What can the goalkeeper do in men's lacrosse, and who may enter the crease?
I · Intermediate · Positions and play · 4 of 8The crease is the 3-metre circle round the goal. No attacker may enter it while the ball is live in that half. Inside it the goalkeeper may stop the ball with stick, body or hand. No opponent may touch the goalkeeper there. A goalkeeper or defender with the ball in the crease must get it out within five seconds.
How it works
- No attackers: "An attacking Player shall not be in their opponents' goal crease area, nor shall they touch any part of the goal".
- The goalkeeper's hand: may block or bat the ball, but not catch it, close a hand over it or pick it up.
- Not to be touched: "No opposing Player may initiate contact with the goalkeeper or their stick while the goalkeeper is within the goal crease area".
- Reaching in: an attacker may reach in with the stick to play a loose ball, without touching the goalkeeper.
- Outside the cylinder: a goalkeeper's stick that sticks out beyond the circle, without the ball, may be checked.
- Five seconds: the ball must leave the crease within five seconds of gaining it there, counted aloud by the official.
- No going back: a defender outside the crease with the ball may not enter it, and once the ball leaves the crease the team may not send it back in.
- In or out: a player is in the crease if any part of the body touches it.
- The goalkeeper's stick: a head up to 38.1 cm wide and a stick from 101.6 to 182.88 cm long.
- Penalties: a crease breach is a minor foul. A defensive breach gives the ball to the attack 18.3 m from goal.
- Nominated defender: a tournament may have a long-stick defender serve the goalkeeper's time penalties.
The glossary has the goal crease, the goalkeeper privileges entry, the crease restrictions entry and the five-second crease count.
Tricky cases
An attacker is pushed into the crease by a defender. Is it a crease violation?
Not if the defender illegally pushed them in and they leave at once without interfering with the goalkeeper. If they interfere, play is stopped.
The goalkeeper lifts one foot outside the crease and puts it back down. Has the goalkeeper left the crease?
Yes, if the foot touched the ground outside. A goalkeeper who has left with the ball and comes back has broken the rule.
Can a defender pass the ball back to the goalkeeper in the crease?
Not after the ball has already left the crease in that possession. The team must not cause the ball to return there until an opponent has had it.
Can a shot hit the goalkeeper and still reset the shot clock?
Yes. A shot that hits the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper's equipment in the crease resets the shot clock.
Why the rule exists
The goalkeeper faces hard shots from close range and needs protection to play the ball. Keeping attackers out of the crease and banning contact there gives the goalkeeper that space. The five-second count stops a team from hiding the ball in the crease.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper's privileges | Hand may block or bat, not catch | WL Men Rule 48.1 |
| Five-second count | Ball out of the crease in five seconds | WL Men Rule 49.3 |
| Crease breach | Minor foul | WL Men Rule 61.9 |
| Goalkeeper's time penalty | Officials give a 30-second timeout for the change | WL Men Rule 79.7 |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2027 Men's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 1.0), Rules 3, 15.3, 43.5, 47 to 49, 61.9, 79.7 and 80.2. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: Rules of Men's Field Lacrosse 2025-2027 (PDF).