Understanding the duration of a lacrosse game is crucial for players and fans to better equip themselves for planning and strategizing. It is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.
Lacrosse is known for its fast pace, strategic gameplay, and physical endurance. Different levels of play in Lacrosse, including high school, college, and professional leagues, have variable game lengths.
In this article, we will break down how long a lacrosse game lasts and the number of periods and quarters in the game. We will also look at other factors that can influence lacrosse.
How Long Is a Lacrosse Game?
So, how long is a lacrosse game?
The duration of a lacrosse game varies based on the level of play. Typically, lacrosse games range from 48 to 60 minutes of regular play, divided into four quarters or two halves, depending on the league. Things like stoppages, timeouts, overtime, and penalties can increase the overall game time.
Here’s a general breakdown of regulation times:
- High School Lacrosse: 48 minutes (four 12-minute quarters)
- College Lacrosse: 60 minutes (four 15-minute quarters)
- Professional Lacrosse: 48–60 minutes (depending on the league)
- Youth Lacrosse: Varies, typically shorter games
Lacrosse Game Structure: Periods and Quarters
How many periods in lacrosse?
In most leagues, lacrosse games are divided into either four quarters or two halves. Each quarter or half also includes things like stoppages, penalties, timeouts, and official reviews. It can result in an extension of the actual game length.
The typical structure of a lacrosse game looks like this.
- The game lasts for about 48 minutes or 60 minutes.
- It has four quarters of 12 minutes or 15 minutes.
- It has a halftime for at least 10 minutes.
- There is also an overtime in case of a tied game in the regulation play.
How Long Is a High School Lacrosse Game?
So, how long is a high school lacrosse game?
The game length in lacrosse becomes more consistent in a high school setting. The boy’s high school game is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes with a 10-minute halftime and a 60-minute duration.
There is a two-minute break between quarters and a 10-minute halftime. Each team gets two timeouts per half. In case of a tie, there is a sudden victory format where they play a four-minute extension. The first goal in that period wins the game. If there are no goals in that period, they will continue to play until a team scores.
How Long Is a College Lacrosse Game?
The lacrosse games at college are standardized at 60 minutes of playtime for both men and women. These games have four fifteen-minute quarters.
Just like high school games, these games also have a two-minute break between quarters and a 10-minute halftime. Both men and women have the same format.
How Long Is a Professional Lacrosse Game?
Professional lacrosse is a different ball game and that is why it has its own set of rules. The length of a professional lacrosse game depends on the league you are playing or watching.
There are two professional leagues in this competitive sport. Have a look at the leagues.
Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Game Length
It is an outdoor lacrosse league that was launched in 2019. This league has a slightly shorter game length than the other one.
- Game Duration: 48 minutes
- Quarters: Four 12-minute quarters
- Halftime: 10 minutes
- Overtime: Sudden victory
In this league, teams get 3-minute breaks after the first and third quarters. It also has a 10-minute halftime.
National Lacrosse League (NLL) Game Length (Indoor Lacrosse)
This is an indoor lacrosse league that is played for 60 minutes. It has a longer time control than the other one. This league has four 15-minute quarters.
- Game Duration: 60 minutes
- Quarters: Four 15-minute quarters
- Halftime: 12 minutes
- Overtime: Sudden victory
The total length of this league can vary as it has timeouts, quarters, halftime breaks, and the occasional overtime.
How Long Do Youth Lacrosse Games Last?
So, how long do youth lacrosse games last? This is where you will see a lot of variation in the game lengths as these vary depending on the age group you can consider.
Here is the game duration of an average lacrosse game based on the age group you are considering.
- Under-8: Two 12-minute halves or four 6-minute quarters
- Under-10: Four 8-minute quarters
- Under-12: Four 10-minute quarters
- Under-14: Four 12-minute quarters (similar to high school lacrosse)
Youth lacrosse games have shorter overtime periods and more flexible rules to accommodate younger players. You can see from the above list, that the length of a lacrosse game generally increases with the age group.
Factors That Can Affect Game Length
Many factors might affect the length of a lacrosse game. Here is the list of factors, have a look.
1. Timeouts and Stoppages
There are going to be timeouts and stoppages during games. Each team is allowed multiple timeouts, typically two per half. At times, injury stoppages and referee reviews can also lead to long games.
2. Overtime Rules
Overtime can also add some extra time to a lacrosse game. Most leagues use the sudden-death format, where the team that scores first wins. However, some leagues have a fixed overtime period before entering a sudden-death format.
3. Penalties and Reviews
During the player penalties, the teams can have a man down. It can lead to a slow pace of play. Sometimes, video reviews and officiating decisions can also add extra time to the total length of a lacrosse game.
4. Weather Delays
It is possible that outdoor lacrosse games can be affected by sudden weather changes.
Conclusion
So, how long is a lacrosse game? Lacrosse game durations differ based on the level of competition, but the typical duration is between 48 and 60 minutes of regulation time. Youth and high school games are shorter, whereas college and professional games are longer. Overtime, penalties, and timeouts can affect the total length of a game.
Newcomers, coaches, and fans need to know the game duration to understand the game better. So, no matter which lacrosse game you are watching, knowing about it will make you enjoy it even more.
