Section 4: Players & Officials
Players
Each team fields 12 players: 1 goalkeeper, 5 defenders (including 3 close defense and 2 midfielders defensively oriented), 1 center, and 5 attackers (including 3 attackers and 2 midfielders offensively oriented). Position assignments are conventional rather than rule-mandated; the rules constrain offsides (must have at least 4 players on the offensive half — including the goalkeeper count on the defensive side, depending on the draw situation).
Substitutions
- On-the-fly substitutions through the special substitution area at the midfield are permitted during dead-ball situations and (with restrictions) during live play under the 2026 framework
- A substituted player must clear the field of play before the substitute enters
- Goalkeeper substitution requires a brief stoppage of play
Officials
- Standard NCAA crew: three officials for regular-season games; some events use additional officials
- Table crew: scorer, timekeeper, shot-clock operator, penalty timekeeper, and chief bench official
- Video review is operative for clear-and-obvious-error reviews per the 2026 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Video Review Guidelines, including the 2026 expansion to support player identification for cards and confirmation/reversal of yellow or red cards
Coaches and Bench
Each team has a head coach and assistant coaches in the team area during the game. Coaches may not enter the field of play except when authorized by an official.