How does the draw work in women's lacrosse?
B · Beginner · The game · 3 of 5Each quarter, each overtime period and each goal restarts with a draw in the centre circle. Two players stand with their crosses held back to back above hip level and the ball between them. On the whistle both lift their sticks up and away, and the ball must fly higher than both their heads. Up to three players a team may stand between the restraining lines; the rest wait behind them.
How it works
- When: "At the start of each quarter of the game, at the start of each overtime period, and after each goal."
- Ready in 30 seconds: after a goal.
- Three in the middle: "A maximum of three players from each team may be in the Midfield Area during the center Draw."
- Everyone else: behind the restraining lines until a player has the ball or it crosses the line.
- Outside the circle: players not taking the draw stay out of the centre circle until the whistle.
- Setting it: one foot toeing the centre line, sticks above hip level, back to back, along the line.
- "Ready": the players must stay still until the whistle.
- The draw: "both players must immediately draw their Crosses up and away from one another".
- Height: "The flight of the ball must go higher than the heads of both players taking the Draw."
- Illegal draw: a free position to the opponent. If both draw illegally, it is reset.
- Straight out of bounds: alternate possession.
- Self-start: after a foul outside the advantage flag area, the player awarded the ball may restart without a whistle, once both feet are still and the ball is in the stick.
The glossary has the center draw, the draw positions entry, the alternate possession entry and the restart entry. Its entries are written for sixes.
Tricky cases
The ball pops up but only to shoulder height. What happens?
It is an illegal draw unless the official decides it was set wrongly. The ball must go higher than both players' heads.
A fourth player runs into the midfield area before the official says "Ready". Is that allowed?
Players may not cross into the midfield area after "Ready". Before then, a team may have at most three there.
Can the goalkeeper go up to the midfield for the draw?
No. Goalkeepers must stay in their defending area during the draw.
A fouled player wants to restart at once. Must they wait for the whistle?
Not outside the advantage flag area. The player may self-start when both feet are still and the ball is in the stick.
Why the rule exists
The draw makes every restart after a goal a contest for the ball. Making it rise above both heads stops either player from flicking it to a team-mate along the ground. The self-start keeps the game flowing after fouls.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Women's field | A draw at the centre, ball above both heads | WL Women Rule 13.A.5 |
| Men's field | A face-off on the ground | WL Men Rule 34 |
| Sixes women | A standing draw, ball above head height | WL Sixes Rule 6.4.2W; 6.4.3W |
| Self-start | Not in the advantage flag area | WL Women Rule 13.A.9 |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2025-2026 Women's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules, Rules 13, 15.B.4, 16.A.3 and 19.A.1 to 19.B.5. Checked 21 October 2026. Official document: World Lacrosse Women's Field Rules 2025-2026 (PDF).