Section 1 - The Ball
ART. 1... The ball shall be yellow, lime green or bright orange color, and meet the current NOCSAE lacrosse ball standard at the time of manufacture. The home team will provide the game balls. The same type and color ball must be used throughout the game unless both coaches agree to change.
Section 2 - Field Crosse
ART. 1... The field crosse must be made of the following basic materials: composite, metal alloy(handle only), rubber, wood, gut, leather, fiberglass, nylon, plastic and any other synthetic material. The crosse shall not have sharp or protruding parts or edges, and shall not be dangerous to players in any way.
ART. 2... The head of the stick shall be triangular in concept and shall be affixed securely to the handle in such a way that it shall basically be in the same plane as the handle. The head of the stick shall be affixed as intended by the manufacturer. A "bent" handle may only be used with the heads that are specifically designed to accomodate them; "Bent" handles are head and manufacturer specific. Heads designed for use with a "bent" handle are not legal when mounted/attached to a straight handle. Heads designed for use with a straight handle are not legal when attached to a bent handle.
ART. 3... The crosse's overall length shall be between 35.5 inches minimum and 43.25 inches maximum.
ART. 4... Strung pockets must be attached to the bottom of the bottom rail of the head through stringing holes. Mesh pockets are also permitted. If strung with shooting strings, the pocket of the stick must have no more than two shooting strings, which must be attached directly to the sidewalls. Shooting strings are not required in the pocket of the stick.
ART. 5... A crosse meets specifications if:
a. It complies with the criteria in this rule.
b. It meets the Manufactuter Specifications
c. The top of the ball remains visible above the top of the wooden or plastic wall after pressure has been applied to and released from a ball dropped into the front and back of the pocket of a horizontally held crosse.
d. The ball moves freely within all parts of the head of the stick, both laterally and along the full length of the front and back of the pocket. To ensure the ball rolls freely, the official will tilt the stick in both directions so that the ball moves freely from the ball stop to the scoop and out of the stick. The ball shall move freely when the stick and head are tilted 90 degrees.
e. If no holes or gaps in the pocket are larger than 1.68 inches (42.2 milimeters) in diameter as measured by a spherical shaped object that is equivalent in diameter (i.e., an American golf ball)
Section 3 - Goalkeeper Crosse
ART. 1... The goalkeeper crosse must be made of the following basic materials: composite, metal alloy(handle only), rubber, wood, gut, leather, fiberglass, nylon, plastic and any other synthetic material. The crosse shall not have sharp or protruding parts or edges, and shall not be dangerous to players in any way.
ART. 2... The head of the stick shall be triangular in concept and shall be affixed securely to the handle in such a way that it shall basically be in the same plane as the handle. The head of the stick shall be affixed as intended by the manufacturer.
ART. 3... The crosse's overall length shall be between 35.5 inches minimum and 52 inches maximum.
ART. 4... The pocket of the stick shall be strung with six or seven longitudinal leather and/or synthetic thongs and crosse lacing or be mesh. "Shooting" strings are not required in the pocket of the stick. A goalkeeper's stick may have more than two "shooting" strings.
ART. 5... A crosse meets specifications if:
a. It complies with the criteria in this rule.
b. It meets the Manufacturer's Specifications.
c. The ball moves freely within all parts of the head of the crosse, both laterally and along its full length.
Section 6 - Goalkeeper Equipment
ART. 1... The goalkeeper must wear a helmet with face mask and properly secured chinstrap, a separate throat protector, padded gloves, a mouthpiece, a chest protector designed for lacrosse that meets the NOCSAE standard at the time of manufacture(beginning January 1, 2021), shin protection and padding on the thighs. The protective helmet, designed for lacrosse, must meet the NOCSAE test standard.
ART. 2... It is recommended that the goalkeeper wear padding on arms and shoulders. This padding must not excessively increase the size of these body parts. Body padding must not exceed the thickness of legal goalkeeping gloves 1-inch padding. Gloves must not contain any webbing and must not excessively increase the size of the hands as they are presented to the ball.
