How Long Are Lacrosse Games?

Lacrosse is a beloved sport played around the world, in both indoor and outdoor forms. How long are lacrosse games? It depends on the kind of lacrosse game being played and the competition structure.

Men’s Field Lacrosse

The men’s field lacrosse game typically lasts three 20-minute periods, referred to as quarters. At the collegiate level, the matches are designed to last exactly an hour. That time may be slightly extended depending on the time of the game. There is a 15-minute halftime between the first and second quarters. There are also corrective time-outs that may be used if needed.

Women’s Field Lacrosse

Women’s field lacrosse games are shorter than men’s games. They typically last two 25-minute periods. For collegiate level games, the matches are designed to last 50 minutes. Just like men’s field lacrosse games, there is a 15-minute halftime between the two periods, and corrective time-outs may be used as needed.

Indoor Lacrosse

Indoor lacrosse is growing rapidly in popularity, and is often referred to as box lacrosse. These games usually last an hour, and consist of four 15-minute quarters. As with field lacrosse, the players have a 15-minute break between the first and second quarters. Corrective time-outs are also used if needed.

Junior Lacrosse

Junior lacrosse is typically played by younger players, most commonly between the ages of 14 and 17. Like the other forms of lacrosse, the junior game consists of four quarters. However, due to the players’ age and level of development, the quarters are often shorter (ranging from 8 to 13 minutes).

Conclusion

As you can see, the length of lacrosse games can vary widely from one form to another. Men’s field lacrosse games generally last an hour, while women’s field lacrosse games have shorter periods. Indoor lacrosse games are an hour long, and junior lacrosse games are shorter. Regardless of the type of game, each period usually has a 15-minute halftime and corrective time-outs may be taken as needed.