{"id":9550,"date":"2022-02-17T15:06:14","date_gmt":"2022-02-17T20:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/?p=9550"},"modified":"2025-06-26T16:05:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T20:05:10","slug":"what-makes-a-lacrosse-stick-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/sticks\/what-makes-a-lacrosse-stick-illegal\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a Lacrosse Stick Illegal (Heads, Shafts, Pocket)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"9550\" class=\"elementor elementor-9550\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9b723c4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"9b723c4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-14ac5e4\" data-id=\"14ac5e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ab73de elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1384 elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"2ab73de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"1381\" class=\"elementor elementor-1381\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5270417f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"5270417f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c9008c4\" data-id=\"7c9008c4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f9641a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f9641a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>I may receive a commission if you purchase products through the links on this page at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep this site free but doesn&#8217;t affect my opinions in any way.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c849088 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c849088\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We\u2019ve all been there\u2014the referee focuses on YOU, minding your own business and looking anywhere but back at him because you know what\u2019s coming. He has the tape measure in one hand and the ball in the other.<\/p><p>This is the anxiety-inducing stick check and it is never a zen-like ordeal for the player handing over their spoon. The majority of players keep their sticks just on the edge legality so it\u2019s hard to not think \u201cwhat if\u201d at this moment.<\/p><p>What if my sidewalls loosened over the course of the game? What if all those face-offs left my head too pinched to still be legal? What if I over-massaged that pocket for a millimeter\u2019s worth of extra hold?<\/p><p>Any player will tell you, it isn\u2019t the easiest experience to be under the spotlight of a ref and there is no worse moment than getting a penalty that puts your team in a man-down situation. It also doesn\u2019t help that the sport seems to adjust the stick rules every few seasons, but this is the reality of our sport.<\/p><p>The main two things that determine if your lacrosse stick is legal are the pocket and the head shape, but there are many other things you need to be aware of as well.<\/p><p>Today, we\u2019ll walk you through how to make sure your stick is legal and what to focus on over the course of its use to make sure it remains that way. Unfortunately, once legal does not mean always legal as every stick experiences its own degree of warping over time and use.<\/p><p>So, without further adieu, let\u2019s keep you out of the penalty box and your (legal) lacrosse stick in your hands. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3548e2 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1118 elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"f3548e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;bullets&quot;,&quot;icon&quot;:{&quot;value&quot;:&quot;far fa-circle&quot;,&quot;library&quot;:&quot;fa-regular&quot;},&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_widescreen&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_laptop&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet_extra&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile_extra&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of Contents\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__f3548e2\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-down\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__f3548e2\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-chevron-up\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__f3548e2\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<i class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c28412 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c28412\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"lacrosse-head-rules\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 style=\"font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-style: normal;\">Lacrosse Head Rules<\/h2><p>The one silver lining that came from the changing stick rules is that the high school (NFHS) and collegiate (NCAA) standards are now the same. Namely, requirements for a legal stick now match across these two main levels of lacrosse competition.<\/p><p>Within this now \u201cuniversal\u201d standard, you can pinch and further modify your head so long as it remains within this set threshold. But, again, you should always be triple checking your stick to make sure it remains legal throughout its use. <\/p><h3>Men\u2019s Lacrosse Head Rules<\/h3><p>Here are the specific rules around men\u2019s lacrosse heads:<\/p><p><strong>Length.<\/strong> This is the distance measured from the outside of the head (the top arch) to the beginning of the throat (bottom of your pocket, closest to the shaft) and does not include the ball stop. This must be a minimum of 10 inches.<\/p><p><strong>Pinch.