Section 7 - Personal Equipment
ART. 1... All players must properly wear a professionally manufactured intra oral mouthpiece that fully covers the teeth. The mouthpiece shall be of any readily visible color other than clear or white and must not have grphics of white teeth. It shall be occlusal (protecting and separating the biting surfaces) and labial (protecting the teeth and supporting structures) portions and shall cover the posterior teeth with adequate thickness. There may be no protruding tabs for field players. It is recommended that the mouthpiece be:
a. Properly fitted, protecting the anterior (leading) dental arch; and
b. Constructed from a model made from an impression of the individuals teeth;
c. Constructed and fitted for the individual by impressing the teeth into the mouthpiece; or
d. Provided by a dental professional.
ART. 2... All field players must properly wear eye protection that meets the ASTM standard for women's lacrosse (F3077). For 2019, all ASTM women's lacrosse eyewear and headgear that is legal for play will be listed on the US Lacrosse website. Starting January 1, 2020, all eyewear on the playing field must be SEI certified and bear the SEI mark for certification and will be listed on the SEI website. Please see Appendix B for more detailed manufacturer's specification for certified eyewear.
ART. 3... Close fitting gloves and headgear may be worn by all field players. Any field player choosing to wear headgear will only be permitted to wear headgear that meets current ASTM standard for Women's lacrosse(F3137) and is labeled accordingly. All headgear must be properly worn and securely fixed with the chinstrap in place as intended for use. Any headgear manufactured on or after 1/1/18 must be permanently labeled with the SEI certification mark. Face masks are not permitted.
ART. 4... No equipment, including protective devices, may be used unless it complies with the rules and manufacturers' specification and is deemed not dangerous to other players by the officials.
Note: Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, splints, etc.) on the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, upper arm or shoulder are prohibited unless padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than 1/2 inch thick. Knee and ankle braces that are unaltered from the manufacturer's original design/production do not require any additional padding.
ART. 5... Players may only wear securely taped Medic-alert jewelry with information visible and close fitting cloth sweatbands. Any other adornment, including gauges, will be considered jewelry and may not be worn. Barrettes are legal as long as they do not endanger other players.
ART. 6... Eye black worn on the face must be one solid stroke with no logos/numbers/letters and shall not extend further than the width of the eye socket or below the cheekbone.
Section 9 - Uniforms
ART. 1... Players must wear composition or rubber-soled shoes. No spikes are permitted. Plastic, leather or rubber cleats-studs may be worn. Shoes and socks are not required to be indentical for team members.
ART. 5... All visible undergarments worn under the kilts/shorts/jerseys must be of one solid color, and must be white, gray, black, or one of that team's uniform colors. All team members who choose to wear visible undergarments must wear the same color. This does not apply to medical sleeves. Visible long- or short-sleeve undergarments must correspond to the team's predominant jersey color or be light with a light jersey and dark with a dark jersey.
Manufacturer Specifications
SECTION 1. The primary intent of the field crosse specifications is to ensure that the ball moves freely within all parts of the head and pocket so that the ball may be dislodged from the front and back of the pocket of a crosse without an excessively forceful check. A crosse may be deemed illegal even though it meets all technical specifications if its design is a clear attempt to circumvent the intent of the rules.
SECTION 2. The head of the crosse shall be constructed of wood, plastic, fiberglass, nylon, leather, rubber, gut, and/or any other synthetic material. The handle of the crosse shall be constructed of wood, metal alloy or other composite material. The head of the stick shall be affixed securely to the handle in such a way that it shall basically be in the same plane as the handle. An exception is that a handle may deviate up to, but not more than, 10 degrees from straight for the last part of the shaft that is within 6.5cm from the ball stop when the handle is mounted in the head. The end of all handles shall have an end cap, be taped or be sanded smooth if wood or solid composite material. The crosse shall not have sharp or protruding edges, and shall not be dangerous to players in any way. US Lacrosse approved heads may not be altered. Prohibited alterations to heads include, but not limited to: baking, drilling additional holes, breaking and/or reconstructing with adhesive material, stretching, pinching and shaving.
SECTION 3. The overall length of the crosse shal be 90cm minimum to 110cm maximum. End caps are included when measuring the overall lengthof a crosse.
SECTION 4. To determine crosse compliance with the linear measurement specifications in US Lacrosse Appendix B, all measurements except overall crosse length shall be made to the nearest 0.01cm. The permitted deviation from the standard is 0.09cm.
