Referee's Guide to Lacrosse Canada Box Lacrosse Rules 2026-28

• Minor officials: before each game the officials must see that the appointed Game Timekeeper and Official Scorer are in their places and that all timing and signalling equipment is in order (Rule 4.1.6). The host club is responsible for securing a Game Timekeeper, two penalty box attendants, an Official Scorer and a 30-second shot clock operator (Rule 4.2.1).
• Equipment: a referee may conduct random equipment inspections before or during the game (Rule 8.34.1). At the pre-game inspection goalkeepers are measured without their jersey and must have no tape or other device that reduces equipment to meet specifications; tape applied after measurement is allowed if it is not deemed bulk being added and causes no other violation (Rule 8.34.2).
• Penalty box: the referee must see that players of opposing teams are separated in the penalty box (Rule 4.1.9).

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

Minor penalty (Rule 7.2): any player except the goalkeeper is ruled off for 2 minutes. Possession goes to the team fouled, unless the penalty occurs before the start of a quarter or overtime period, or after the whistle for a goal; then play restarts with a centre face-off. If penalties are simultaneous, possession goes to the team with the lesser penalty time; if times are equal, the ball stays with the team in possession at the first infraction, or a face-off restarts play if the ball was loose.

Bench minor: one player from the offending team is removed for 2 minutes, served by the designated in-home player. If the in-home player is already serving a penalty, the coach designates another player (a runner only).

Release on a goal: if the opposing team scores while a team is short-handed (below the numerical strength of its opponents) by one or more minors or bench minors, the first of those penalties ends automatically. The minor with the least time remaining is released, except when coincidental penalties are being served. Coincidental minors do not make either side short-handed. When two minors on the same team end at the same time, the captain tells the official which player returns first.

Coincidental minors: equal minors to both teams are served in full and teams play 4 on 4.

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

A major penalty rules the offender off the floor for 5 minutes (Rule 7.3.1).

• If two power-play goals are scored on the penalized team, that team may put a player back on the floor to return to even strength, but the offender serves the full 5 minutes and returns at the next non-technical stoppage after the penalty expires.
• A second major to the same player in the same game means the player is ruled off for the balance of the game: the player is assessed the major plus a game misconduct and is replaced in the penalty box by the in-home player immediately (Rule 7.3.2).
• In the last 5 minutes of regulation, or at any time in overtime, when a minor and a major are assessed to opposing players on the same stoppage, the 3-minute differential is served immediately as a major penalty and recorded on the penalty clock as 3 minutes (Rule 7.3.3).
• The scorer must tell the referees when a player accumulates two 5-minute penalties (an automatic game misconduct).

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

Misconduct (Rule 7.4): the player is ruled off for 10 minutes. A substitute may immediately replace the player, and the player stays in the penalty box until the next non-technical stoppage after the penalty expires. If a minor or major is assessed at the same time, the in-home player goes into the penalty box immediately to serve it.

Game misconduct (Rule 7.5): the player is suspended for the rest of the game. A total of 10 minutes is charged in the player's record regardless of when it is imposed, and a player can receive more than one game misconduct in a game.

Gross misconduct (Rule 7.7): the referee may impose it on any player, coach, trainer or equipment manager guilty of gross misconduct of any kind. It carries a game misconduct and 10 minutes in the records. Examples include interfering with or striking a spectator, racial taunts or slurs, and spitting on or at an opponent, spectator or official.

Goalkeepers (Rule 7.8): a goalkeeper assessed a 10-minute misconduct serves it themselves; a goalkeeper's minor or major penalty is served by the in-home player.

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

A match penalty suspends the player for the balance of the game and the player is ordered to the dressing room immediately (Rule 7.6.1).

• The in-home player replaces the penalized player in the penalty box for the full 5 minutes of playing time, regardless of the number of goals scored.
• The substitute is released when the full penalty time expires, on the next non-technical stoppage of play, or if three goals are scored on the match penalty.
• A total of 10 minutes is charged in the offending player's record, regardless of when it is imposed.
• The player automatically receives a game suspension and is automatically referred to the World Lacrosse Event Disciplinary Panel for review and possible further action (Rule 7.6.2).

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

A check from behind is a check made on the back of the body (Rule 8.14.1). When a player intentionally turns their body to create contact with their back, no penalty is assessed.

If, in the official's judgment, the player was reckless or endangered an opponent by checking from behind, the official may assess, at their discretion and based on the degree of the infraction (Rule 8.14.2):

• a minor penalty; or
• a major penalty; or
• a major penalty and a game misconduct; or
• a match penalty.

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

Dangerous contact to the head (Rule 8.15): a match penalty is assessed to a player who with force strikes another player directly in the head and/or neck. The action is deemed reckless. Criteria include (not limited to) no attempt to play the ball, leaving your feet to inflict more force, and an upwards motion rather than a horizontal one.

Spearing with the head (Rule 8.13): leading with the head to make or attempt contact with another player. A player in possession who lowers their shoulder to get past or through an opponent and makes unintentional head contact is not penalized; the official judges intent. Penalty at the official's discretion: a major, or a major plus game misconduct, and a match penalty if the player was reckless or endangered an opponent.

