Quick Answer
Box lacrosse is the indoor six a side game played on a hockey rink floor about 200 by 85 feet. It has a 30 second shot clock, two minute minor penalties, legal cross checking, and sticks capped at 42 inches under World Lacrosse and NLL rules. Field lacrosse is the outdoor ten a side game on a 110 by 60 yard field. It has an 80 second shot clock in NCAA play (70 seconds by state adoption in high school from 2027), one to three minute personal fouls, no cross checking, and long poles up to 72 inches. Both use timed penalties, a penalty box and man up play. Box gear adds rib and kidney pads and a goalie kit closer to hockey. The jersey is the one piece of kit that works in both: a sublimated set with numbers costs $79.99 at Hamco for 1 to 24 pieces, and a hockey cut jersey for box teams is $49.99.
Box lacrosse vs field lacrosse is the question every coach gets when a field program adds a winter box season or a Canadian box kid shows up at a spring tryout. The two games share a ball, a stick and the goal, and almost nothing else: the floor, the roster size, the clock, the penalties, the pads and the whole offensive logic are different. This guide puts the rule book numbers side by side: the World Lacrosse box rule book and the NLL on one side, the NFHS and NCAA field rules on the other. Then it covers the gear each format requires and the strategy habits that transfer. If you are outfitting a team for either format, custom lacrosse uniforms are the one purchase that carries over, so start there.
One honesty note before the comparison. The old version of this page said field lacrosse removes a penalized player for a single play while box uses a penalty box. That was wrong. Field lacrosse has a penalty box, timed penalties and man up offense too; the difference is how long the penalties run and what counts as a foul. The corrected numbers are below. For a per player buying list by age, our youth lacrosse equipment checklist covers field gear, and this page adds what box requires on top.
What is the difference between box lacrosse and field lacrosse?
Field lacrosse is the older game. It is played outdoors on a rectangular field that NFHS Rule 1.2 sets at 110 yards long and 53 1/3 to 60 yards wide, with ten players per side including a goalkeeper. High school plays under NFHS rules, college under NCAA rules, and international play under World Lacrosse rules; college and international games run four 15 minute quarters, per Wikipedia’s field lacrosse entry. Our lacrosse field dimensions guide has every line on that field. Box lacrosse, also called boxla or indoor lacrosse, started in Canada in the 1930s so hockey arenas could stay busy in summer. The first professional games were played in 1931, per Wikipedia’s box lacrosse entry. It is played six a side, five runners and a goalie, inside the dasher boards of a hockey rink. World Lacrosse’s regulation box floor is 200 by 85 feet. Wikipedia gives the general range as 180 to 200 feet long and 80 to 90 feet wide, usually the concrete under the melted ice. The NLL plays on artificial turf laid over the ice. Canada is where box is bigger than field: the Mann Cup has been played under box rules since 1932 and the Minto Cup since 1937.
Box lacrosse rules compared to field lacrosse rules
Here are the box lacrosse rules and field rules a coach feels on the first day, with the rule number so you can look each one up. Box numbers come from the World Lacrosse Box Rule Book 2026 to 2028 and the NLL 2025/26 rule book. Field numbers come from the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules and the NCAA 2026 table crew sheet. Where the Canadian minor system differs, the row says so.
