Playing the game is not just enough; you should know all the commonly used terms and slang of a sport to completely understand it. 

Being a lacrosse player for over a decade now, I have made things easier for newbies by listing famous lacrosse terms and lacrosse slang you should know as a lacrosse player or even as a fan.

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• 10-Second Rule: The time a team has to get the ball out of their defensive area.
• 2-on-1: A play where two offensive players take on one defender (or more players in similar setups).
• 20-Second Rule: It is the time allowed to clear the ball from the defensive zone to the offensive half.
• 2 Minute Rule: A rule where teams must keep the ball inside a certain area during the last two minutes of the game.

A

• Apple: An assist, or a pass that helps score a goal.
• Alley: The side areas of the field used for dodging or moving the ball.
• Alligator Arms: When a player hesitates or pulls back during a shot or pass.

B

• Ball Down: Called out when the ball is loose on the ground.
• Body Check: Using your body to block an opponent.
• Ball Hog: A lacrosse slang when a player doesn’t pass the ball to teammates.
• Blackhole: A player who holds the ball too long without passing.
• Braveheart: A tiebreaker format where one player from each team faces off.
• Buddy Pass: A slow pass that’s easy to intercept.
• Back Door: Sneaking behind defenders to get open for a pass.
• Bagged Out: When a lacrosse stick’s pocket is too loose.
• Bull Dodge: Using strength to push through a defender.
• Breakout: Moving quickly from defense to offense.
• Bouncer: A shot that bounces off the ground before reaching the goal.
• Brick Wall: A goalie who blocks almost every shot.

C

• Cherry Picking: staying near the opponent’s goal for an easy scoring chance.
• Clear: passing or running the ball out of the defensive zone.
• C-Cut: A curved movement to get open for a pass.
• Cut: Moving quickly to get into a good position to receive the ball.
• Change Planes: A shot that moves from high to low or low to high.
• Check Up: Defenders calling out to the player they’re guarding.
• Closing the Gate: Blocking an opponent from getting around you.
• Clamp: Use your stick to trap the ball during a face-off.
• Cradling: Rocking the ball back and forth in the stick to keep control.
• Celly: A lacrosse slang for celebration after scoring a goal.
• Carry the Pizza: Holding the stick flat like a pizza tray.
• Crank Shot: A shot made with extra energy.

Read More: Where to Buy Bulk Lacrosse Balls 

D

• Dodge: When an offensive player moves around the defender to find a scoring opportunity.
• D-Pole: Lacrosse term for defensive stick.
• Dive:  A dive to score a goal.
• Door Step: The area above the crease
• Dot: Centre of defense.
• Dime: A lacrosse slang term to appreciate a good shot.
• Dish: A short pass to a teammate.
• Double Team: Two defenders working together.

E

• EMO: Extra man up.
• Elevator: A shot that changes height as it travels.
• Egg Hunt: Searching for a loose ball during play.

F

• Feeder: A player who helps to score goals
• FOGO: Face-off, Get Off. A specialist in winning face-offs.
• Face-off:  The play that starts the game or restarts it after a goal.
• Face Dodging: The player uses the face of the body to save the ball and dodges around the defender.
• Fake: pretending to pass or shoot to trick an opponent.
• Fast Break:  A quick transition from defense to offense.
• Flag Down/Whistle: A delayed penalty call indicating that the game should continue until the ball is dropped or a goal is scored.
• Five Hole: Scoring between the goalie’s legs.
• Five and Five: The area up five yards from the goal where attackers try to shoot.
• Flow:  Long, stylish hair that sticks out from under the helmet.
• Failure to Advance: When a team fails to advance the ball past midfield in a specified time, resulting in the loss of ball possession.
• Fiddle Stick: A mini stick used for casual play.
• Foul Out: Removal of the player when he gets his fifth foul of the play.
• Fish: A lacrosse slang term used for an unskilled player.

Read More: Rules of Lacrosse

G

• Give & Go: When a player quickly passes the ball to the teammate and moves around to receive the ball again.
• GLE: Goal Line Extended
• Gilman Clear: A long pass from the offensive end to the defensive end, usually by the goalie.
• Ground balls: picking up the ball from the ground with your stick.
• Goose It: Pushing the ball to a teammate with your stick.
• Gamer: The stick that you use in games.
• Go to X: a position taken by a player behind the goal to receive the ball and score swiftly.
• Garbage Goal: Scoring off a rebound or loose ball.

H

• Hole or “Cougar” or “Black”: The area in front of the goal.
• Hanging the Stick: When a player holds the stick loosely, it is easy to dislodge the ball with a stick check.
• Holding: blocking the movement of another player.
• Headhunter: When a player hits hard and risks hitting another player’s helmet.
• Hatty: Lacrosse slang for hattrick.