<\/strong> This is the distance from sidewall to sidewall and is measured at the midpoint of the head, defined as being 5 inches from the start of the plastic head at the throat. This pinch can be no less than 3.5 inches. The throat should remain at least 3 inches wide as you descend from the midpoint to the ball stop\/throat.<\/p><p><strong>Width.<\/strong> This is the measurement across the top of your stick (the scoop) at its widest point. This length must be a minimum of 6 inches and can be 10 inches maximum.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-454f397 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"454f397\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"194\" height=\"282\" src=\"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/lacrosse-head-rules-width.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9575\" alt=\"lacrosse head rules width\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5d4db5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f5d4db5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Depth.<\/strong> This is the top of the sidewall to the bottom of the sidewall (face of the head to the back of the head). This can be no more than 2 inches wide on both sides of the head at any point on the sidewall.<\/p><p><strong>Material.<\/strong> A head can be made of synthetic material (plastic), wood, or laminated wood.<\/p><p><strong>Ball Stop.<\/strong> This is not a necessity for most modern sticks and is not a component of any stick check measurement. BUT, in the chance you are some old-school baller, a ball stop is required for any wood stick and must not exceed 0.25 inches in thickness.<\/p><p><strong>Goalie Heads.<\/strong> The head cannot exceed 16.5 inches from top to bottom and should be between 10 and 12 inches at its widest point. The sidewalls may be no deeper than 2 inches.<\/p><h3>Women\u2019s Lacrosse Head Rules<\/h3><p>Here are the rules for women\u2019s lacrosse heads for all levels of play:<\/p><p><strong>Length.<\/strong> This is the distance measured from the outside of the crosse head (the top arch) to the beginning of the throat (bottom of your pocket, closest to the shaft) and does not include the ball stop. This must be a minimum of 10 inches.<\/p><p><strong>Pinch.<\/strong> This is the distance from sidewall to sidewall and is measured at the midpoint of the head, defined as being 5 inches from the start of the plastic head. This pinch can be no less than 3.1 inches (8 cm). The throat should remain at least 2.6 inches (6.7 cm) wide as you descend from the midpoint to the ball stop\/plastic.<\/p><p><strong>Width.<\/strong> The head of the lacrosse stick must be between 7 and 9 inches wide.<\/p><p><strong>Depth.<\/strong> This is not dictated by an exact measurement but a test of the head to the lacrosse ball; the top of the lacrosse ball, when placed in the pocket, must remain above the top edge of the sidewall.<\/p><p><strong>Material.<\/strong> A head can be made of synthetic material (plastic), wood, or laminated wood.<\/p><p><strong>Ball Stop.<\/strong> Or the stop pad may not exceed 0.5 cm thickness.<\/p><p><strong>Goalie.<\/strong> The size of the head mirrors that of the men\u2019s game with the only deviation being the overall stick length which will be covered below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-718c6f1 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1148 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"718c6f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d13da26 elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-25077 elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d13da26\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/battlelax.shop\/products\/ecd-dna-2-0-lacrosse-heads\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/Ad-Graphic-Main-Test-r241mtlriw2q4a4y4h7hq4efrcqn6d548cq8drik9g.png\" title=\"Ad Graphic Main Test\" alt=\"Ad Graphic Main Test\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Lacrosse Equipment<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2293f7 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a2293f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/battlelax.shop\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">View New Drops\u00a0on\u00a0Battle\u00a0Lax<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f6f28d2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f6f28d2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"lacrosse-pocket-rules\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Lacrosse Pocket Rules: What Makes a Pocket Illegal?<\/h2><h3>Men\u2019s Lacrosse Pocket Rules<\/h3><p>Given the mandate of manufacturers to follow the legal head dimensions as mandated by US Lacrosse, the more likely source of potential illegality is in your pocket.<\/p><p>Pockets are the most customizable component of a stick and the most likely to drift outside of legal standards. They are the most closely focused element in a stick check, that dreaded moment when the referee drops the ball into your pocket and gives it the old eye-and-slide test.<\/p><p><strong>Material.<\/strong> A pocket can be comprised of gut, rawhide, linden, or synthetic material, including mesh and leather. Shooting strings can be cotton, synthetic, or hockey lace. The shape of a pockets\u2019 pattern can range from a tight diamond to an old-school traditional string job.<\/p><p><strong>Customizable Colors.<\/strong> This applies to your mesh pockets, strings, etc. You are free to customize these colors HOWEVER, you cannot manipulate said color to trick your opponent. The most direct example of this is painting a white circle on black mesh to create the appearance of a lacrosse ball in your stick.