goal, there is a face-off. If your team wins 5 more face-offs than the other team, that is 5 more opportunities to score.

If your team wins 5 more face-offs than the other team, that is 5 more opportunities to score.

Gear up: best heads for middies and best faceoff heads.

Defense

Defenders defend their goal from attackers trying to score. Typically, these are bigger and stronger players, but they still need to be agile to keep up with the attackmen. Defenders carry longer sticks like the LSM in order to more effectively stop the attackers.

Defenders are also responsible for starting the clear and getting the ball to the midfielders, so their sticks need to be good. They also need to know the role of the attackman they're guarding. Are they going to dodge, or are they going to try and slip by undetected? Knowing your matchup is key to being a good defender.

Gear up: best defensive lacrosse heads and best defense shafts.

Goalie

Goalies are the backbone of the team. They command the defense and are brave enough to step in front of a lacrosse ball going somewhere between 80 and 100 mph (see the fastest lacrosse shot ever recorded). Goalies need to have a great understanding of their position in goal, great reflexes, and an understanding of the defense.

Gear up: our lacrosse goalie gear guide.

Gear up by positionNew to the game or switching spots? These are the heads we'd start with at each position.

Attack headStringKing Mark 3V$119.99 at BattleLax Midfield headMaverik Tactik 3.0$109.99 at BattleLax Defense headMaverik Tank 2.0$109.99 at BattleLax Goalie headECD Impact Goalie$109.99 at BattleLax

View new drops on Battle Lax

What position should I play?

One of the beauties of lacrosse is that every position has people of every shape and size. More mainstream sports look for specific body types, but in lacrosse, if you have a good enough connection with your stick and know the game, it doesn't matter what size you are.

Notice that every position needs to be good with their stick. Passing and catching is the most important part of the game! If you don't have the ball, you can't score.

Tips to help you choose a position

1. Assess your skills and attributes. What are you good at? Are you a good shooter? Or are you quick and physical? Identifying your best skills and attributes will help you land on the position that fits you best. Remember that anyone can play any position if you use your skills and attributes to your advantage, and practice both the things you're good at to master them and the things you need to work on to become a better overall player.
2. Determine your playing style. Are you more inclined towards offensive play, scoring goals, and creating opportunities? Or do you enjoy the defensive side: disrupting opponents and protecting the goal? Think about what position you gravitate towards to help with your position selection.
3. Try different positions. Consider asking your coach to try different positions during practices and scrimmages. Trying other positions will give you firsthand experience and a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each, which will help with any position you choose. An attacker who has played some defense can better predict the defense's moves than an attacker who hasn't.

Remember that versatility is valuable in lacrosse. Being able to contribute in multiple positions can make you a valuable asset to your team. As you gain experience and improve your skills, explore playing different positions or transitioning between positions based on game situations and team needs. Every coach I've had, from summer ball to high school, loved the kid who could slide into any spot on the whiteboard.

Read more: What are the 10 positions in lacrosse?

Different versions of lacrosse

Women's lacrosse

Women's lacrosse has its own set of rules and player compositions. In women's field lacrosse, each team has 12 players, including one goalie. The game emphasizes speed, agility, and finesse, with very different rules regarding stick checking and player contact than the men's version (it's also why women don't wear helmets). Pro women's lacrosse, like Athletes Unlimited, has been broadcast on ESPN networks.

Box lacrosse

Box lacrosse is typically played indoors in a hockey rink with turf, with teams of six players on the floor, including one goalie. The condensed playing area and smaller team size create a fast-paced and physical style of play. Anyone who grew up playing in Ontario knows exactly how physical it gets. To watch box lacrosse, the National Lacrosse League (NLL), North America's professional box league with teams in the U.S. and Canada, is shown on ESPN+. See how it compares in box lacrosse vs. field lacrosse.

Sixes lacrosse

Sixes is a newer version of lacrosse promoted by World Lacrosse to get the sport into the Olympics, and it's on the program for the LA 2028 Games. It has 6 players per side, including a goalie, much like box lacrosse; however, sixes is played on a field. It plays very similarly to basketball and is fast-paced and fun to watch.

This version is great for youth development, as there are fewer players on the field, which means more touches for everyone. The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) puts on a “Championship Series” during the winter that features Sixes at the professional level, and you can watch replays on YouTube.

See it live

Want to see every position in action? Here's a quick breakdown from YouTube.

Lacrosse Positions Explained

People also ask

Lacrosse has a few different versions, all with different numbers of players and different positions. In boys lacrosse, there are 10 players on the field, all with different responsibilities. Choosing your position depends on your attributes and what you enjoy doing. There are a vast number of positions to choose from so you can be your best. New to the game? Start with the rules of lacrosse and our lacrosse equipment guide.