Timekeeper's Guide to Lacrosse Canada Box Lacrosse Minor Officials 2026-28

All game time is stop time: the game and penalty clocks run during live-ball situations and stop during dead-ball situations (Rule 5.3.1). The official's whistle indicates clock start and stoppage (Rule 5.3.2).

After a goal, the official stops the game clock, and the timekeeper restarts it on the face-off whistle. The referee aims for the face-off within 20 seconds of the goal; if a team is not ready when 20 seconds expire, the other team gets possession (Rule 5.3.3).

The timekeeper keeps an accurate account of the time of each quarter, the intervals between quarters and all time-outs, and sounds the horn to resume play when an interval or time-out has elapsed. The horn in itself never stops play (Rule 4.2.2).

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

• Team time-outs (Rule 5.6.1): each team gets one 45-second time-out per half, with no carry-over. Time-outs before the game starts are charged to the first half, and those during the halftime break to the second half. In live-ball situations a team must have possession to request one; in dead-ball situations either team may, if it has not used its time-out.
• No time-outs left (5.6.4): a team that asks for a time-out with none remaining is assessed a 2-minute delay of game penalty and the opposing team gets possession. The scorer keeps the record of time-outs and notifies the referees if either team exceeds the number allowed (Rule 4.2.4).
• Injured player (5.6.2): a time-out for an injured player is not charged to the team if the player is removed from the floor.
• Penalties: players serving a penalty stay in the penalty box during all time-outs (5.6.3).
• Resuming play (Rule 4.2.2): the timekeeper sounds the horn to resume play when an interval or time-out has elapsed. The horn alone never stops play.
• Shot clock (6.6.5): it holds the time it showed when the whistle sounded.

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

If the score is tied at the end of regulation, play continues with sudden-victory overtime after a 2-minute interval. Periods are 15 minutes each until a goal is scored; the team scoring the first overtime goal wins and the game ends on that goal (Rules 5.4.1 and 5.4.2). If more than one period is needed there is a 2-minute interval between periods (Rule 5.4.3). Teams change ends at the end of each quarter, including any sudden-death periods (Rule 5.2.3).

Each team gets one 45-second time-out per sudden-victory period, and it cannot be carried from period to period (Rule 5.6.1).

Lacrosse Canada's 2026 modifications set the overtime format for some age groups and levels: 5v5 sudden-victory periods for U17 to U22, and 3v3 sudden-victory overtime for non-playdown games at Junior and Senior levels (5v5 in playdowns and playoffs).

Sources: https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WL-26-28-Box-Rule-Book_Feb26.pdf and https://lacrosse.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-LC-Modifications-2.0-2.pdf

The 30-second clock operator controls a separate timing device used during the entire game including overtime, except for the last 30 seconds of each quarter (Rule 4.2.3). The operator may sound the horn when the clock expires, but the referee signals any violation.

• Rule (6.6.1): the team in possession must take a shot on goal within 30 seconds of gaining possession, otherwise the horn sounds and possession goes to the other team.
• Starts when a team is in possession: cradling, holding, passing or shooting the ball in play.
• Resets to 30 when the team in possession takes a shot on goal, the ball deflects off the goalkeeper in the crease, the ball deflects off a runner in the crease while the goalkeeper is pulled for an extra attacker, or the ball hits the goal post. Any floor violation or personal penalty also resets it. If a defender causes the ball to go out of bounds it resets; if a defender touches the ball without gaining possession it keeps running.
• After a goal, whenever possible the clock counts down from 30 to 10 seconds (Rule 5.3.3).
• Reset signal (6.6.4): the official nearest the ball signals a reset with a whirling motion of the arm over the head.
• Time-outs and injuries (6.6.5): the clock stays as it was when the whistle sounded.
• Malfunction (6.6.6): if one or both clocks stop working, both are turned off; the operator keeps track of time, sounds the horn for violations, and announces to both benches when 10 seconds remain.

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

Under Rule 4.2.4 the Official Scorer (with at least one assistant assigned to each game):

• keeps an accurate record of time-outs (team, referee's and broadcast) and notifies the referees if either team exceeds the number allowed;
• records the name and number of each player penalized, the type of penalty, the time in the quarter when it occurred and its duration;
• must notify the referees when any player accumulates two 5-minute penalties (an automatic game misconduct);
• keeps a record of both clubs' in-home players' names and numbers, who serve any bench minor penalty, including illegal substitution penalties.

