In lacrosse, the crease area is crucial to the game, and the contact rules surrounding it are very strict. Violations in the crease can result in significant penalties that impact both offensive and defensive flow. This article explains what constitutes a crease violation, how it occurs, and how to avoid it to maintain fair and smooth gameplay.

A crease violation in men’s lacrosse occurs when an offensive player steps into the goalie’s crease, resulting in a turnover. The enforcement and penalties for this violation vary slightly between youth, high school, college, professional, and international play.