Rules

The new stick stringing requirements for women's lacrosse open the door for new innovations and economical options for girls. The key elements of pocket depth and shooting strings remain the same so that the ball can still move freely in the stick and ball speed is not radically faster.

Included in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and US Lacrosse rule changes for the 2018 high school lacrosse season was the approval of an optional 120-yard unified field size that can be used for both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse. The existing field sizes for high school lacrosse can still be used, but the unified field is a legal alternative.

Women’s game rules representatives from the NCAA, NFHS and US Lacrosse have collaborated with industry representatives to simplify the stick stringing specifications for women’s collegiate, high school and girls’ youth play for the 2018 season.

SPARKS, Md. — US Lacrosse announced the 2018 rule changes and points of emphasis for youth and high school girls’ lacrosse. The US Lacrosse Rules Committee worked in collaboration with the National Federation of State High School Associations to develop the rules and points of emphasis.

The points of emphasis for 2018 highlight safety and the quality of the game:

US Lacrosse announced the 2018 rule changes and points of emphasis for youth boys’ lacrosse. The rules are to be used for all levels of play 14U age group and below.

One of the key points of emphasis in the 2017 boys’ youth rules for 12U, 10U, and 8U addressed allowable body and stick checking. Limitations on body checks at those age levels are intended to help players in developing the fundamental skills of lacrosse while instilling a love and excitement of playing the game.

You don’t have to be a trained research specialist in order to contribute to the scientific process of making lacrosse safer. That was one of the main messages from Lisa Hepburn, PhD, a scientist with the MedStar Sports Medicine Research Center, during a presentation at the 2017 US Lacrosse Sports Medicine Symposium. Anybody associated with lacrosse can help to provide injury surveillance data.

Arguably the most noteworthy revision to the women's lacrosse rules last year involved Rule 5, Section 2, governing the draw. Beginning in 2017, players below the restraining lines on the draw were not allowed to cross the lines until possession had been established. 

Based on increased injury rates among women's lacrosse players, US Lacrosse partnered with researchers, scientists, and equipment manufacturers to dive deeper into the statistics and to understand the factors involved. That collaboration eventually led to a unique women's lacrosse headgear performance standard.
 

There is no mandate, or plan to mandate, the use of women’s headgear by US Lacrosse or the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). That’s one of the primary points of clarification in a new informational video produced by US Lacrosse.