Recorded game statistics (Rule 4.3) also include goalkeeper saves (a shot stopped or deflected by the goalkeeper's body or stick, or one that hits the post or crossbar), shots, shots on goal, loose balls, technical violations, and all fouls with a time-serving penalty.

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

The Official Scorer keeps an accurate record of the goals scored, the time of each goal and the assists made by each team, recording the name and number of the player scoring and of those credited with assists (Rule 4.2.4).

Assist rules (Rule 4.3.4):

• Any pass, or two passes, by a player or players to a teammate who then scores is an assisted goal.
• Only a goal or an assist may be credited to any one player on a scoring play.
• There is a maximum of two assists on each goal.

A copy of the game sheet is kept at the timer's table during the game (Rule 1.3.1). After a goal the public address announcer names the scorer and any player entitled to an assist, and if the official disallows a goal the reason is reported to the Official Scorer, who has the announcer communicate the decision at the next stoppage (Rules 4.4.1 and 4.4.2).

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

• Minor: 2 minutes (any player except the goalkeeper; a goalkeeper's minor is served by the in-home player). Rule 7.2.1.
• Bench minor: 2 minutes, served by the designated in-home player (or a runner designated by the coach if the in-home is already serving a penalty). Rule 7.2.3.
• Major: 5 minutes. Rule 7.3.1.
• Misconduct: 10 minutes, and a substitute may immediately replace the player. Rule 7.4.2.
• Game misconduct: the player is out for the rest of the game, and 10 minutes is charged in the player's record. Rule 7.5.1.
• Match: the in-home player serves 5 minutes, and 10 minutes is charged in the offender's record. Rule 7.6.1.
• Gross misconduct: carries a game misconduct, with 10 minutes charged in the records. Rule 7.7.1.

Players serving a penalty must stay in the penalty box between quarters (except at halftime, when they may join their team but must be back before the third quarter starts) and during all time-outs (Rules 5.2.1, 5.2.2 and 5.6.3). The game and penalty clocks run during live-ball situations and stop during dead-ball situations (Rule 5.3.1).

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

Coincidental minors (Rule 7.2.6): when equal minors are imposed on players of both teams, the penalized players all take their places in the penalty box and teams play 4 on 4. They do not leave until their respective penalties expire. Another minor during this situation makes it 4 on 3. For coincidental majors, play stays at 5 on 5, and those players should not leave the box until the first non-technical stoppage after their penalties expire.

Administration (Rule 7.2.7):

• Coincidental majors with matching minors are offsetting: the teams substitute off the bench for the penalized players and there is no time on the penalty clocks for the coincidental penalties.
• Coincidental majors with non-matching minors require a substitute in the penalty box for the non-matching minor.
• Match penalties: a substitute serves the penalty time.

Delayed penalties (Rule 6.14): the official raises a hand and holds the whistle until the team in possession completes its play. The officials announce every penalty, and the infraction, to the Official Scorer or Penalty Timekeeper (Rule 4.1.8).

Major and minor in the last 5 minutes (Rule 7.3.3): in the last 5 minutes of regulation or any time in overtime, when a minor and a major are assessed to opposing players on the same stoppage, the 3-minute differential is recorded on the penalty clock as a 3-minute penalty and served like a major.

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

If the opposing team scores while a team is short-handed by one or more minor or bench minor penalties, the first of those penalties is automatically terminated (Rule 7.2.4). Short-handed means the team is below the numerical strength of its opponents on the floor when the goal is scored, so coincidental minors to both teams do not make either side short-handed.

Check two things (Rule 7.2.5): is the team scored against short-handed, and is it serving a minor on the clock? If both are yes, the minor with the least time remaining is released, except when coincidental penalties are being served. If two minors on the same team end at the same time, the captain tells the official which player returns first, and the official instructs the penalty timekeeper.

For a major (Rule 7.3.1), if two power-play goals are scored on the penalized team it may put a player back on the floor to return to even strength, but the offender serves the full 5 minutes. For a match penalty, the substitute is released on expiry of the full time, at the next non-technical stoppage, or if three goals are scored on the match penalty (Rule 7.6.1).

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

A penalized player who leaves the penalty box on their own accord before the penalty has expired, whether play is in progress or not, incurs an additional minor penalty and a game misconduct, on top of serving the unexpired time (Rule 8.42.4).

If a player leaves before the penalty is fully served, the penalty timekeeper notes the time and signals the officials, who stop play when the offending player's team obtains possession of the ball.

If a player returns to the floor early through an error of the penalty timekeeper, the player is not given an additional penalty but must return and serve the unexpired time (Rule 8.42.5).

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