How does substitution work?

A team may have up to 12 substitutes, and only 22 players in a squad may dress in team uniform for a game.

Substitution can happen at any time, on the fly, through the gate in the special substitution area (a 13 m stretch of sideline). The substitute waits in the area until the player being replaced has left the field, and only then steps on. The offside rule still applies.

Anywhere along the sideline (not just the gate) is allowed after a goal, at the end of a period and during any time-out, as long as the team has the right number of players on the field when play restarts.

Source: World Lacrosse Men's Field Rules 2025-2027, Rules 20 and 46.