Note: If the maximum specified length for a particular measurement is 5.1cm, then a measurement of 5.20cm is legal, but 5.21c, is not legal. If the minimum specified length for a particular measurement is 5.1cm, then a measurement of 5.00cm is legal, but 4.99cm is not legal
SECTION 5. The unstrung head and the handle of a field stick must lie within a 6.55cm horizontal plane(refer to diagram)
a. At the bridge or the ball stop, the top edge of the bridge or ball stop must be at least 1.3cm above the center line of the handle.
b. The top edge of the sidewall must not be more than 0.6cm below the center line of the handle.
c. The top edge of the sidewall must not drop below the center line of the handle before 5.7 cm as measured from the center of the bridge or ball stop.
SECTION 6. The overall length of the head, as measured from the center of the bridge or ball stop (where the top, back edge of the stop pad meets the plastic) to the top outside edge of the scoop, shall be 25.4cm minimum to 30.5 maximum. With the open pocket of the head facing up, all length measurements are taken along the center line of the handle.
SECTION 7. The overall outside width of the head of the crosse when measured at the widest point at the top of the head shall be 18cm minimum to 23cm maximum. With the open pocket of the head facing up, all width measurements are taken on a line that is perpendicular to the extension of the handle.
SECTION 8. Strung Pockets must be attached to the bottom of the bottom rail of the head through stringing holes. The top of the stringing hole shall not be more than 1.0cm from the bottom of the sidewall. Mesh pockets are also permitted.
SECTION 9. The entire cross (strung head and handle) shall not weigh more than 567 g.
WOODEN FIELD CROSSES
SECTION 10. The head of a wooden field crosse is defined to consist of four parts: the bridge, the wooden sidewall, the guard and the scoop.(See diagram)
a. The bridge is the woven ball stop of a wooden stick. The height of the bridge shall be 5.1 cm maximum to 3.2 cm minimum.
b. As measured from the bridge to the midpoint of the head, the height of the wooden sidewall shall be 4.5 cm maximum to 3.2 cm minimum. From the midpoint of the head, the height of the sidewall may taper toward the scoop.
c. The guard is the soft woven wall of the head. The height of the guard shall be 7cm maximum to 3.2cm minimum.
SECTION 11. The head shall be triangular. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head must continually increase as measured from the center of the bridge to the widest point at the top of the head.
a. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 5.1 cm fron the center of the bridge, shall be 6.7 cm to 7.6 cm and the outside width of the head shall be 7.6 to 10.1 cm.
b. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 5.1 cm from the center of the bridge, shall be 7 cm minimum.
c. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 7.6 cm from the center of the bridge, shall be 8 cm minimum.
d. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 10.2 cm from the center of the bridge, shall be 9cm minimum.
e. The inside width between the walls at the widest point at the top of the head shall be 15 cm to 16 cm.
PLASTIC/MOLDED HEAD FIELD CROSSE
SECTION 12. The head of the plastic/molded head field stick is defined to consist of four areas: the throat, the ball stop, the sidewall, and the scoop. (See diagram)
SECTION 13. The ball stop is the center inside curved plastic wall of the head at the throat. The wall of the ball stop must not deviate by more than 7 degrees from perpendicular to the long axis of the handle. The height of the ball stop shall be 6.55 cm maximum to 3.2 cm minimum.
SECTION 14. Stop pads shall not be more than 0.5 cm thick. With the open pocket of the head facing up, the stop pad shall not vary in thickness from the top to the bottom of the ball stop. The stop pad may have slightly raised or inset lettering as long as the perceived goal is artistic design/advertising. The surface of the stop pad may not, in any way, interfere with the free movement of the ball within the pocket or affect ball retention.
SECTION 15. The stop area ends and the sidewall begins at 3.4 cm as measured from the center of the ball stop. The sidewall ends and the scoop area begins at the widest point at the top of the head.
SECTION 16. From the beginning of the sidewall at 3.4 cm to the midpoint of the head, as measured from the center of the ball stop to the top of the scoop, the actual height of the sidewalls shall be 4.7 cm maximum to 2.8 cm minimum. From the midpoint of the head, the height of the sidewalls may taper toward the scoop.