| Rule | Box lacrosse | Field lacrosse |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 6 per side, 5 runners and a goalkeeper (World Lacrosse rule book, NLL Rule 23.1) | 10 per side: goalkeeper, 3 defense, 3 midfield, 3 attack (NFHS Rule 2.1) |
| Playing area | 200 by 85 ft floor inside dasher boards (World Lacrosse diagram); 180 to 200 by 80 to 90 ft in general use | 110 yd by 53 1/3 to 60 yd (NFHS Rule 1.2.1); 110 by 60 yd NCAA |
| Shot clock | 30 seconds from possession (World Lacrosse 6.6, NLL 49.1) | NCAA: 80 seconds, reset to 60 in set situations; NFHS: none nationally, 70 second clock by state adoption from 2027; PLL: 52 seconds, 32 after a faceoff |
| Game length | 4 quarters of 15 minutes, 60 minutes (World Lacrosse 5.1.1, NLL 9.1); Canadian minor and senior box: 3 periods of 20 minutes | NFHS varsity: 4 periods of 12 minutes (Rule 3.1.1); NCAA and international: 4 quarters of 15 minutes |
| Crease | Radius 9 ft 3 in (World Lacrosse 1.1.7, NLL Rule 1) | Radius 9 ft (NFHS Rule 1.3) |
| Stick length, field players | 40 to 42 in (World Lacrosse 2.2.1, NLL 30.1); Canadian box allows up to 46 in per Wikipedia | Short crosse 40 to 42 in, long crosse 52 to 72 in (NFHS Rule 1.6.1) |
| Goalkeeper stick | 40 to 72 in (World Lacrosse 2.2) | 40 to 72 in (NFHS 1.6.1) |
| Cross checking | Legal on the arms below the shoulders and above the waist, both hands on the stick, on a ball carrier (World Lacrosse 8.4.1, NLL Rule 63) | Personal foul, 1 to 3 minutes (NFHS Rule 5.2) |
| Penalties | Minor 2 minutes, major 5 minutes, served in the penalty box; the fouled team gets possession (World Lacrosse 7.2.1 and 7.3.1) | Personal fouls 1 to 3 minutes, technical fouls 30 seconds or possession, served in the penalty box (NFHS Rule 5.1, 6.1); man up and man down play |
| Advancing the ball | 10 seconds to get the ball across the center line (World Lacrosse 6.4.1) | NFHS: 10 second count to the goal area until 2027, when a 20 second count to cross the center line replaces it |
Three things stand out. First, the shot clock gap is the whole personality of each game: 30 seconds in box against 80 in college field means a box offense has to be running a set the moment it crosses the line. Second, both formats have a penalty box and both run man up and man down, so a field coach already has the power play vocabulary. The box version just runs longer and more often. Third, cross checking flips from a personal foul to a core defensive skill. That is why a field defender’s first week in box is spent learning to use both hands on the shaft instead of a six foot pole.
The radar chart puts six of those numbers on one scale. Box is inside field on everything except the crease, which is three inches bigger in box. The shot clock axis and the stick axis are the two that change how you coach. The players and area axes are the two that change how tired your runners are: six players cover 17,000 square feet of floor with few stoppages, while ten players share 59,400 square feet of grass.
What does the shot clock change for field lacrosse in 2027?
This section is new because the rule is new. On August 13, 2026 the NFHS announced that all states may adopt a 70 second shot clock for high school boys lacrosse starting with the 2027 season. The decision followed a two year experiment by New York’s public school association. The clock starts when a team clears its defensive half or gains possession in its offensive half. At 60 seconds the ball has to be in the offensive half or possession goes to the other team. The same release ends the 10 second count and replaces it with 20 seconds to get the ball across the center line. It also moves game balls to fluorescent green or yellow from January 1, 2029. For a field coach, that is the first time high school field will feel a little like box, and it is a reason to borrow box habits now: quicker entries, fewer perimeter passes, more two man game.
Indoor lacrosse gear vs field lacrosse equipment
Wearing field gear in a box game is not just a performance problem. Box leagues list extra protection as required, and the officials check. The table is the box lax equipment guide most coaches are missing, with indoor lacrosse gear on the left and field lacrosse equipment on the right, with the rule reference for each item. Field items are from NFHS Rule 1.9.1 and the USA Lacrosse equipment page; box items are from World Lacrosse Rule 2.5.1 and NLL Rule 33.1.
