Lacrosse Field Dimensions and Goal Size: Men's, Women's and Youth (With Crease Measurements)

A regulation men's lacrosse field (NCAA and USA Lacrosse boys' high school) is 110 yd long by 60 yd wide, with the goals 80 yd apart and a crease of 9 ft radius around each goal. A women's field (NCAA and USA Lacrosse girls') is 110 to 140 yd long and 60 to 70 yd wide, with a goal circle of 8.5 ft radius. Both games use the same 6 ft wide by 6 ft high goal opening; youth and box lacrosse use smaller fields and, at the youngest levels, 4 ft x 4 ft goals.

Lacrosse field dimensions at a glance

Lacrosse is unusual among field sports because the men's and women's games use different field sizes, different crease markings and different distances between goals. The table below summarizes the main lacrosse field size figures by level. The box, wing lines, arcs and goal specs are covered in the sections that follow.

Men's lacrosse field size and markings

The men's field used by the NCAA and by USA Lacrosse for boys' high school play is a rectangle 110 yd long and 60 yd wide. Unlike the women's game, there is no range. The field is a fixed size, and every line on it is measured from the end lines, the sidelines or the midfield line.

Goal lines and end lines

Each goal line sits 15 yd in from the end line, which places the two goals 80 yd apart. The 15 yd behind each goal is live playing area, and it is one of the reasons the men's field needs its full 110 yd length. Players attack from behind the goal as well as in front of it, so the turf between the goal line and the end line is not wasted space.

The crease: a 9 ft lacrosse crease radius

The men's lacrosse crease radius is 9 ft, measured from the midpoint of the goal line. The crease is a full circle, so the goal sits inside it with the crease extending in front of, beside and behind the goal. Field players may not step into the crease, which is why the line needs to be crisp and the radius needs to be exact when you paint it. A tape anchored at the center of the goal line and swung around at 9 ft gives you the circle.

The box (goal area): 35 yd x 40 yd

Around each goal is a larger rectangle called the box, or goal area, measuring 35 yd by 40 yd. The box governs how many players from each team may be in the offensive and defensive areas during play. When laying out a practice field, the box lines are the most commonly skipped markings, but they are required for regulation competition.

Midfield line, wing lines and substitution box

The midfield line divides the field into two equal halves and is where face-offs take place. On either side of midfield are the wing lines. Each wing line is 20 yd long, runs parallel to the sideline 10 yd in from it, and extends 10 yd on each side of the midfield line. Wing players line up on these lines for face-offs.

The substitution box is centered on the midfield line along the sideline and is 20 yd wide. Substitutions on the fly must enter and exit through this area, so keep the bench and scorer's table area behind it clear of equipment.

Women's lacrosse field size and markings

The women's field used by the NCAA and USA Lacrosse girls' play is defined by ranges rather than a single fixed size. The field is 110 to 140 yd long and 60 to 70 yd wide, with a recommended length of 120 yd. This flexibility lets programs fit a women's field onto ground that was originally marked for other sports, but it also means you should confirm the exact dimensions your league or conference expects before painting anything.

Distance between goals

On a women's field the goals are 90 to 100 yd apart, farther than the 80 yd of the men's game. Because the overall length can range from 110 to 140 yd, the space behind each goal will depend on the field length you choose and the goal spacing your league requires. Confirm both figures before laying out the goal lines.

The goal circle: 8.5 ft radius

The women's equivalent of the crease is called the goal circle, and its radius is 8.5 ft, slightly smaller than the 9 ft men's crease. As with the men's crease, it is a full circle around the goal measured from the center of the goal line. If you are marking a field that will host both men's and women's play, the two circles are different sizes and should be painted in different colors so officials and players are not confused.

The 8-meter arc and 12-meter fan

In front of each women's goal are two markings that do not exist on the men's field: the 8-meter arc and the 12-meter fan. Together they define the critical scoring area, where fouls are penalized most severely and where free-position shots are taken. The exact construction, hash marks and connecting lines are specified in the NCAA and USA Lacrosse rulebooks, so follow the diagram in the current edition when you paint them rather than approximating.