SECTION 17. There may be no protrusions or outcroppings on the inside surface of the sidewalls that interfere with the free movement of the ball or affect ball retention. Minor protrusions or outcroppings added for design or strengthening purposes will be permitted. The legality of these protrusions/outcroppings will be determined by the US Lacrosse Rules Committee upon submission of the stick by the manufacturer
SECTION 18. The head of the stick shall be triangular in concept, with the exact allowable distances between the sidewalls determined by the specific measurements outlined in other sections of US Lacrosse Appendix B (See diagram)
a. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 3.2 cm from the center of the ball stop, shall be 6.7 cm minimum to 8.0 cm maximum. The radius of the ball is 3.2 cm.
b. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 5.1 cm from the center of the ball stop, shall be 6.8 cm minimum.
c. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 7.6 cm from the center of the ball stop, shall be 7.4 cm minimum.
d. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head, as measured 10.2 cm from the center of the ball stop, shall be 8.7 cm minimum.
e. The inside width between the walls at the widest point at the top of the head shall be 16.0 cm minimum.
f. The inside width between the sidewalls is measurement by determining the minimum distance between the projections of the sidewalls onto a horizontal plane. This can be performed by measuring the outside distance between two vertical rods.
SECTION 19. At all points along the sidewall, the formula outlined below shall be used to determine the maximum slant/angle that the sidewalls of the head may deviate from vertical. (see diagram)
a. With the open pocket of the head facing up, measure the vertical height of the sidewall at any point. Then find the difference in the width between the top and bottom edges of the sidewalls at that point.
b. At all points, the difference between the top and bottom widths divided by the vertical height of the sidewall must be 0.65 or less.
POCKETS
SECTION 20. The nominal diameter of the shooting string is nylon cord and sidewall string nylon shall be 0.3 cm maximum. The nominal diameter of pocket nylon shall be 0.3 cm maximum unless fused mesh is utlized to attach the pocket to the head of the stick. The stipulation for 0.3 cm maximum nominal diameter for pocket nylon is a manufacturer's specification. Officials shall not measure this for compliance as part of their routine stick checks. Technical criteria assume a defined gap is present between pocket nylon mesh. A solid surface of nylon would be non-compliant.
SECTION 21. Field crosses shall have no more than two serparate shooting strings. Shooting strings shall not be rolled or coiled or twisted more than twice between each thong. In a mesh pocket, the shooting string may be coiled once per mesh diamond/hole. Flat laces may not be used as shooting strings. Shooting strings are not required.
SECTION 22. Any shooting string must be directly attached to both sidewalls within 3.5 inches as measured from the top outside edge of the head and the bottom shooting string may be an inverted "U" in shape and must be directly attached to both sidewalls within 6.5 inches, as measured from the top outside edge of the head. Shooting strings may not be crossed. Shooting strings may not touch from outside the outermost thongs to the sidewall. See diagram.
SECTION 23. All components of the pocket shall be integral, either by tying or by stitching. In no case shall components be slid over shooting strings, cross lacings, or thongs. This rule strictly prohibits the use of beads, tubing, or similar items on any part of the pocket. Other materials that may be prohibited : Any materials that are sharp/unyielding - i.e. -metal or hard rubber material that could be dangerous to another player.
SECTION 24. The combined height of the sidewalland the depth of the natural forward facing pocket containing the ball shall not exceed 6.4 cm, the diameter of the ball. The combined height of the sidewall and the depth of the reverse(backside) pocket containing the ball shall not exceed 6.4 cm, the diameter of the ball. The top of a ball, when placed into the pocket of a horizontally held crosse both front and back, must be visible above the top of the entire wooden or plastic sidewall after reasonable force with one hand has been applied and released from the ball.
SECTION 25. The ball moves freely within all parts of the head of the stick both laterally and along its full length of the front and back of the pocket. To ensure the ball rolls freely, the official will tilt the stick in both directions so that the ball moves freely from the ball stop to the scoop and out of the stick. The ball must not become wedged between the walls, under the guard or under the bridge of a wooden crosse, or in the ball stop or under the walls of a plastic/molded head crosse. The ball must easily fall out of the pocket when the crosse is turned upside down. There must be no holes or gaps in the pocket larger than 1.5" diameter(38.1 mm)
GOALKEEPER'S CROSSE
SECTION 26. The crosse shall be constructed of wood, plastic, fiberglass, nylon, leather, rubber, gut, and/or any other synthetic material. The handle of the crosse shall be straight and may be constructed of wood, metal alloy or other composite material. The head of the stick shall be affixed securely to the handle in such a way that it shall basically be in the same plane as the handle. The end of all handles shall have an end cap, be taped or be sanded smooth, if wood. The stick shall not have any sharp or protruding parts or edges, and shall not be dangerous to players in any way.
