The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins. Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 12 minute quarters. Each team is given a two minute break between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. Halftime is ten minutes long.
Teams change sides between periods.
Each team is permitted two timeouts each half. The team winning the coin toss chooses the end of the field it wants to defend first. Men's lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of two squatting players at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to begin play.