Guide

Lacrosse Sixes and the 2028 Olympics

Lacrosse returns to the Olympic program at Los Angeles 2028 — but in a new format called Sixes. Here's what every player, parent, and fan should know.

What is Lacrosse Sixes?

Lacrosse Sixes is a fast, 6-on-6 version of the sport created by World Lacrosse to be Olympic-ready. Each team fields five field players plus a goalie on a smaller pitch, with 8-minute quarters, a 30-second shot clock, and no long-poles or specialist face-off players. The result is a faster, more transition-heavy game that fits the Olympic broadcasting model.

Why Sixes for the Olympics?

Traditional men's field lacrosse uses 10 players per side and women's field uses 12. To meet IOC requirements on athlete quotas, venue footprint, and global participation, World Lacrosse engineered Sixes: fewer athletes per team, shared rules between men and women, and a format playable on existing multi-use stadiums. That work led to the sport being added to the LA 2028 program.

How Sixes differs from field lacrosse

• 6 players per side (5 field + 1 goalie), vs 10 or 12.
• Smaller pitch, roughly 70m x 36m.
• Four 8-minute quarters with a running clock.
• 30-second shot clock — every possession must end in a shot.
• No long-sticks, no face-offs after goals (alternating possession).
• Unified men's and women's rules with minor protective-equipment differences.

Who can play for which country?

National teams pick rosters based on heritage and citizenship rules set by each federation under World Lacrosse guidelines. Many players with dual heritage are eligible for multiple programs — which is exactly why the International Sixes Challenge exists. We surface free agents to national team programs hunting for eligible players ahead of qualifying windows.

How to get on a national team's radar

Register as a free agent with the International Sixes Challenge. Submit your heritage, position, level, and game film, and national team scouts can review your profile as roster needs emerge for World Lacrosse events and Olympic qualifying.

FAQ

Is lacrosse really in the 2028 Olympics?

Yes. The IOC approved Lacrosse Sixes for the LA 2028 program in 2023.

Was lacrosse ever in the Olympics before?

Yes — full field lacrosse appeared at the 1904 and 1908 Summer Games as a medal sport, and as a demonstration sport in 1928, 1932, and 1948. LA 2028 is its return as a medal sport, in the Sixes format.

How many countries play Sixes?

World Lacrosse counts over 90 member nations, and Sixes has been the showcase format at the World Games and continental championships since 2022.