Lacrosse goal dimensions

The goal is one of the few things the men's and women's games share exactly. The opening is 6 ft wide by 6 ft high, and the net extends 7 ft behind the goal line to a single point, which gives the goal its triangular footprint when viewed from above. The 7 ft depth matters when you place goals. On a men's field, with the goal line 15 yd from the end line, there is ample room. On a smaller youth field, make sure the net, its stakes and any ground bar do not run into the end line or a fence.

Pipes, color and netting

Goal pipes are commonly 1.5 in to 2 in in diameter. The NCAA requires orange goal frames, and most goals sold for high school and youth use are orange for the same reason: the color stands out against turf and against the white of the crease line. Net mesh for lacrosse goals is commonly 1.5 in square, which is small enough to stop a lacrosse ball cleanly without letting it wedge in the mesh. If you are replacing a net, match the 6 ft x 6 ft x 7 ft frame geometry and confirm the mesh size before ordering.

Goal size by level

Youth lacrosse field sizes

USA Lacrosse scales the field to the age group. At 14U, players use a full field with the same dimensions as the high school game. At 12U and 10U, the game moves to smaller fields, commonly 60 to 70 yd long by 35 to 45 yd wide, while still using 6 ft x 6 ft goals. Many youth programs set these smaller fields up across an existing full-size field so two games can run at once; check whether your league permits shared markings and temporary lines.

At 8U the goals shrink to 4 ft x 4 ft. Field sizes at this level vary by league and program, so use the dimensions your local organization publishes rather than a generic figure. Because youth goals at 12U and 10U are the same 6 ft x 6 ft size as adult goals, a program that buys full-size goals can use them from 10U through high school, while 8U goals are a separate purchase.

Exact youth field sizes are set by each league within the USA Lacrosse framework, so treat the ranges above as a starting point rather than a rule. If your league publishes a diagram, use it.

Box lacrosse dimensions

Box lacrosse is played indoors, typically on a hockey-style arena floor, and its dimensions are given in feet rather than yards. The playing surface is 180 to 200 ft long by 80 to 90 ft wide, and the goal is 4 ft x 4 ft, the same opening as an 8U field goal but with a heavier frame and net built to absorb hard shots at close range. Crease size, line markings and net depth for box lacrosse vary by league, so confirm them with the organization running your games.

Men's versus women's fields: the practical differences

If you manage a facility that hosts both games, four differences drive most of the layout work. The men's field is a fixed 110 yd by 60 yd while the women's field is a range of 110 to 140 yd by 60 to 70 yd. The goals are 80 yd apart on the men's field and 90 to 100 yd apart on the women's field. The men's crease is a 9 ft radius circle while the women's goal circle is 8.5 ft. And the women's field adds the 8-meter arc and 12-meter fan, which have no equivalent on the men's side. The goal itself, at 6 ft by 6 ft with a 7 ft net depth, is the same for both.

How to measure and lay out a lacrosse field

A field is only regulation if the lines are in the right place. The checklist below covers a men's field; adjust the goal-line spacing, crease radius and arcs for a women's field.

• Confirm the level of play and the governing rulebook (NCAA, USA Lacrosse boys' or girls') before you pull a single string.
• Establish one sideline as your baseline, then measure the 60 yd width at both ends and square the corners; check that the diagonals are equal.
• Measure the 110 yd length along both sidelines and mark the end lines.
• Mark the midfield line at the halfway point between the end lines.
• Measure 15 yd in from each end line and mark the goal lines; confirm the goals are 80 yd apart.
• Anchor a tape at the center of each goal line and swing a 9 ft radius to paint the crease.
• Lay out the 35 yd x 40 yd box around each goal according to your rulebook diagram.
• Mark the wing lines: 20 yd long, 10 yd in from each sideline, centered on midfield with 10 yd on each side.
• Mark the 20 yd substitution box at midfield along the bench sideline.
• For a women's field, paint the 8.5 ft goal circle and the 8-meter arc and 12-meter fan from the rulebook diagram, with goals 90 to 100 yd apart.
• Set the goals with the front of the pipes on the goal line and the net point 7 ft behind it, then stake or weight them.

