England Lacrosse can confirm that the following rule amendments have been approved by England Lacrosse for the playing of men’s field lacrosse for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons; for all other rules, the World Lacrosse Rule applies in its original form.
There will be an opportunity to discuss these rules changes at a special Schools’ Forum in September and the Umpiring Advisory Group (UAG) will run webinars and provide opportunities for further training as required.
A link to the full rules book and detail can be found by clicking here and please do not hesitate to contact our officiating lead Wendy Reynolds on [email protected] if you have any questions.
Rule Amendments
Rule 29
29.1 The match shall be divided into 4 periods of 20 minutes duration each.
29.2 The game clock and the penalty clock(s) shall stop:
i. Whenever the ball becomes dead during the last 30 seconds of the first, second, and third quarters and
ii. The last 2 minutes of the fourth quarter, and any overtime period. The game clock and penalty clock(s) shall restart whenever play is restarted.
These stoppages of play shall not be an opportunity for free substitution under Rule 46.4i. unless a Time-Out is called by a Game Official or correctly requested by an appropriate team member.
Rule 43 The Shot Clock
This rule is omitted and will not apply in domestic lacrosse games. As a result, the Stalling Rule (Rule 62) will continue to be applicable in the domestic game. The Rule is reproduced below together with the relevant AR examples. The Rule number is the number from the preceding World Lacrosse version of the Rules.
61.18 Over and Back
This rule is retained in the domestic game as the Shot Clock rule will not apply as stated above.
When the Offensive team has possession of the ball inside their Attack Goal Area, the Over and Back rule shall apply.
Offensive team shall not:
i. While in player-possession of the ball, initiate contact with the centerline or anything in their defensive half of the field.
ii. Cause the ball to return to their defensive half of the field or to touch the centerline.
a. Except after a valid shot on goal that is taken from above the goal line extended (GLE), that makes contact with either the goal pipe, or the goalkeeper while inside their goal crease.
Should i. or ii. occur, it shall be judged an Over-and-Back rule violation. The result is an immediate turnover and, when possible, a quick restart for the offended team.
If the ball, or the offensive player in possession of it, does not touch the centerline or their defensive half of the field, no rule violation has occurred.
Defensive players may legally bat the ball to keep it in their offensive half of the field, but if it is possessed and their feet are touching their defensive half of the field, it shall be a turnover.
Exceptions:
An Over-and-Back rule violation does not occur when a loose ball touches the centerline or the offensive team's defensive half of the field in the following situations:
iii. After a valid shot on goal as described above (ii.a).
iv. When the loose ball was last touched by the defensive team.
The Over and Back rule will no longer apply when:
v. A goal is scored,
vi. The Defensive Team gains possession of the ball,
vii. The ball touches the centerline or the offensive team’s defensive half of the field.
viii. An Over and Back rule violation has been assessed.
Specific AR relating to intention of Over and Back Rule:
AR 61.3
Red Team have possession of the ball in their Attack Goal Area. A missed pass by a Red Player touches the centerline. The Trail official blows their whistle for the Over and Back rule violation, at the same time a Blue Player Slashes a Red Player. A flag is thrown for the Slashing foul. Are these Simultaneous fouls?
RULING: No. The ball is awarded to the Red team because of the Blue Player's Slashing major foul. It is not the intent of the rule for a player to serve penalty time for an Over and Back rule violation, but for there to be a change in Team possession. If the Blue Player had been penalized for an illegal push, hold or other Minor foul, as the Over and Back occurred we do not want to restart play with a Face-Off. (Free Play should be awarded to Red). Over and Back is intended as a 'Play of the Game' rule, similar in its application to an Out-of-Bounds situation. It is temporarily located within the Illegal Procedure group of Minor Fouls until the end of 2025, after which it will reside within the Shot Clock rules in Section 6 Play of the Game.
Rule 62: Stalling
62.1 Any deliberate action on the part of a Team in possession of the ball to maintain possession of the ball outside the attack goal area by holding or passing the ball without reasonable effort to attack its opponents’ goal is a Minor foul known as “stalling”.
