Men’s vs. Women’s Sixes Lacrosse

While there are slight differences in equipment, Men’s and Women’s Sixes lacrosse are fundamentally the same game — fast, high-scoring, and built around speed and skill. Both are played with six players per side, including a goalie, on a condensed field that encourages constant movement and quick transitions.

Body checking is not permitted in Sixes lacrosse for either men or women. The game emphasizes clean stick checks, agility, and positional defense rather than physical collisions. Players need to be quick on their feet, sharp with their passes, and relentless in transition.

The primary difference lies in protective equipment: men wear helmets, gloves, and light padding, while women wear goggles and mouthguards. However, these gear differences do not change the way the game is played. Sixes is designed to highlight lacrosse’s speed, creativity, and finesse — regardless of gender.

How It’s Played

Sixes lacrosse is played with six players on each team (including one goalie), and the field is smaller than that used in traditional field lacrosse. The objective is the same: to score by shooting the ball into the opponent’s net using the lacrosse stick. The game is designed to be fast-paced, with rapid transitions between offense and defense. Teams have fewer players, which opens up more space on the field and leads to more scoring opportunities. The shorter field and fewer players make the game highly dynamic, with a greater emphasis on individual skill, quick passes, and quick decisions.

Basic Rules

• Game Duration: Typically played in four quarters, each lasting 8 minutes.
• Players: Six players per team, including one goalie.
• Possession: Teams are given a limited time to take a shot on goal after gaining possession (usually around 30 seconds).
• Penalties: Similar to traditional lacrosse, penalties result in the player serving time in the penalty box, leaving their team short-handed for the duration of the penalty.
• No Faceoffs: After goals, play restarts with the team that conceded the goal passing the ball in from behind the goal.

Safety in Sixes Lacrosse

Sixes lacrosse is designed to be a fast and high-energy game. In men’s Sixes, players are required to wear helmets, and gloves, as there is no body checking in Sixes. For women, the non-contact nature of Sixes means less gear is needed, but players are still required to wear goggles and mouthguards for protection.

Penalties for dangerous play, such as slashing or reckless body contact, help maintain safety during the game. As with all versions of lacrosse, players are encouraged to undergo proper training and conditioning to minimize the risk of injury.