Lacrosse scorekeeping guide
How to Keep Score in Lacrosse
Most lacrosse scoreboards add one for each legal goal and carry the total through four quarters. The quarter length and overtime procedure depend on the discipline and competition.
Start a lacrosse scoreboard- Goal
- 1 point
- Field format
- 4 × 15-minute quarters
- Sixes format
- 4 × 8-minute quarters
How lacrosse scoring works
- 01
Add one point when the officials award a goal.
- 02
Carry the running total through all four quarters.
- 03
Confirm the score with the officials at each quarter break.
- 04
Use the event’s sudden-victory or overtime procedure if regulation ends tied.
Choose the rules your event uses
Governing bodies, age groups, and tournament directors can use different formats. Confirm the format before play.
FormatScoringWhen it applies
Field lacrosse4 × 15-minute quarters
The World Lacrosse men’s field format.
Sixes4 × 8-minute quarters
A faster small-sided discipline.
Box lacrosse4 × 15-minute quarters
Indoor rules also use a running goal total.
Courtside checklist
Keep the scoreboard clean
- ✓Wait for the goal signal.
- ✓Advance one quarter at a time.
- ✓Keep any local two-point-arc rule separate unless the event uses one.
Read the complete rules
This guide covers scoreboard essentials, not every playing rule. Local competition rules take precedence.