Lacrosse Equipment Information

Action-packed lacrosse is America's fastest growing sport at the youth, high school and NCAA levels, according to US Lacrosse, the national governing body. The following equipment is required for play.

Crosse (Lacrosse Stick)

Teams must comply with regulation crosse stick sizes for gender and position.

Men's lacrosse:
Attack and midfielder: overall length 40 to 42 inches
Defense: overall length 52 to 72 inches
Crosse head must be 6-1/2 to 10 inches wide, except for the goalkeeper's crosse head, which may be 10 to 12 inches wide

Women's lacrosse:
Goalkeeper: Overall length 35-1/2 to 48 inches, with the head up to 12 inches wide
Other players: Overall length 35-1/2 to 43-1/4 inches, with the head 7 to 9 inches wide

Helmets

Men's helmets are mandatory and are equipped with face mask, chin pad and cupped four-point chin strap. Helmets and face masks must meet NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approval. In women's lacrosse, only the goalkeeper is required to wear a helmet and it must have a face mask. Soft head gear is optional for other players on a women's team.

Mouthpieces and Eyewear

Mouthpieces are compulsory for both genders, but only women's lacrosse prohibits play without protective eyewear.

Gloves and Protective Padding

Gloves are optional in women's lacrosse but required in men's. Cut or altered gloves are illegal. Men's lacrosse requires shoulder pads for all players except the goalkeeper. They are optional in women's lacrosse. Throat and chest protectors are mandatory for goalkeepers of both genders.

Ball and Goal

Lacrosse balls are solid rubber, 7-3/4 to 8 inches circumference and weigh between 5 and 5-1/4 oz. In men's lacrosse, balls may be orange, white or yellow, while women's lacrosse requires them to be yellow or bright orange. Slightly textured balls are also acceptable in women's lacrosse. For both sexes, regulation goals are 6 feet high and 6 feet wide and made of metal and netting.

Recommended

Arm pads, rib pads, athletic supporters and protective cups are advised and sometimes required in men's lacrosse. In women's lacrosse, the goalkeeper can opt to wear padding on the hands, arms, legs, shoulders and chest as long as it does not excessively increase her size to make it easier to stop shots.

References

• U.S. Lacrosse