What is a major foul in men's lacrosse?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and penalties · 7 of 8A major foul is one of the serious ones: an illegal body check, slashing, a cross-check, tripping, unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct. The player goes to the penalty box for one, two or three minutes, by the officials' view of how severe and deliberate it was, and the ball usually goes to the team fouled. A player with five major fouls is out of the game.
How it works
- The penalty: "suspension from the game for a period of 1, 2 or 3 minutes", by "the severity and intention of the foul".
- The ball: "shall normally be given to the Team that has been fouled".
- Illegal body check: on a player without the ball and not near it, from behind, below the hips or at the neck, or late.
- Slashing: swinging the stick "in a dangerous or reckless way", even without hitting anything.
- A stick to the head or neck: illegal, except by a player in the act of passing or shooting.
- Striking the body: a check may strike only the gloved hands on the stick, unless the attacker uses their body to block it.
- Cross-check: checking with the part of the shaft between the hands.
- Tripping: intentionally, with stick or body.
- Unnecessary roughness: "an excessively violent infraction" of the rules on holding or pushing, or any deliberate and excessively violent act.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: arguing with an official, abusive language, repeating the same minor foul, a trick stick.
- Five major fouls: the player is "fouled-out" and takes no further part. A substitute may come on after the penalty time.
- Before a face-off: the ball goes to the other team at the centre.
The glossary has the major foul, the illegal body check, slashing, the cross-check and tripping entry and the fouling out entry. Its entries are written for sixes.
Tricky cases
A defender swings at a stick and misses everything. Is that a foul?
Yes, if the swing was dangerous or reckless. Slashing does not need contact.
An attacker's follow-through after a shot hits a defender's helmet. Is that slashing?
No. A strike on the helmet or neck is not illegal when done in the act of passing or shooting.
A defender checks an attacker's stick and hits the attacker's arm, which the attacker raised to block. Is that a slash?
Not if the attacker used the arm to block the check, unless the check struck the head or neck.
A player has five major fouls. Can the team replace them?
Yes. The player serves the time for the fifth foul, and a substitute may enter when it has expired.
Why the rule exists
Major fouls are about safety. Lacrosse is played with hard sticks and body contact, so the penalties for dangerous use of either are longer and are always served. The range of one to three minutes lets the officials match the penalty to the danger.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men's field | One to three minutes | WL Men Rule 68.1 |
| Five major fouls | Fouled out | WL Men Rule 76.1 |
| Trick stick | Three minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct | WL Men Rule 75.3 |
| Sixes | One minute; three majors and the player is out | From the sixes set |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2027 Men's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 1.0), Rules 68 to 76. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Men's Field Lacrosse 2025-2027 (PDF).