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What is the NLL?
The National Lacrosse League is North America’s professional indoor lacrosse league (also know as box lacrosse), featuring the best lacrosse players in the world. The NLL has 13 teams playing in the major markets in the United States and Canada.

NLL teams each play a 16-game regular season schedule (eight home/eight away) that begins in January and runs through April, followed by the NLL Playoffs. All games are played on the weekends. Professional indoor lacrosse combines the physical play of hockey with the high scoring, play-making style of basketball. The game is played in the confines of an ice hockey rink, with glass and rink boards intact. The playing surface consists of a green dieter turf carpet that is laid down over the ice.

Rules

• ROSTERS - 23-man roster, each team dresses 18 players for game­­s (16 runners and two goalies). A team shall be composed of six (6) players on the floor, 5 runners and one goalie.
• TIME FORMAT - Four 15-minute quarters; two minutes between quarters; 12 minute halftime.
• SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME - Games ending regulation play with a tie score are decided by a sudden-death overtime. Play continues until a goal is scored. More than one overtime period is played if necessary.
• 10-SECOND VIOLATION - Occurs when the team on offense fails to advance the ball past midfield within 10 seconds after taking possession at their end.
• FACE-OFFS - To determine possessions at the start of each quarter and after every goal, two players face their sticks at midfield with a referee placing the ball between the heads of the sticks.
• SHOT CLOCK - A 30-second clock begins (counting down) when a team assumes possession of the ball. The offensive team must put a shot on goal during that time or they will lose possession. If they do shoot on goal (without scoring) and recover possession of the ball (via rebound/loose ball recovery), the clock is reset for a new 30 seconds.

Terms of the Turf

• BODY CHECK - Used to slow an opponent who has the ball; must be above the waist and below the neck.
• BREAKAWAY - One-on-one (shooter on goalie) scoring opportunity.
• CRADLE - Method used to keep the ball inside the pocket of the stick by rocking it back and forth.
• CREASE - Only the goalie can stand in this nine-foot radius with the ball. Shooters or their teammates can not stand on (or inside) the line or their goals won't count. Any violation of this rule will disallow the goal.
• CROSSCHECK - A defensive strategy using the shaft of the stick to push on an opponent to force a missed or bad shot.
• HIDDEN BALL PLAY - A player without the ball cradles his stick, drawing the attention of the defense, while a teammate who has the ball passes or shoots on net.
• LOOSE BALL - Occurs when there is no possession and the ball is bouncing, rolling, or rebounding off the boards or goaltender.
• MAJOR PENALTY - Five minutes in the penalty box for infractions such as high sticking, boarding, face masking, fighting and spearing.
• MAN DOWN - When a team has one less player on the floor than their opponent.
• MINOR PENALTY - Two minute penalty for infractions such as delay of game, elbowing, holding, illegal crosschecking, slashing, and tripping, for example.
• OFFENSIVE PICK - The legal interference by an offensive player from a set position on a defensive player who is trying to defend the ball carrier.
• OUTLET PASS - The first pass from the goaltender or defender that begins the transition from defense to offense.
• PENALTY BOX - Where a player goes to sit while serving a two and/or five minute penalty.
• POWER PLAY - When a team has an extra man advantage because the other team has at least one player in the penalty box.
• SCREEN SHOT -  When the goaltender can’t see a shot because someone is in the way.
• SHORTHANDED - When a team has one or more players in the penalty box and the opponent is at full strength, or has more players on the floor.
• LOSS OF POSSESSION - Illegal screens, 30 second shot clock violation, 10 second half court violation, loose ball push, and illegal procedure during faceoffs are among the acts that can cause a team to lose possession of the ball.