How do girls' and boys' lacrosse differ?
Rule- England
- England Lacrosse
- World Lacrosse rules
- Junior lacrosse
- Under 11 to Under 19
- 2026/27
- Parents
They are played under separate World Lacrosse rulebooks, and the biggest differences are contact and kit.
| Girls' and women's field | Boys' and men's field | |
|---|---|---|
| Rulebook | WL Women's Field Rules 2025-2026 | WL Men's Field Rules 2025-2027, with England Lacrosse amendments |
| Players per side | Up to 10, one of whom may be a goalkeeper | 10: goalkeeper, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, 3 attackers |
| Body contact | Limited: charging, detaining and dangerous play are fouls, and stick checks must stay away from the head | Body-checking is allowed from the front or side, between the hip and the neck, on a player who has the ball or is within 3 yards (2.74 m) of a loose ball or ball in flight |
| Field player kit | Mouthguard; protective eyewear from 1 September 2026 when a hard ball is used; no helmets | Helmet with face mask and chinstrap, gloves and mouthguard |
Mixed lacrosse is adapted from the women's rules and can be played by any gender. POP Lacrosse is a non-contact game with plastic sticks and a soft ball.
These are the senior rulebooks. Junior age-group competitions can adapt them, for example on game length or pitch size.
Added 21 Oct 2026