<\/p><p><strong>Depth.<\/strong> The depth of the pocket is the most feared element when it comes to the stick check. Its depth should not exceed the size of an official lacrosse ball. Namely, the top of the ball should not be visible below the bottom of the sidewall at the deepest point in your pocket. This is that dreaded stick check test where the ref will hold your stick horizontal and zero in on your pocket with a keen eye for any daylight between sidewall and ball. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67afba8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"67afba8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"343\" height=\"227\" src=\"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/mens-pocket-depth-check.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9576\" alt=\"mens pocket depth check\" srcset=\"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/mens-pocket-depth-check.jpg 343w, https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/mens-pocket-depth-check-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 343px) 100vw, 343px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">A legal lacrosse pocket (no daylight between plastic and top of ball)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89bb1b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"89bb1b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Pull Strings.<\/strong> When it comes to depth, hopefully you\u2019re not one of those players that\u2019s already thinking about gaming the system with pull strings. A pull string is a manner of stringing the bottom of a pocket to allow the tightness to be immediately adjustable by the player in anticipation of a stick check to manipulate a pocket to appear shallower than it is. Refs have become well aware to this technique and now look for it during stick checks.<\/p><p><strong>Sidewall Strings.<\/strong> Only one sidewall string is allowed per side of the mesh. This should be an easy one to follow and not one that you should be motivated to break as more than a single string makes the task of stringing a sidewall much more difficult.<\/p><p><strong>Shooting Strings.<\/strong> Shooting strings may be woven through the top 4 inches of the head from the crosse\/scoop and may not have excess material hanging more than 2 inches off the head. This makes the previously popular \u201cU\u201d and \u201cV\u201d shooting strings illegal.<\/p><p><strong>Retention Test.<\/strong> This is the moment in the stick check where the ref will tilt your stick with the ball in the pocket to monitor any \u201ccatch\u201d to its movement in your head. If the ball fails to fall out of your head when tilted vertically and horizontally 90 degrees, then your head will be deemed illegal. You can see more about how this works in the video below:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8435e49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8435e49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Flat Table Test.<\/strong> As lacrosse heads have taken on more of an offset angle to maximize power and speed, this test has come more and more under the radar. The rule is simple: lay your stick flat, facedown on a table. The furthest point from said tabletop to the stick head cannot exceed 2.75 inches.<\/p><h3>Women\u2019s Lacrosse Pocket Rules<\/h3><p>The pocket is where a woman\u2019s lacrosse head most clearly diverges from the male game as it is much shallower to compensate for the lack of physicality in the sport. Keep in mind that these rules shift more so for the women\u2019s game at the youngest levels and the regulations covered here are meant for competitions ages 12 and up.<\/p><p><strong>Material.<\/strong> The women\u2019s game recently expanded allowable pocket material into the same familiar mesh of the men\u2019s game after previously relying solely on traditional strings. Mesh can be a full setup or a runner supplemented with traditional strings along either side.<\/p><p><strong>Spacing.<\/strong> No matter the type of string job\/material, there may be no holes or gaps in the stringing that exceed 1.5 inches. This is something refs will look for during a stick check.<\/p><p><strong>Customizable Colors.<\/strong> As with the men\u2019s rules, customizable elements are allowed in a woman\u2019s pocket but cannot be designed in a manner to visually and purposefully deceive an opponent.<\/p><p><strong>Depth.<\/strong> This is the most clear distinction from the men\u2019s game as the women\u2019s pocket must be much shallower. This is looked for in the exact inverse of the men\u2019s stick during a stick check. Namely, the pocket depth must allow at least some portion of the ball to be visible over the head\u2019s sidewall when the stick is held perfectly horizontal.<\/p><p>This will be checked for on both the front and back of the net during a stick check; in both cases, the ball must break the plane of the top rail of your head to be deemed legal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3d97381 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"3d97381\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=kF44oWN1xGY&amp;ab_channel=OffBallLax&quot;,&quot;start&quot;:173,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24dc4bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"24dc4bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Pull Strings.<\/strong> As with the men\u2019s lacrosse head rules, this manipulation of depth is not allowed and will be looked for during a stick check.