What do yellow and red cards mean in women's lacrosse?
A · Advanced · Fouls and cards · 3 of 3A yellow card costs two minutes, a second yellow five and a straight red ten. A player shown a second yellow or a red is out for the rest of the game. Carded players serve their time in the team bench area, and the team plays one short in both its attacking and defending areas. Cards are mandatory for the most dangerous fouls.
How it works
- When: "Fouls that are judged to be dangerous/intentional/breakdown fouls to stop play may be carded."
- Mandatory: a check to the head, a swipe, a dangerous follow-through and a dangerous propel.
- Discretionary: for persistent major fouls, and for misconduct by coaches or staff.
- Times: "2 minutes for a yellow card, 5 minutes for a second yellow card (a yellow and red card shown together), and 10 minutes for a straight red card".
- Out for the game: after a second yellow or a straight red, the player serves the time and takes no further part.
- Where: in the team bench area.
- Playing short: "their team must play with one less player in their Attacking Area and Defending Area".
- Coming back: only an eligible substitute may enter, once the time has expired. Entering early restarts the time.
- Across quarters: the time carries over into the next quarter and overtime.
- The goalkeeper: with no second goalkeeper dressed, a yellow-carded goalkeeper stays on and a field player serves the time.
- Coaches and staff: a field player serves the time for them. A red card suspends the coach for the game.
- Recorded: against the offender, whoever serves it.
The glossary has the foul cards entry, the expulsion foul and the penalty time served entry. Its entries are written for sixes.
Tricky cases
A player gets a second yellow card. How long is the team short?
Five minutes. The player is out for the rest of the game, and a substitute may come on when the five minutes end.
The team's only goalkeeper is shown a yellow card. Must the team play without a goalkeeper?
No. The goalkeeper stays on, and the field player nearest the substitution area serves the two minutes.
A coach is shown a yellow card for misconduct. Who serves it?
A field player nearest the substitution area, for two minutes. The team plays one short.
A yellow card is shown with one minute left in the third quarter. What happens at the break?
The remaining minute carries over into the fourth quarter.
Why the rule exists
In a game without a penalty box for ordinary fouls, cards are the time penalty. Playing one short in both areas turns a card into a real disadvantage. Making cards mandatory for blows near the head reflects that field players wear no helmets.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Women's field | 2, 5 or 10 minutes, team one short in each area | WL Women Rule 23.B.2; 23.B.5 |
| Mandatory cards | Four named major fouls | WL Women Rule 23.A.2 |
| Men's field | Penalty box for all time penalties; expulsion for the worst | WL Men Rule 68; 77 |
| Simultaneous fouls | Red, then yellow, then major, then minor | WL Women Rule 16.B.4 |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2026 Women's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules, Rules 16.B.4, 22 and 23. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: World Lacrosse Women's Field Rules 2025-2026 (PDF).