For any lacrosse players, stick rules are important to understand because if it is illegal, not only will you not be able to use the stick until it’s fixed, but you will also end up in the penalty box. The good news is an illegal stick can be easily avoided as long as you know how to spot an illegal lacrosse stick. Here’s a simple breakdown of what to look for and possibly fix if you need to!
The Pocket
The easiest stick check you can perform on your own involves the pocket. All you need to do is hold the stick at eye level with a ball in the pocket. If the ball is resting completely below the sidewall, it’s illegal. If the ball is level with the sidewall or a part of the ball is a little bit above it, you’re all good!
Measurements
Next up, a ref will do several measurements to see where your stick stands. Written below is what the ref will measure and where it should be from the top of the lacrosse head to the butt end.
Length of the Lacrosse Stick:
- Short stick (midfielders/attackmen): 40 to 42 inches.
- Long poll (defenders): 52 to 72 inches.
- Goalie stick: 40 to 72 inches.
Length of the Lacrosse Head:
- Length: 10 inches.
- Width: At least six and a half inches (top), at least three and a half inches (middle), and at least three inches (bottom).
Shooting Strings
Another part of the stick a ref will check are the shooting strings. Make sure you don’t have a shooting sting beyond four inches starting from the top of the head. The ends of the shooting strings are also measured; the flare of the shooting string starting from the knot can’t be longer than two inches.
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Ball Withholding
Refs will also check to see how the ball stays in the lacrosse head, known as the hold. There are three tests a ref will use to check a stick’s hold: a forward tilt, lateral tilt, and a perpendicular tilt. If a ball remains in the stick after these movements, it’s illegal.
Tape Placement
Players also must be careful about how they tape their sticks. To keep a stick legal, no tape should touch the bottom of the lacrosse head (throat). If you’re doing this to hold a lacrosse head and shaft together, use a screw instead.
No Butt End
The final way to spot an illegal lacrosse stick is by looking at the bottom. If a stick doesn’t have a rubber butt end or tape covering the metal at the bottom shaft, then it will draw a flag. Not covering up the bottom of a lacrosse stick with a butt end or tape can harm people you’re playing with.