<\/p><p>This brings us to one of the most consistent questions about the women\u2019s game: why do scorers immediately drop their stick after a goal? Scoring players are required to immediately drop their stick after a goal as now written in the rules of the game to ensure that there is no manipulation of their pocket prior to a stick check. <\/p><p><strong>Shooting Strings.<\/strong> Shooting strings may be anywhere within 4 inches of the crosse\/scoop but must be attached directly to your head\u2019s sidewall plastic. This is meant to limit flexing at the top of the head which can create more speed on throws and shots.<\/p><p><strong>Lower Levels.<\/strong> Women\u2019s pockets at the 8 and up level of the sport have no regulation on the depth of a pocket. This means that young players can have as deep of a pocket as they desire while on the field until they reach the age of 10. At 10 and up, players are required to keep a partially shallow pocket with a portion of the ball required to be visible over the bottom rail of the head. This goes even shallower at the age of 12 when the depth adjusts to the manner covered above. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9284266 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1148 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"9284266\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8131a2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8131a2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"lacrosse-shaft-rules\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Lacrosse Shaft Rules<\/h2><p>Now, we move down your spoon to the shaft where we\u2019ll cover the main rule (length) and some of the smaller restrictions\/mandates you may not be aware of.<\/p><p><strong>Length.<\/strong> The total length of a men\u2019s lacrosse stick (shaft + head) is between 40 \u2013 42 inches for attack and short stick midfielders and 52 \u2013 72 inches for defensive long poles and LSM\u2019s. For men\u2019s goalies, their sticks can be between 40 \u2013 72 inches.<\/p><p>For the women\u2019s game, sticks can be between 35.5 \u2013 43.25 inches total across the board for field players (there is no differentiation between offensive and defensive players). Women\u2019s goalies can be between 35.5 \u2013 52 inches.<\/p><p><strong>Butt End.<\/strong> This is the end of your shaft opposite the head. Rules in both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s game dictate that there cannot be any exposed bare metal at this end of your stick. Rules have changed to how this end may be covered, now requiring a manufactured end cap to be placed over this metal. Solely taping or performing any similar coverage in lieu of an end cap is no longer allowed in the rules. You may cover the end cap in tape but should leave the very bottom of it visible.<\/p><p><strong>Tape.<\/strong> Tape cannot touch any point of the head, including the neck to which the head and shaft attach. Refs will look for this during stick checks and, if it is found, will rule your stick illegal. If you are trying to supplement for a loose head, you should look into purchasing a more compatible head for your shaft or vice versa, or test out a different screw for the connection.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e70c851 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1148 elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"e70c851\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-47d2499 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"47d2499\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" id=\"lacrosse-illegal-stick-penalties\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Penalties for Failing a Lacrosse Stick Check<\/h2><p>Failing a stick check for violating any of the above elements will result in a 1 to 3-minute non-releasable penalty for the offending player. For those new to the game, non-releasable penalties mean that the offending player will not be released from the penalty if the opposing team scores prior to the conclusion of the penalty period.<\/p><p>Depth issues with the pocket will result in the 1-minute penalty and the stick may continue to be used so long as the pocket is corrected. All other violations result in a 3-minute penalty and will disqualify any further use of the offending stick for the remainder of the game.<\/p><p>Certain elements such as the lack of an end cap or excess shooting string may receive a warning for correction prior to any penalty being levied. These will be penalized if the issue is not corrected following the warning.<\/p><p>If a goal-scorer is found to have an illegal stick in the stick check following a goal, the goal will be disallowed. An illegal stick for the scoring player is the only case in which a goal will be waived off, but this does not include the lack of an end cap or excess shooting string. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9115b5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c9115b5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jeff_schofield\/8709571600\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019ve all been there\u2014the referee focuses on YOU, minding your own business and looking anywhere but back at him because you know what\u2019s coming. He has the tape measure in one hand and the ball in the other. This is the anxiety-inducing stick check and it is never a zen-like ordeal for the player handing over their spoon. The majority of players keep their sticks just on the edge legality so it\u2019s hard to not think \u201cwhat if\u201d at this moment. What if my sidewalls loosened over the course of the game? What if all those face-offs left my head too pinched to still be legal? What if I over-massaged that pocket for a millimeter\u2019s worth of extra hold? Any player will tell you, it isn\u2019t the easiest experience to be under the spotlight of a ref and there is no worse moment than getting a penalty that puts your team in a man-down situation. It also doesn\u2019t help that the sport seems to adjust the stick rules every few seasons, but this is the reality of our sport. The main two things that determine if your lacrosse stick is legal are the pocket and the head shape, but there are many other things you need to be aware of as well. Today, we\u2019ll walk you through how to make sure your stick is legal and what to focus on over the course of its use to make sure it remains that way. Unfortunately, once legal does not mean always legal as every stick experiences its own degree of warping over time and use. So, without further adieu, let\u2019s keep you out of the penalty box and your (legal) lacrosse stick in your hands. Table of Contents Lacrosse Head Rules The one silver lining that came from the changing stick rules is that the high school (NFHS) and collegiate (NCAA) standards are now the same. Namely, requirements for a legal stick now match across these two main levels of lacrosse competition. Within this now \u201cuniversal\u201d standard, you can pinch and further modify your head so long as it remains within this set threshold. But, again, you should always be triple checking your stick to make sure it remains legal throughout its use. Men\u2019s Lacrosse Head Rules Here are the specific rules around men\u2019s lacrosse heads: Length. This is the distance measured from the outside of the head (the top arch) to the beginning of the throat (bottom of your pocket, closest to the shaft) and does not include the ball stop. This must be a minimum of 10 inches. Pinch. This is the distance from sidewall to sidewall and is measured at the midpoint of the head, defined as being 5 inches from the start of the plastic head at the throat. This pinch can be no less than 3.5 inches. The throat should remain at least 3 inches wide as you descend from the midpoint to the ball stop\/throat. Width. This is the measurement across the top of your stick (the scoop) at its widest point. This length must be a minimum of 6 inches and can be 10 inches maximum. Depth. This is the top of the sidewall to the bottom of the sidewall (face of the head to the back of the head). This can be no more than 2 inches wide on both sides of the head at any point on the sidewall. Material. A head can be made of synthetic material (plastic), wood, or laminated wood. Ball Stop. This is not a necessity for most modern sticks and is not a component of any stick check measurement. BUT, in the chance you are some old-school baller, a ball stop is required for any wood stick and must not exceed 0.25 inches in thickness. Goalie Heads. The head cannot exceed 16.5 inches from top to bottom and should be between 10 and 12 inches at its widest point. The sidewalls may be no deeper than 2 inches. Women\u2019s Lacrosse Head Rules Here are the rules for women\u2019s lacrosse heads for all levels of play: Length. This is the distance measured from the outside of the crosse head (the top arch) to the beginning of the throat (bottom of your pocket, closest to the shaft) and does not include the ball stop. This must be a minimum of 10 inches. Pinch. This is the distance from sidewall to sidewall and is measured at the midpoint of the head, defined as being 5 inches from the start of the plastic head. This pinch can be no less than 3.1 inches (8 cm). The throat should remain at least 2.6 inches (6.7 cm) wide as you descend from the midpoint to the ball stop\/plastic. Width. The head of the lacrosse stick must be between 7 and 9 inches wide. Depth. This is not dictated by an exact measurement but a test of the head to the lacrosse ball; the top of the lacrosse ball, when placed in the pocket, must remain above the top edge of the sidewall. Material. A head can be made of synthetic material (plastic), wood, or laminated wood. Ball Stop. Or the stop pad may not exceed 0.5 cm thickness. Goalie. The size of the head mirrors that of the men\u2019s game with the only deviation being the overall stick length which will be covered below. Lacrosse Equipment View New Drops\u00a0on\u00a0Battle\u00a0Lax Lacrosse Pocket Rules: What Makes a Pocket Illegal? Men\u2019s Lacrosse Pocket Rules Given the mandate of manufacturers to follow the legal head dimensions as mandated by US Lacrosse, the more likely source of potential illegality is in your pocket. Pockets are the most customizable component of a stick and the most likely to drift outside of legal standards. They are the most closely focused element in a stick check, that dreaded moment when the referee drops the ball into your pocket and gives it the old eye-and-slide test. Material. A pocket can be comprised of gut, rawhide, linden, or synthetic material, including mesh<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sticks","entry","has-media"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/MakesAStickIllegal.png","author_info":{"display_name":"Dave Rathmanner","author_link":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/author\/dave\/"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/MakesAStickIllegal.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9550"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36187,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9550\/revisions\/36187"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/laxdrip.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}