I

• Invert: When an offensive player switches places with another to confuse the defense.
• In the Dirt: When the ball is stuck in the ground.
• Ice Pick: Using the stick like a pickaxe to dislodge the ball.
• Indian Pickup: Scooping the ball from the ground with one swift motion.
• Illegal Body Check: Hitting an opponent with the body illegally.
• Illegal Screen: Blocking a player in a way that’s against the rules.
• Interference: disrupting an opponent’s movement without the ball.

L

• Left Alley: The left-side area of the field.
• Long Stick Middie (LSM): A midfielder who uses a long defensive stick.
• Loose Ball: A ball that isn’t in anyone’s control.
• Lax Rat: Someone who is crazy about lacrosse.
• Lift Check: A move to lift an opponent’s stick and make them lose the ball.
• Long Pole: lacrosse term for long defensive stick.
• Lax bro: A lacrosse slang for a laid-back lacrosse player.

Read More: Positions in Lacrosse

M

• Muffin: Slow shot.
• Man Down: When a team has fewer players on the field due to a penalty.
• Man-Up: When a team has more players on the field due to an opponent’s penalty.
• Man To Man: A defensive strategy where each player guards one specific opponent.
• Mid-Fielder: A player who plays both offense and defense.
• Motion Offense: A strategy where players constantly move to create scoring opportunities.
• MDD: Man Down Defense, a strategy for defending while a player is in the penalty box.
• Mom Goal: A goal that looks good but doesn’t count because of a rule violation.
• Mark Up: Calling out and guarding an opponent on defense.
• Middie Beast: A midfielder who dominates the game.

N

• Noodle: A player with weak skills or a stick.
• NCCA: National Collegiate Athletics Association.

O

• Out of Bounds: When the ball or a player crosses the boundary lines of the field.
• Overhand: A shooting or passing motion where the stick moves over the shoulder.
• Overload: When players crowd on one side of the field.
• Off-Hip: Shooting toward the side opposite the goalie’s stick hand.
• Offsides: A penalty called when too many players are on one side of the field.
• Overhand Shot: A shot made with an over-the-shoulder motion.
• On The Fly: Substituting players during live play without stopping the game.
• On The Hop: Encouraging players to move quickly or hustle.

P

• Pocket Pounder: A tool used to break in a lacrosse mesh.
• Poke Check: To poke at an opponent’s stick to dislodge the ball.
• Paddington Bear: A player who overly relies on protective equipment.
• Pearls: A brand-new lacrosse ball.
• Phantom Check / Ghost Check: Pretending to check an opponent.
• Pillow / Popcorn / Gumball: Nicknames for soft saves made by the goalie.
• Pinwheel / Helicopter: When a stick spins out of a player’s hands.
• Pipe City / Wesley Pipes / Michelle Piper: Lacrosse slang for hitting the goalpost.
• Possession Shot: A shot taken to retain possession of the ball.

Q

• Quick Stick: A shot or pass made immediately upon catching the ball.

R

• Rip the duck: Scoring with a hard, fast shot.
• Release: When a player leaves the penalty box.
• Riding: Pressuring opponents to prevent ball clearing.
• Roll Dodge: Spinning around a defender to protect the ball.
• Rusty Gate: One-handed defensive check.

S

• Stick Wizard: A player with exceptional stick-handling skills.
• Shorty: A player using a short stick.
• Screen: Blocking the goalie’s view to help a teammate score.
• Slap Check: Slapping the stick against the opponent’s stick.
• Slashing: Illegally hitting an opponent with the stick
• Stick Check: Using the stick to knock the ball from the opponent’s stick.
• Slow Break: Slow offensive transition
• Shovel Pass: Underhand pass

T

• Twister: A deceptive shot with a spin to change its direction.
• Tennis Racket: A stick with a loose pocket.
• Top Cheddar:  scoring in the top corner of the net.
• Turf Monster: Continuously sleeping or tripping on the field.
• Traditional: A stick with leather and string pockets instead of mesh.

U

• Unsettled Situation: Unorganized defense.

V

• V-Cut: V-shape movement to get the ball pass.

W

• Walk The Dog: Rolling the ball on the ground with the stick.
• Worm Burner:  A hard-to-stop shot that skims the ground.
• Warding: Using your free hand to push off a defender, which is illegal.

Y

• You’re hot: A call to alert a defender for help when needed.
• Yard Sale / Yahztee / Detwigged / De-Spooned / De-Wanded: Knocking the stick out of an opponent’s hand.

zZebra: Lacrosse slang term for a referee.

People Also Ask

Learning about lacrosse terms and slang is essential for every player and fan to fully enjoy the game. These terms will strengthen your connection to lacrosse culture.