Rules of Lacrosse

Keeping the Game Fair and Safer

The rules of lacrosse govern games and equipment. USA Lacrosse works collaboratively with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NCAA to write the rules for our sport, and the organizations often work together on rule development and player safety efforts.

USA Lacrosse writes and publishes youth guidebooks for ages 14U and below, which align with the principles of the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model (LADM) and feature age-appropriate guidelines. USA Lacrosse collaborates with the NFHS on the rules for high school boys' and girls' lacrosse. The NCAA writes the rules for varsity collegiate play, with modifications by USA Lacrosse for use by collegiate non-varsity (or club) and post-collegiate in women’s lacrosse.

USA Lacrosse also publishes rules to govern box lacrosse.