What is a major foul in lacrosse sixes?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and penalties · 6 of 7A major foul is one of the serious ones: a body check, a slash, a cross-check, a trip, unnecessary roughness, walling in front of the goal, an illegal stick or unsportsmanlike conduct. The player sits out for one minute and the other team gets the ball. A player who commits three is out of the game.
How it works
- The penalty: "Suspension from the game for a period of one minute", with the ball to the other team.
- Yellow card: the official's signal.
- No body checking: "Body-checking an opponent in any form is strictly prohibited", from any direction.
- What is still allowed: incidental contact of equal pressure, and legal holds and pushes.
- Slashing: swinging the stick at an opponent's stick with aggression or recklessly, whether or not it lands.
- Cross-check: hitting an opponent with the shaft between the hands.
- Tripping: on purpose, with the stick or the body.
- Unnecessary roughness: deliberate and excessively violent contact, such as lowering a shoulder into a set opponent.
- Walling: two or more defenders standing in a wall in front of the goal without marking anyone.
- Illegal stick: one that fails the measurements or is strung to hold the ball.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: arguing with an official, abuse or repeating the same minor foul.
- Fouling out: three major fouls by one player.
The glossary has the major foul, the illegal body check, slashing, the cross-check and tripping entry, walling and fouling out.
Tricky cases
A defender shoulders an attacker who has the ball. Is that allowed in sixes?
No. Any body check is a major foul, whether or not the opponent has the ball.
A defender swings hard at the ball carrier's stick and misses. Foul?
Yes. Slashing is called for a swing with intentional aggression or reckless disregard, whether or not contact is made.
Three defenders stand shoulder to shoulder on the crease line while the attack passes round the outside. Foul?
Yes, walling: they are stationary, side by side and not actively defending an opponent.
A goalkeeper is given a major foul. Does it count towards the In-Home's three?
No. Major fouls served by the In-Home for a goalkeeper or team official do not count against the In-Home.
Why the rule exists
Sixes took the body check out of lacrosse altogether, so that women and men could play one format and players could wear less padding. The major fouls are the list of contact that remains dangerous with a hard shaft in the hands, plus walling, which would smother a small goal.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All games | No body checking | WL Sixes Rule 8.3.1 |
| Men's game | A stick check may strike only the gloved hand on the stick, not the body, helmet or neck | WL Sixes Rule 8.3.2M |
| Women's game | A dangerous follow-through with the stick is also a major foul | WL Sixes Rule 8.3.7W |
| Field lacrosse, men | Body checking is allowed within limits | WL Men Rule 41.1 |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2026-2028 Sixes Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 2.0, May 2026), Rules 8.1 to 8.3 and 9.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Lacrosse Sixes Rule Book 2026-2028 (PDF).