Lacrosse Positions: What Each Player Does and the Stick They Need

Short answer: boys' and men's field lacrosse has four positions: attack, midfield, defense and goalie. Midfield includes specialists: faceoff players, short-stick defensive midfielders (SSDMs) and long-stick midfielders (LSMs).

Girls' and women's lacrosse has attack, midfield, defense and goalie too, with more players on the field and the same stick length for every field player.

Below is what each position does, how long its stick is, and the head and stick we recommend for it.

Each team has 10 players on the field: 3 attackmen, 3 midfielders, 3 defensemen and a goalie.

Stick lengths are high school and college rules, head included. Youth leagues at 10U and younger allow shorter sticks.

Attack

Attackmen score and set up goals. They play on the offensive end, dodge past defenders, feed passes from behind the goal and finish around the crease. They want a head with a narrow face for ball control and a quick release.

Our picks: Mark 3A head · Complete 3 Pro Attack stick

Midfield

Midfielders play both ends of the field. They run the ball in transition, scoop ground balls, shoot from outside and play defense. They want an all-around head that holds the ball and picks up ground balls.

Our picks: Mark 3V head · Complete 3 Pro Midfield stick

Faceoff (FOGO)

The faceoff player is a midfielder who takes the faceoff at the X after every goal and to start each quarter. Faceoff heads flex when the player clamps, then spring back to shape.

Our picks: Mark 2F head · Complete 2 Pro Faceoff stick

Short-stick defensive midfielder (SSDM)

An SSDM is a midfielder who plays defense with a short stick, then carries the ball up the field. They want a head stiff enough to check and shaped to handle the ball in transition.

Our picks: Mark 3T head · Complete 3 Pro Midfield stick

Long-stick midfielder (LSM)

An LSM is a midfielder who carries a long pole. LSMs guard the other team's best midfielder, cause turnovers, win ground balls on faceoffs and push the ball in transition. A team can have up to four long poles on the field: three defensemen and an LSM.

Our picks: Mark 3T head · Complete 3 Pro LSM stick

Defense

Defensemen, or close defense, guard the other team's attackmen with long poles. They throw checks, knock down passes and clear the ball after a save. They want the stiffest head, with a wide face.

Our picks: Mark 3D head · Complete 3 Pro Defense stick

Goalie

The goalie guards a 6-foot by 6-foot goal, makes saves and starts the clear. Goalie heads are much wider, 10 to 12 inches across, with a pocket built to stop shots.

Our picks: Mark 2G Stiff head · Complete 2 Pro Goalie stick

Each team must keep at least four players on its defensive half, including the goalie, and three on its offensive half. That's why attackmen stay on offense, defensemen stay on defense, and midfielders run both ends.

Each team has 12 players on the field in high school and college: a goalie and 11 field players, split among attack, midfield and defense. Every field player uses the same stick length, 35.5 to 43.25 inches, so the head is what changes by position.

Attack

Attackers score and feed. They want a light head with a narrow face for hold and a quick release.

Our picks: Mark 2 Offense head · Complete 2 Pro Offense stick

Midfield

Midfielders play both ends, take the draw to start play, and win ground balls in transition. They want a head that balances control on offense with pressure on defense.

Our picks: Mark 2 Midfield head · Complete 2 Pro Midfield stick

Defense

Defenders mark the other team's attackers, block passes and win ground balls. They want a wider, stiff head for interceptions.

Our picks: Mark 2 Defense head · Complete 2 Pro Defense stick

Goalie

The goalie makes saves and starts the clear, with a wider goalie head on a longer stick.

Our picks: Mark 2G Stiff head · Complete 2 Pro Goalie stick

New players at any position can start with the Women's Complete. Its Legend head works at every position.

What's the best position for a new player?
Any position can work. Midfield is a good place to learn, because midfielders play both ends of the field and touch every part of the game.

What's the difference between an LSM and a defenseman?
Both carry a long pole. Defensemen stay on the defensive end and guard attackmen. An LSM is a midfielder who guards midfielders and can cross the field to push the ball in transition.

What's the difference between an SSDM and an LSM?
Both are defensive midfielders. An SSDM plays with a short stick, 40 to 42 inches. An LSM plays with a long pole, 52 to 72 inches.

Do girls' lacrosse players use different sticks by position?
The stick length is the same for every field player. The head changes: a narrower face for attack and a wider face for defense.

Does my position change which head I need?
Yes. See our guides to choosing a men's lacrosse head or a women's lacrosse head.

Men's lacrosse stick guide · Women's lacrosse stick guide · Mark 3 head comparison

Updated October 2026