Lacrosse Usually Has Four Quarters—But Quarter Length Depends on the Code
Most lacrosse games have four quarters. Compare regulation time in NCAA field lacrosse, NLL box lacrosse and World Lacrosse Sixes.
A regulation lacrosse game usually has four quarters. The important difference is not the number of quarters but their length: NCAA field lacrosse and NLL box lacrosse use 15-minute quarters, while Sixes uses eight-minute quarters.
| Lacrosse format | Quarters | Regulation time per quarter | Total regulation playing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA men’s field | 4 | 15 minutes | 60 minutes |
| NCAA women’s field | 4 | 15 minutes | 60 minutes |
| NLL box lacrosse | 4 | 15 minutes | 60 minutes |
| World Lacrosse Sixes | 4 | 8 minutes | 32 minutes |
The current NCAA women’s rules book uses a four-quarter structure, including quarter breaks and halftime after the second quarter. The NCAA men’s game also uses four 15-minute quarters.
For professional indoor lacrosse, the 2025–26 NLL rulebook is explicit: regulation is 60 minutes divided into four 15-minute quarters. Its halftime falls between the second and third quarters.
Sixes still has four quarters, but the game is much shorter. The 2026–28 World Lacrosse Sixes rules set four eight-minute quarters, producing 32 minutes of regulation play.
Why the format matters for statistics
A “per-quarter” scoring figure cannot be compared honestly without identifying the code. Five goals in an eight-minute Sixes quarter represents a different scoring environment from five goals in a 15-minute NCAA or NLL quarter. The same applies to full-game totals: four quarters does not always mean 60 minutes.
For a quick conversion:
- NCAA or NLL: game scoring rate = goals divided by 60 regulation minutes.
- Sixes: game scoring rate = goals divided by 32 regulation minutes.
- For a common comparison, multiply the result by 60 to obtain goals per 60 minutes.
That adjustment standardizes time, but it does not erase differences in field size, player count, shot clocks or other rules. Sixes is played by teams of six under the World Lacrosse rules, while NCAA men’s field lacrosse uses 10 players per side. See how many players are on a lacrosse team for the format-by-format breakdown.
Do all youth and local games have four quarters?
Not necessarily. Shortened games, running clocks, tournament schedules and age-group rules can alter period length or format. World Lacrosse expressly allows national governing bodies to adapt its rules for domestic needs. For a particular school, youth league or tournament, check that competition’s published rules rather than assuming the college or professional clock applies.
Overtime is additional to the four regulation quarters; it is not a fifth quarter. Its length and format depend on the governing rule set.