SECTION 27. The overall length of the crosse shall be 90cm minimum to 135cm maximum. The end cap is included when measuring the overall length of the crosse.
SECTION 28. To determine crosse compliance with linear measurement specifications, all measurements shall be made to the nearest 0.01cm, except for overall crosse length. The permitted deviation from the standard is 0.09 cm.
Section 29. The unstrung head and the handle of a goalkeeper's crosse shall lie within a 7.6 cm horizontal plane.
a. No part of the head shall pass beyond a plane 2.5 cm above the center line of the handle and/or 5.1 cm below the center line of the handle.
b. The top edge of the sidewall shall not be more than 0.6 cm below the center line of the handle.
SECTION 30. The head shall have a maximum length of 42 cm. The length of the head is measured from the center of the bridge or ball stop (where the top back edge of the stop pad meets the plastic) to the top outside edge of the scoop. With the open pocket of the head facing up, all length measurements are taken along the center line of the handle.
SECTION 31. The height of the bridge or ball stop of a goalkeeper's crosse shall be 5.4 cm maximum to 3.2 cm minimum. The bridge or plastic wall of the ball stop must not deviate by more than 10 degrees from perpendicular to the long axis of the handle.
SECTION 32. The height of the woven wall of a wooden goalkeeper's crosse shall be 7 cm maximum. As measured 3.4 cm fron the top of center of the bridge or the ball stop, the sidewall begins. The height of the sidewall shall be 5.1 cm maximum to 2.54 cm minimum. The sidewall ends at the widest point at the top of the head.
SECTION 33. The entire head of the crosse shall be triangular in concept. The inside width between the sidewalls of the head must continually increase from the center of the bridge or ball stop to the widest point at the top of the head. With the open pocket of the head facing up, all width measurements are taken between the plastic or woven and wooden sidewalls on a line that is perpendicular to the center line of the handle.
a. When measured 5.1 cm from the center top edge of the ball stop, the inside width between the sidewalls of a plastic/molded head crosse shall be 13 cm to 17 cm. The maximum outside width of the head shall be 20 cm.
b. When measured 10.2 cm from the center top edge of the ball stop, the inside width between the sidewalls of a plastic/molded head crosse shall be 18.5 cm to 22.5 cm. The maximum outside width of th head shall be 26 cm.
c. When measured 15.3 cm from the center top edge of the ball stop, the inside width between the sidewalls of a plastic/molded head crosse shall be 23cm to 26cm. The maximum outside width of the head shall be 30 cm.
d. At te widest point of the head, the inside width between the sidewalls of a plastic/molded head crosse shall be 28.5 cm to 30.5 cm. The maximum outside width of the head shall be 33 cm.
SECTION 34. The pocket of the crosse may be strung with six or seven longitudinal leather or synthetic thongs and cross-lacing or may be mesh. The depth of the pocket may be unlimited except that the ball must move freely within all parts of the head and the pocket, both laterally and aling its full length.
SECTION 35. The goalkeeper's crosse may have more than two shooting strings. Flat laces or nylon cord may be used as "shooting" strings. There are no restritions regarding the number, design or placement of "shooting" strings in the pocket of a goalkeeper's crosse.
SECTION 36. The entire crosse (strung head and handle) shall not weigh more than 773 grams.
EYE PROTECTION
SECTION 37. All field players must properly wear eye protection that meets the ASTM standard for Women's Lacrosse (F3077). Manufacturers must begin to certify eye protection products through SEI. Effective immediately, SEI is accepting submittals for certification to ASTM F3077-14 and ASTM F3077-17. All eyewear must be certified no later than January 1, 2020.
SECTION 38. Any field player choosing to wear headgear will only be permitted to wear headgear that meets the current ASTM standard for women's lacrosse (F3137) and is labeled accordingly. Any headgear manufactured on or after 1/1/18 must be permanently labeled with the SEI certification mark.
CHEST PROTECTION
SECTION 42. All goalkeepers must properly wear chest protection the meets the NOCSAE standard for women's lacrosse(ND200) at the time of manufacture beginning January 1, 2021. The SEI/NOCSAE mark is required on all chest protectors that meet the NOCSAE standard.