| Item | Box lacrosse (World Lacrosse 2.5.1, NLL 33.1) | Field lacrosse (NFHS 1.9.1, USA Lacrosse) |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet | Helmet with attached facemask and chinstrap, approved by NOCSAE or the CSA, and it must pass a ball and stick test: the ball cannot pass through the facemask. NLL runners use a hockey helmet with a box lacrosse facemask, per Wikipedia | Lacrosse helmet meeting the NOCSAE standard, chin strap attached, same color across the team |
| Mouthguard | Intra oral mouthguard required | Required; NFHS dropped the color rules for 2026 |
| Gloves | Protective gloves | Protective gloves |
| Shoulder and chest | Shoulder or vest pads; NLL adds a chest and heart protection pad | Shoulder pads meeting NOCSAE ND200, SEI certified, required since January 1, 2022 |
| Rib and kidney | Rib pads required (World Lacrosse and NLL); back and kidney pads standard in Canadian box | Not in the NFHS mandatory list; USA Lacrosse lists rib pads as optional |
| Arm pads | Not in the World Lacrosse or NLL required list; Wikipedia lists arm pads as standard box gear | Arm pads required |
| Protective cup | Required for goalkeepers in the rule text; standard for runners | Required for all players (NFHS 1.9.1f) |
| Goalkeeper | Arm and chest protector, goalkeeper pants, throat guard, cup and shin guards, with width limits the referee can measure (World Lacrosse 2.7) | Throat protector and a chest protector meeting ND200; shoulder and arm pads optional for the goalie |
| Footwear | Turf or court shoes on the floor; no cleats | Shoes designed for lacrosse, no metal spikes (NFHS 1.9.1g) |
| Jersey | Numbered jersey over the pads; NLL requires a 10 inch back number and the surname 3 inches high across the shoulders (Rule 24) | Single solid color, numbers at least 8 inches front and back from 2026 |
Two corrections to what this page used to say. Box helmets are not simply hockey helmets. The rule is a helmet and facemask combination approved by NOCSAE or the CSA that passes the ball and stick test. The NLL version is a hockey shell with a lacrosse facemask, per Wikipedia. And box does not universally require shin guards or throat protectors for runners; those are goalkeeper items in the World Lacrosse and NLL text. What box does add for every runner is rib protection and a chest pad, which is where the extra money goes.
Which jersey works for both formats?
The uniform is the one piece a program can buy once. A field cut jersey with 8 inch numbers (the NFHS minimum from 2026) works in box as long as it clears the bigger pads. Many box teams prefer a hockey cut because the arm holes clear the shoulder caps. Here is what Hamco publishes for each option, all prices with names, numbers and crest included, a free mockup in 12 hours, free shipping and no minimum order.
| Piece | Spec from the product page | 1 to 24 | 25 to 50 | 51 to 100 | 101 plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lacrosse uniform set (jersey and shorts) | About 150 GSM sublimated pro mesh, jersey cut over shoulder pads and arm guards, shorts with drawcord | $79.99 | $76.99 | $74.99 | $69.99 |
| Lacrosse jersey alone | Same pro mesh, relaxed cut over pads, sold individually | $44.99 | $42.99 | $39.99 | $36.99 |
| Lacrosse shorts alone | 150 GSM polyester, elastic waist, pocketless game cut | $39.99 | $36.99 | $34.99 | $32.99 |
| Hockey cut game jersey for box teams | About 240 GSM double knit air mesh, reinforced shoulder and elbow zones, lace up V neck or crew | $49.99 | $44.99 | $42.99 | $39.99 |
| Reversible pinnie for practice | About 140 GSM single layer micro mesh, two sublimated sides | $49.99 | $46.99 | $42.99 | $39.99 |
| Shooting shirt | About 150 GSM performance polyester from the same artwork as the jersey | $34.99 | $32.99 | $29.99 | $26.99 |
A 15 player box roster in hockey cut jerseys is $749.85 at the 1 to 24 price; a 20 player field roster in full sets is $1,599.80. Production is 3 weeks from an approved mockup and rush is 10 to 12 business days. Custom orders are not returnable per the refund and production policy, so check sizes over the pads the players will wear.
Strategic differences coaches must understand
Offense
Field offense is built on space: dodging from X, sliding and recovering, two on one in the alleys, and 80 seconds to find the shot. Box offense is built on picks: Wikipedia describes the 2 2 1 house set, constant picks like basketball, and the 30 second clock. In box, hesitation is a turnover, because the clock horn hands the ball over. For a field coach, the fastest wins are the two man game and shooting on the run, both of which carry straight back outdoors.
Defense
Field defense is positional and uses the long pole. Box defense is physical and uses the cross check on the ball carrier, which World Lacrosse Rule 8.4.1 allows on the arms between the shoulders and the waist. Checks above the shoulders, below the waist or on the back are still illegal in both games. Slides in box are shorter and later because there is no space to recover. The boards change angles on loose balls, which is why box drills spend time on balls off the wall. Our lacrosse positions guide explains how the field roles map onto box runners.