62.2 A Team playing with fewer Players than its opponents due to penalties cannot be guilty of stalling.
62.3 A Team that has possession of the ball in their attack goal area cannot be guilty of stalling.
62.4 Where an Official feels that a Team in possession of the ball outside the attack goal area is not making a reasonable attempt to attack its opponents’ goal, then they shall ask that Team to “Get it in”; the Team must then carry or pass the ball into the attack goal area within a reasonable time. Once the ball is in the attack goal area, then the Team in possession shall keep it in the attack goal area. If the ball subsequently leaves the stalling area (the attack goal area) before the defending Team has had possession of the ball, except as a result of a foul by the defending Team or a deflection by the defending Team or a shot, then the Team which has been asked to “Get it in” shall lose possession to their opponents.
62.5 Where an Official feels that a Team in possession of the ball inside the attack goal area is not making a reasonable attempt to attack its opponents’ goal, then they shall ask that Team to “Keep it in”; the Team must then keep it in the attack goal area. If the ball subsequently leaves the stalling area (the attack goal area) before the defending Team has had possession of the ball, except as a result of a foul by the defending Team or a deflection by the defending Team or a shot, then the Team, which has been asked to “Keep it in”, shall lose possession to their opponents.
62.6 This rule shall not prevent a Team from employing a careful passing game for the purpose of manoeuvring the opposing Team out of position.
62.7 A stalling warning ends when:
i. The defensive Team gains possession of the ball; or
ii. A goal is scored; or
iii. A period ends resulting in a face-off.
AR 62.1
Red have been warned to “Get it in”, but they have not yet done so. A Red pass is missed, but they recover the ball before Blue gain possession of it.
RULING: The stalling warning is still in effect, and Red is again asked to “Get it in”.
AR 62.2
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. A Red pass is missed, but they recover the ball before it leaves the attack goal area, and before Blue gain possession of it.
RULING: The stalling warning is still in effect.
AR 62.3
Red have been warned to “Get it in”, but they have not yet done so. Red immediately loses possession to Blue, but then regain the ball. Rules of Men’s Field Lacrosse: 2025 – 2027 Ver 1.0 Page 91
RULING: The stalling warning is no longer in effect, as a new clearing situation has been created.
AR 62.4
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. Red loses possession to Blue, but then regain the ball.
RULING: The stalling warning is no longer in effect, as a new situation has been created.
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. Red then takes a shot at goal.
RULING: If the ball goes out-of-bounds on the back line or on the sideline bounding the goal area, and Red are awarded possession, then the stalling warning is still in effect.
RULING: If the ball hits a pipe, and goes out-of-bounds beyond the goal area line, then no foul has been committed. If Red are awarded the ball, then the stalling warning is still in effect.
RULING: If the ball hits a pipe and becomes loose in the goal area, and Red recover possession, then the stalling warning is still in effect.
RULING: If the ball hits a pipe and rebounds over the goal area line, then no foul has been committed. If Red gain possession of the resulting loose ball, then the stalling warning is still in effect.
AR 62.6
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. The man in possession then steps on or beyond a line bounding the attack goal area, is legally forced out of that area, or passes the ball out of play. RULING: The ball is awarded to Blue.
AR 62.7
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. The man in possession then passes it out of the attack goal area into the midfield.
RULING: If Blue gain possession of a resulting loose ball, then play is allowed to continue. Otherwise, the ball is awarded to Blue at the point of the infraction.
AR 62.8
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. The man with the ball is illegally forced out of play over a boundary line.
RULING: The Blue Player serves penalty time, Red retain the ball, and the stalling warning stays in effect.
AR 62.9
Red have possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. The man with the ball is illegally forced out of the attack goal area and into the central zone.
RULING: A flag is thrown, and the stalling warning is repeated.
AR 62.10
Red has possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. A pass is deflected by a Blue Player and goes out of play. RULING: The ball remains Red, and the stalling warning stays in effect.
AR 62.11
Red has possession in the attack goal area, having been warned to “Get it in” or to “Keep it in”. A pass is deflected by a Blue Player and goes out of the attack goal area into the midfield.
RULING: Free ball. If Red regains possession of the loose ball, then the warning is immediately repeated
Rule 79.5
Penalty time will only be served during normal playing time. Stoppages in play for all timeouts, will temporarily interrupt penalty time. During an authorised time-out, or between periods, a penalised Player may leave the penalty box, but they must return at the commencement of play to complete their suspension.
