Sean Mahon – Editor in Chief
Lacrosse will be returning to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games after the sport was approved by the International Olympic Committee during their October 2023 session in Mumbai. This is the first time lacrosse will be played on the Olympic stage in 120 years. Lacrosse (sixes) will be one of the six new sports additions during the 2028 games. The other sports to be added to the 2028 Olympic Games are baseball, softball, cricket (T20), flag football, and squash.
Traditional field lacrosse is played on a 110 yards by 60 yards field and there are 10 players on each side, including the goalkeeper. The game usually takes place during four 12 minute quarters. For the Olympics Sixes format, lacrosse will be played on a 77 yards by 40 yards field and there are six players on each side including the goalkeeper. The game will take place during four eight minute quarters and there will be a 30-second shot clock during each possession and a turnover will occur if a team returns to their own half if they have already entered the attacking half of the field. Each team will be allotted two 30-second timeouts per half. Minor penalties will result in players spending 30-seconds in the penalty box and major penalties will result in a one-minute suspension. If the game results in a tie, there will be a four-minute sudden-death overtime.
Lacrosse being added to the Olympics in Los Angeles, CA, USA is a big deal because lacrosse originated from North America. It is also a big deal because in 2022 the Iroquois National team wasn’t given recognition to play in the 2022 World Games until Ireland Lacrosse gave up their spot to the Iroquois Nationals team so they could play. It will be great to see lacrosse being played on the continent where it was invented and to have the dependents of the inventors of lacrosse compete on the global stage. This will also help increase visibility for lacrosse worldwide.