Goaltending
Box goalies face more shots from closer range and wear far more gear: the World Lacrosse rule book lists arm and chest protectors, goalkeeper pants, a throat guard and shin guards, with maximum widths the referee can measure. Field goalies wear a throat protector and an ND200 chest protector and rely on angle play from a 9 foot crease. Treat them as two different positions with two different training plans; the save mechanics do not transfer the way stick skills do.
Tips for coaches moving between formats
- Coach from the right rule book. High school field is NFHS, college is NCAA, international is World Lacrosse; box in Canada runs under Lacrosse Canada, pro box under NLL, and international box under World Lacrosse. The numbers in the tables above differ between them.
- Audit the pads, not just the helmets. Rib pads and a chest pad are required for box runners and optional or absent in field. Do it with the coach’s game day gear checklist so nothing is assumed.
- Teach the clock first. A 30 second box offense and, from 2027, a 70 second high school field offense both punish perimeter passing. Run shot clock scrimmages in practice.
- Teach the cross check before the first box game. A field defender who checks with one hand on a short stick gets beaten; one who cross checks above the shoulders takes a minor.
- Use box drills for field stick skills. Picks, tight space catching and shooting on the run are what our lacrosse drills for beginners borrow from box.
- Use the field for conditioning and positional play. Ten players and 110 yards teach spacing and off ball movement that six a side box never has to.
Which format is right for your program?
If your players are young and you want stick skills and decision speed, box does it faster: less space, more touches, a clock on every possession. If your players are heading to high school and college rosters, field is the game that gets recruited in the United States. The 2027 shot clock will make it faster anyway. The honest answer for most programs is both, in season order: box in winter, field in spring, with a jersey that works in either. Girls’ and women’s programs have their own equipment rules, covered in our women’s and girls lacrosse uniforms guide, and women’s box is growing: the first Women’s World Box Championship was played in 2024 in Utica, New York.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players are on the floor in box lacrosse vs field lacrosse?
Box lacrosse plays six a side, five runners and a goalkeeper, under World Lacrosse and NLL rules. Field lacrosse plays ten a side, a goalkeeper, three defense, three midfield and three attack, under NFHS Rule 2.1.
Can field lacrosse sticks be used in box lacrosse?
A short stick can. World Lacrosse and NLL box rules cap field player sticks at 40 to 42 inches, the same range as a field short crosse. Long poles of 52 to 72 inches are field only; there are no long poles in box.
Is box lacrosse gear more expensive than field lacrosse gear?
Usually yes for runners. Box rules require rib pads, and the NLL adds a chest and heart pad, on top of the shoulder pads, gloves, helmet and mouthguard that field already requires. The jersey is the same cost: a sublimated set with numbers is $79.99 at Hamco for 1 to 24 pieces.
Is cross checking allowed in box lacrosse?
Yes. World Lacrosse Rule 8.4.1 and NLL Rule 63 allow a cross check on the arms below the shoulders and above the waist. Both hands must be on the stick and the opponent must have the ball. Above the shoulders, below the waist or on the back is a penalty. In field lacrosse a cross check is a personal foul of one to three minutes under NFHS Rule 5.2.
How long is the shot clock in box lacrosse vs field lacrosse?
30 seconds in box under World Lacrosse and NLL rules. In field, NCAA uses 80 seconds and the PLL uses 52 (32 after a faceoff). High schools may adopt a 70 second clock state by state from the 2027 season, per the NFHS announcement of August 13, 2026.
Conclusion
Box lacrosse vs field lacrosse comes down to numbers you can look up: six players against ten, 30 seconds against 80, a 42 inch stick against a 72 inch pole, and two minute minors against one to three minute personal fouls. Add a cross check that is a skill in one game and a foul in the other. Both have a penalty box, both have man up play, and both are getting faster, with high school field joining the shot clock era in 2027. Learn the rule book for the format you are coaching this season, pad the players for it, and buy the one jersey that works in both.
Ready to outfit either roster? Browse custom lacrosse uniforms, send your colors, logo and roster, and a free mockup comes back within 12 hours. No minimum, youth YS to adult 4XL at one price, free shipping, 3 week production from approval. For keeping a sublimated jersey clean through a winter box season, see how to wash a jersey, and for the ordering steps, how to order team uniforms.
