Boys Lacrosse

Lacrosse Boys Rule Changes

• 1

  Boys Lacrosse Rules Changes - 2027

  August 13, 2026

  Download a PDF copy

  1-2-1: A contrasting-colored line may be used to mark the center of the field when a white line does not contrast from the field, logo, or mascot color. 

  Rationale: Aligns with current trends and allows for flexibility in designing school mascot/logo layout while maintaining a visible center line.

  1-2-1 PENALTY, 6-5-2t: Lines marking the crease, defensive area, and goal area are required and if not properly marked, the home team will be assessed an illegal procedure.

  Rationale: Adds all other essential lines for play to the list of required lines that, if not marked, result in a penalty.

  1-5: Beginning in 2029, the lacrosse ball must be fluorescent green or yellow, eliminating the use of white and orange balls. Both fluorescent green and yellow lacrosse balls are currently legal for use in addition to white and orange.

  Rationale: Requiring a more clearly visible ball color aligns with other rules codes and optimizes visibility by players, officials and spectators.    

  1-13 (NEW): Host/site administration is responsible for compliance of all facilities, fields, and game equipment under their control and will assume responsibility for correcting identified concerns by officials. The head coach will assume this responsibility in the absence of a site administrator.

  Rationale: Places ultimate responsibility on host administration to ensure the field meets rules requirements and minimizes risk and reinforces that officials must still perform all pre-game duties required within the rules and report concerns to host administration.

  2-3-2 & 3: All coaches are required to act in a courteous manner and expect the same from their players and substitutes. Head coaches are responsible for controlling the actions of spectators upon request of the official.

  Rationale: Extends the requirement that not only the head coach but all coaches must be courteous and places the responsibility of addressing spectator behavior specifically to the head coach.

  2-10-2c: Ball retrievers are not permitted to stand anywhere along the end line while the ball is in play.

  Rationale: Minimizes risk of injury to ball retrievers.

  4-1-1 (NEW): A five-yard zone on each side of the center line will be designated for use by officials only during warm-ups and will not be available for use by teams. 

  Rationale: Establishes a designated space for officials to conduct the coin toss without interrupting warm-ups.

  4-2-1: The captains meeting will take place 10-15 minutes before game time.

  Rationale: This allows a more settled prelude before the game and gives officials time to conduct their pregame responsibilities with ample time.

  4-3-3b: During the faceoff players must go down together and move into position as quickly as possible without either player placing their knee on the ground at any time prior to the whistle.

  Rationale: Clarifies that players must go down into faceoff position together and that players are not permitted to place their knees on the ground at any point during the face-off.

  4-7, 6-12-2, 6-12-3: Any time the ball is stuck in a player’s (other than the goalkeeper’s when they are in the crease) uniform, equipment, or crosse it results in technical foul for withholding the ball from play.

  Rationale: Simplifies and aligns the penalty for a ball stuck in a player’s stick, uniform, or equipment by defining these actions as withholding the ball from play resulting in a technical foul.

  4-9-2g: If a scorer loses any part of a broken crosse on a successful shot, the goal is disallowed.

  Rationale: Adds that if any part of the stick fails to be controlled by the shooter, the goal is disallowed. Losing any part of the crosse on a shot can be a distraction for the goalkeeper.

  4-9-2p (NEW), 4-21-1: Clarifies that it is a violation of the substitution procedure if a player has left the field due to an injury or dislodged helmet and returns before the next dead ball and establishes that if this occurs with a player from the attacking team and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

  Rationale: Adds explicit language in the rules calling for a penalty if a player who is supposed to remain on the bench until the next dead ball fails to do so.

  4-13: By state association adoption, member state associations may establish a shot clock in which the team in possession shall attempt a shot on goal within 70 seconds of clearing the defensive half or gaining team possession in the offensive half of the field.

  Rationale: Allows states to implement a shot clock to eliminate stalling and increase pace of play.

  4-14, 4-15, 6-5-2r & s: When play is restarted with a team in possession in its defensive half of the field, or when a team gains possession during a live ball anywhere on the field, it has 20 seconds to play the ball anywhere on the field and must advance the ball (loose or possessed) across the center line before the 20 seconds expires – eliminating the 10-second count. Once the 20 seconds have elapsed, over-and-back occurs when a team fails to keep the ball in its offensive half of the field except after a shot or when the ball is last touched by the opponent.

  Rationale: Elimination of the 10-second count increases flow and pace of play.

  4-24-8: Establishes that a player has lost their helmet if the helmet has been dislodged to a point where the chin strap is no longer on the chin and clarifies that play is suspended immediately if a loss of helmet occurs during a live or dead ball.

  Rationale: Clarifies that an official’s time-out occurs when a player’s helmet comes off during either a live or dead ball and more clearly defines the loss of a helmet as a helmet that has been dislodged to a point where the chin strap is no longer on the chin and therefore no longer adequately protecting the athlete.

  6-5-2y: Establishes within the rules that illegal contact by an opposing player prior to the loss of helmet is not an illegal procedure for loss of helmet.

  Rationale: Aligns with the interpretation that any illegal contact by an opponent negates the foul for loss of a helmet.

  2027 Boys Lacrosse Editorial Changes

  1-13 (NEW); 1-7-1; 1-8-1 & 2; 2-7-2; 3-5-1c; 4-3-1 thru 3 (NEW); 4-4-2; 4-3-1 EXCEPTIONS NOTE; 4-5-3; 4-19-3; 4-24-5; 4-30-1a thru c (NEW); 6-1-1 PENALTY EXCEPTIONS 1 & 2; 6-5-2b(1); 7-8-1a & b (NEW); STATE ASSOCIATION ADOPTION CHART

  2027 Boys Lacrosse Points of Emphasis

  1. Player Safety

  2. Properly Worn Equipment

  3. Second Flag Down

  4. Identification of the NFHS Authenticating Mark on Game Balls