Planning your space

The field lines are the minimum, not the whole footprint. Recommended clearance beyond the sidelines and end lines is at least 5 yd, which gives players room to slow down after running out of bounds and keeps benches, tables and spectators off the playing surface.

For a men's field, plan for the 110 yd length plus at least 5 yd beyond each end line, and the 60 yd width plus at least 5 yd beyond each sideline. For a women's field, apply the same 5 yd clearance to whichever length between 110 and 140 yd and width between 60 and 70 yd you choose. If you are fitting a women's field onto a fixed site, it is usually better to choose a length toward the lower end of the range than to squeeze the clearance below 5 yd.

Behind the goals, remember the 7 ft net depth. On a full men's field the goal line is 15 yd from the end line, so the net sits well inside the field. On a small youth field the goal placement is set by your league, so check that the net and stakes clear the end line and the 5 yd run-off area.

If the site will also host other sports, or both men's and women's lacrosse, note that the men's crease (9 ft) and women's goal circle (8.5 ft) are different sizes and the goals sit at different distances (80 yd versus 90 to 100 yd). Painting the two sets of lines in different colors is common, but check whether your league permits shared markings for sanctioned games.

Finally, keep the 20 yd substitution box area clear on the bench side. Teams, coaches and the scorer's table all work through this zone, so the 5 yd clearance behind it should be treated as a working area, not equipment storage. Portable goals, ball carts and spare nets belong beyond the end lines or outside the clearance zone entirely.

Sources

The men's field dimensions in this guide follow the NCAA men's lacrosse rules and the USA Lacrosse boys' high school rules. The women's field dimensions follow the NCAA women's lacrosse rules and the USA Lacrosse girls' rules. Youth field and goal sizes follow the USA Lacrosse youth rules for 14U, 12U, 10U and 8U. Box lacrosse floor and goal dimensions vary by league and arena, so confirm them with your league. Always check the current edition of the relevant rulebook before marking a field for sanctioned competition, because line specifications can change between editions.

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Frequently asked questions

How big is a men's lacrosse field?

A men's field (NCAA and USA Lacrosse boys' high school) is 110 yd long by 60 yd wide. The goals are 80 yd apart, with each goal line 15 yd from the end line.

How big is a women's lacrosse field?

A women's field (NCAA and USA Lacrosse girls') is 110 to 140 yd long, with 120 yd recommended, and 60 to 70 yd wide. The goals are 90 to 100 yd apart.

What is the lacrosse crease radius?

The men's crease is a circle with a 9 ft radius around the goal. The women's goal circle has an 8.5 ft radius.

What are the dimensions of a lacrosse goal?

The opening is 6 ft wide by 6 ft high for both men's and women's lacrosse. The net extends 7 ft behind the goal line to a point. Pipes are commonly 1.5 in to 2 in in diameter, and the NCAA requires orange frames.

What size is a youth lacrosse field?

Under USA Lacrosse rules, 14U plays on a full field. 12U and 10U commonly use fields 60 to 70 yd long by 35 to 45 yd wide with 6 ft x 6 ft goals. 8U uses 4 ft x 4 ft goals, with field size set by the league.

How big is a box lacrosse floor?

Indoor box lacrosse is played on a surface 180 to 200 ft long by 80 to 90 ft wide, with a 4 ft x 4 ft goal. Other markings vary by league.

How much clearance do you need around a lacrosse field?

Plan for at least 5 yd of clear space beyond every sideline and end line, in addition to the field dimensions themselves.