What are the centre-line rules in lacrosse sixes?
I · Intermediate · Keeping the ball in play · 3 of 7There are two. A team that gains the ball in its own half has ten seconds to get it over the centre line. Once the ball is in the attacking half, that team may not let it go back over the line. Breaking either rule gives the ball to the other team.
How it works
- Ten seconds: from gaining possession in the defensive half, the ball must cross the centre line.
- What counts as across: both feet of the ball carrier in the offensive half, or the ball in flight over the line and not touching it.
- Both teams: the count applies to whichever team has the ball in its own half.
- A fresh count: after a timeout or a stoppage in the defensive half, the team gets a new ten seconds. The shot clock does not reset.
- Over and back: once the ball is in the offensive zone it may not touch or cross the centre line through the attacking team's actions.
- Penalty: a change of possession, restarted 2 m from the nearest boundary.
- Saving it: a player may bat the ball to keep it in before it crosses, but not with their feet in the defensive half.
- Not a violation: a valid shot that leaves the zone.
- Not a violation: a loose ball last touched by the defending team.
- Not a violation: a loose ball leaving the zone when the defence is called for a loose-ball foul.
- The goalkeeper: may not cross the centre line at all. That is offside.
The glossary has over and back, the ten-second count, clearing, the offensive and defensive zones, possession and the shot clock.
Tricky cases
A player has the ball with one foot over the centre line when the count reaches ten. Violation?
Yes. Both feet of the player in possession must be in the offensive half.
Under pressure, an attacker passes back to a teammate who is standing in their own half. What is the call?
Over and back. The ball goes to the other team.
A defender checks the ball loose and it rolls back over the centre line, where an attacker picks it up. Violation?
No. A loose ball last touched by the defensive team may be recovered in the defensive half.
A shot misses, hits nothing and rolls back over the centre line. Over and back?
No. A valid shot leaving the offensive zone is not a violation.
Why the rule exists
With a 30-second shot clock a team could still waste time by passing around its own half or retreating there under pressure. The two centre-line rules close both doors: get into attack quickly and stay there.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ball gained in the defensive half | Ten seconds to cross | WL Sixes Rule 6.9.1 |
| Restart in the defensive half after a stoppage | New ten-second count, same shot clock | WL Sixes Rule 6.9.2 |
| Ball returned over the line by the attack | Change of possession | WL Sixes Rule 6.8.1 |
| Goalkeeper touches or crosses the centre line | Offside, a minor foul | WL Sixes Rule 7.2.10 |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2026-2028 Sixes Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 2.0, May 2026), Rules 6.8, 6.9 and 7.2.10. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Lacrosse Sixes Rule Book 2026-2028 (PDF).