Boarding (Rule 8.12): checking an opponent so that they are thrown violently into the boards. The onus is on the checker not to hit an opponent in a vulnerable position, but also on the other player not to put themselves in a dangerous position, and officials must consider this balance. Penalty: a major, or a major plus game misconduct, and a match penalty if the player was reckless or endangered an opponent.

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

A fight is an incident where at least one player is penalized for throwing a punch, punches or blows at an opposing player; the punches do not need to make contact (Rule 8.18.1). Officials have wide discretion: minor penalties for roughing, or a major penalty for fighting, plus any other appropriate penalties, depending on the degree of violence.

A player deemed to be fighting is assessed (Rule 8.18.2):

• a 5-minute major penalty and a game misconduct;
• an automatic one-game suspension from the team's next game; and
• an automatic referral to the World Lacrosse Event Disciplinary Panel for review and possible sanctions.

An "unwilling combatant" is a player who only tries to protect themselves from incoming blows: they do not drop their gloves or remove their helmet, and do not initially counter with return punches. An instigator is identified by criteria such as travelling a distance to begin fighting, gloves off first, first punch thrown, substituting directly from the bench to start a fight, a menacing attitude or posture, or verbally inciting another player.

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

Under Rule 8.33 the official may assess an abuse of official's penalty if, in their judgment, a player:

• deliberately applies physical force in any manner against a referee or minor official;
• attempts in any manner to injure a referee or minor official;
• physically demeans a referee or minor official; or
• deliberately applies physical force to a referee or minor official solely to get free of them during or immediately after an altercation, in order to return to or engage in another altercation.

The penalty is a gross misconduct. Any NGB executive or officer, manager, coach, team staff member or player assessed a physical abuse of official's penalty for deliberate contact with an official is reviewed by the World Lacrosse Event Discipline Panel, and the rulebook says this should at a minimum be considered for suspension. A gross misconduct is also a game misconduct, and 10 minutes is charged in the offender's record (Rule 7.7.1).

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

If a defending player commits a personal penalty against an opponent while the non-offending team has possession, the official raises their hand and withholds the whistle until the team in possession completes its play (Rule 6.14.1).

"Completion of play" means:

• the ball goes out of bounds;
• a technical violation is committed;
• a goal is scored;
• the shot clock or game clock expires;
• an offensive player commits a penalty;
• a loose ball crosses the centre line and is rolling toward the unattended goal;
• an opposing player gains possession and control of the ball, or the ball is frozen.

It does not include a rebound off the goalkeeper, the goal or the boards, or accidental contact with an opposing player's body or equipment.

Related: if the defensive team has too many players on the floor, a delayed penalty is imposed on it. If the offensive team has too many players, play stops and a two-minute penalty is imposed on the offensive team (Rules 6.13.6 and 6.13.7).

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

Rule 4.1.10 says the referee reports in detail, on the game sheet or a special incident report, to the Official in Chief of the event:

• when a stick or part of a stick is thrown outside the playing area;
• every obscene gesture made by anyone involved in the playing or conduct of the game (a participant, or an official of either team or of the league) that the referee saw or that was brought to their attention by a game referee or official;
• any altercation between a spectator and a player or non-playing team member;
• every infraction assessed as a match, a game misconduct or a gross misconduct.

A forfeit for failing to start or return to play (Rules 5.5.1 and 5.5.2) must also be reported on the game sheet or a special incident report.

Source: Lacrosse Canada copy of the World Lacrosse 2026-28 Box Lacrosse Official Playing Rules, https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf

Lacrosse Canada's "2026 LC Modifications 2.0" adjust the World Lacrosse box rules by age group:

• U7: no face-offs after goals (face-offs only at the start of each period). The dotted line is a teaching tool, not a defensive boundary or restricted zone (all ages).
• U9: no crease cylinder, no crease diving. The crease stays active: defenders may pull back into it, and offensive players may pull back out but cannot swat the ball into the net.
• U11 to U13: no cylinder, no crease diving, crease active during loose-ball play, and a 10-second count over half while shorthanded.
• U15: no cylinder, crease diving permitted, 10-second count over half while shorthanded.
• U17 to U22: no cylinder, crease diving permitted, 5v5 sudden-victory overtime periods, and a 10-second over-half count both while even and while shorthanded.
• Junior Women (U22), Junior Men A, B, C, Senior A, B, C and WMSL/Women's Senior: no cylinder, crease diving permitted, 3v3 sudden-victory overtime in non-playdown games and 5v5 overtime in playdowns and playoffs. When a goaltender is hit in the facemask with a ball, it is NOT an automatic whistle and officials use their discretion, with safety a priority. WMSL to Senior A use an 8-second count over half.

Lacrosse Canada also publishes separate Age and Stage Appropriate Modifications 2.0 (implemented for the 2026 calendar year) for the youngest ages.

Source: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-LC-Modifications-2.0-2.pdf