Lacrosse sixes (also known as World Lacrosse Sixes) is a variant of
lacrosse played outdoors with six players on each side.
The game follows similar rules to traditional
field lacrosse, with modifications and a shorter game time, and is considered to be more fast-paced.
Sixes has been described as a hybrid discipline of field and
box lacrosse as well as a different sport entirely.
Lacrosse sixes was created in 2021 by
World Lacrosse, the global governing body for lacrosse, in a bid to achieve lacrosse's participation in the
Olympic Games.
It will make its Olympic debut in
2028
Predicted and scheduled events
* January 1 – Books, films, and other works published in 1932 will enter the public domain in the United States.
* January 12 – Partial lunar eclipse.
* January 26 – Small annular solar eclip ...
.
History
On May 18, 2021, World Lacrosse announced a version of field lacrosse that would be formally known as "World Lacrosse Sixes". Sixes was developed in order to reduce barriers to entry for lacrosse (such as cost and field size), encourage global growth, and to fit within the framework of future Olympic participation. World Lacrosse has also stated that the format would provide more parity in international lacrosse.
The format's first use at a major international sporting event came at the
2022 World Games
The 2022 World Games were an international multi-sport event held from July 7 to 17, 2022, in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. They were the 11th World Games, a multi-sport event featuring disciplines of Olympic sports and other competitions ...
in Birmingham, Alabama.
In 2023, lacrosse sixes was added to the program of the
2028 Olympic Games
The 2028 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad, also known as Los Angeles 2028 or LA28) is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 30, 2028, in and around Los Angeles, Cali ...
in Los Angeles, marking the first time any variety of lacrosse has been a medal event since
1908
Events
January
* January 1 – The British ''Nimrod'' Expedition led by Ernest Shackleton sets sail from New Zealand on the ''Nimrod'' for Antarctica.
* January 3 – A total solar eclipse is visible in the Pacific Ocean, and is the 46 ...
.
Lacrosse sixes' Olympic inclusion parallels that of
rugby sevens and
3x3 basketball
3x3 basketball (pronounced ''three-ex-three'') is a variation of basketball played three-a-side, with one backboard and in a half-court setup. According to an ESSEC Business School study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee, 3x3 ...
, also smaller-scale versions of established sports.
In 2026, the first world championship events in lacrosse sixes will be held for both men and women. World Lacrosse has also announced plans for an annual Sixes World Series held across different continents.
Beginning in 2023, the
Premier Lacrosse League has run a lacrosse sixes event known as the
Championship Series
In sport, a championship is a Competition#Sports, competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.
Championship systems
Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship.
Title match sy ...
.
Rules
Lacrosse sixes has similar rules for men and women but preserves some minor differences, such as the amount of contact allowed.
The major rule differences as compared to traditional field lacrosse are as follows:
* The field of play is smaller, at 70 meters by 36 meters.
* Face-offs only occur at the beginning of each quarter: play is restarted after goals with the goalie taking the ball out of the net.
* There is a 30-second shot clock.
* Games are played with four eight-minute quarters.
* Rosters consist of 12 players.
* Everyone plays both offense and defense.
* There are no long crosses.
Lacrosse sixes is viewed as less accessible for defensive field lacrosse players due to the lack of long poles, as well as for face-off specialists.
References
{{reflist
Variations of lacrosse
Lacrosse
Team sports
Olympic sports