How does the penalty box work in men's lacrosse?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and penalties · 8 of 8The player sits in the penalty box by the timekeeper's table, and the team plays a player short. The time starts when the player sits down or play restarts, whichever is later. It runs only during playing time. If the other team scores, players serving minor fouls are released. Players serving major fouls stay for the full time.
How it works
- The box: "two seats for each Team next to the timer's table".
- When time starts: when the player sits down "or when the whistle blows to re-start play, whichever is the later".
- Playing time only: penalty time stops for goals, for awarding penalties and in timeouts.
- A goal releases minor fouls: a goal against a team with players serving minor fouls releases them from the rest of that time.
- Not major fouls: "the designated penalty time shall be served regardless of whether a goal is scored".
- Where the ball goes: after a time penalty in the fouled team's defensive half, the ball is given to it over the centre line.
- Extra player at the end of a period: the team with the ball keeps it to start the next period, in the same place.
- Leaving early: a minor foul.
- The goalkeeper: if the goalkeeper has a time penalty, the officials give a 30-second timeout for the change. A tournament may have a nominated defender serve it.
- Coming back: a penalised player returning, or the substitute replacing them, goes through the substitution area.
The glossary has the penalty time served entry, the substitution area and the in-home. "Man up" and "man down" are common usage and are not in the book.
Tricky cases
A player is serving 30 seconds for holding and a minute for slashing. The other team scores. Who comes out?
Nobody yet. The 30 seconds end with the goal, but the full minute for the slash is still served.
A penalty is called with ten seconds left in the first quarter. What happens at the break?
The player may leave the box between periods but must be back when play restarts to finish the time.
Does the penalty clock run while the ball is out of bounds?
It follows the game clock. In most of the game the clock runs through dead balls. In the last 30 seconds of the first three quarters and the last two minutes of the fourth, both clocks stop.
A team has four players in the box. Can it still play?
Yes. It must keep three players in its attacking half and the rest in its defending half.
Why the rule exists
A time penalty is meant to give the other team a real chance with an extra player. Releasing a minor-foul penalty on a goal stops a small foul from costing more than one goal. Major fouls are about danger, so their time is always served.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minor-foul time | Released by a goal against the team | WL Men Rule 79.6 |
| Major-foul time | Served in full | WL Men Rule 79.6 |
| Restart after a time penalty in the fouled team's half | Ball over the centre line | WL Men Rule 80.1 |
| Sixes | The book does not release a penalty on a goal | From the sixes set |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2027 Men's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 1.0), Rules 13, 29.2, 34.1, 47.4, 61.2, 65.1 and 79 to 80. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Men's Field Lacrosse 2025-2027 (PDF).