How do time penalties work in lacrosse sixes?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and penalties · 7 of 7A penalised player sits in the penalty area beside the scorer's table for 30 seconds, one minute or two, and their team plays a player short. The time is served in full: a goal by the other team does not end it. Play restarts with the fouled team holding the ball on the penalty dot in its attacking half.
How it works
- Three lengths: 30 seconds for a minor foul, one minute for a major, two minutes for an expulsion.
- Three cards: green, yellow and red.
- Where: the penalty area, two seats for each team next to the timer's table.
- When the time starts: when the player is seated or play restarts, whichever is later.
- Running time: penalty time runs with playing time.
- In full: "Penalty time will only end when the timing of the foul has expired."
- The restart: the non-offending team has the ball on the penalty dot, 2 m from the centre line and 5 m from the side line.
- The countdown: the penalty timekeeper counts aloud, "10 seconds, 5 seconds, 4, 3, 2, 1, Release".
- Coming back: through the substitution area.
- Breaks: the player stays in the penalty area through timeouts and quarter breaks, but not half-time.
- Goalkeepers: their time is served by the In-Home.
- Leaving early: a minor foul, and the player goes back to finish the time.
The glossary has penalty time served, the foul cards, the penalty dot, the in-home, the minor foul and the major foul.
Tricky cases
A team is a player down for one minute and concedes after ten seconds. Does the player come back on?
No. Penalty time ends only when the time has expired.
A quarter ends with 20 seconds of a penalty left. What happens?
The player stays in the penalty area and serves the rest when play resumes. The team that had the ball keeps it for the restart.
A player leaves the penalty area on their own five seconds early and their team scores. Does the goal count?
No. The goal is disallowed, the ball goes to the defence and the player returns to serve the remaining time.
Two opponents commit minor fouls on each other at the same moment. Who sits out?
Neither. Coincidental minor fouls offset and no penalty time is served.
Why the rule exists
With five field players, losing one is a large handicap, so the times are short. Serving them in full keeps the cost of a foul fixed whatever the other team does with its advantage, and starting from a set dot gets the game going again without argument about the spot.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minor foul against a team with the ball | 30 seconds, green card | WL Sixes Rule 7.1.2; 9.5.1 |
| Major foul | One minute, yellow card | WL Sixes Rule 8.1.2; 9.5.1 |
| Expulsion foul | Two minutes served by the In-Home, red card | WL Sixes Rule 8.4.2; 9.5.1 |
| Field lacrosse, men | Minor-foul penalties end when the other team scores | WL Men Rule 79.6 |
From the rule book
World Lacrosse, 2026-2028 Sixes Lacrosse Official Playing Rules (version 2.0, May 2026), Rules 1.1.3, 1.4.2, 4.2.2, 6.4.1, 6.5.4, 6.6.3, 9.4 and 9.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Lacrosse Sixes Rule Book 2026-2028 (PDF).