What Are Stick Rules in Lacrosse?

Lacrosse is an aggressive sport that relies on a stick with a net attached to it in order to score points. Because of the physical contact of lacrosse, the stick can often become a weapon for hitting and slashing the opponent. While some methods for using the stick are legal, others are fouls that result in penalties. Rules for proper use of lacrosse sticks have given standards to all those who play the game, keeping it as safe as possible.

  1. Dimensions

    • During a lacrosse game, the dimensions of the stick have to fall into a certain range to be legal. The length of the stick has to be between 40 and 42 inches long and the netting 6 ½ to 10 inches wide. A goalie stick can be between 40 and 72 inches long and the netting 10 to 12 inches wide. A goalie's stick can be larger because he uses his stick to block and bat the ball away from the net. The sticks must be made from solid wood, laminated wood or synthetic material. Netting has to be made of gut, rawhide, lien or synthetic materials. Standard materials are used to make sure the sticks are safe and not made with meal materials, which can cause injuries. A Penalty for an illegal stick can be between one to three minutes based on the referee’s judgment.

    Checking

    • A player is allowed to check another player's stick with his own stick as long as the opponent has the ball or is less then 5 yards away from the ball. While checking a player, the stick can be used to knock the ball out of an opponent's stick or block the ball from a pass. To be a legal hit, the stick must make contact above the waist and can’t be in the face, neck or the back area. In order for the check to be legal, both hands must be on the lacrosse stick.

    Fouls

    • It’s illegal to use the stick for slashing at an opponent. A player is not allowed to hold onto another player's stick. Throwing the lacrosse stick is considered a foul and can be a one-, two- or three-minute penalty depending on the referee’s judgment. Unlike other players on the field, the goalie is allowed to use his hands to bat the ball away from the net. What the goalie is not allowed to do is use his hands to place the ball into his lacrosse stick. The stick must be used to pick up the ball.

    Stopping Play

    • If the ball becomes lodged in a player's stick, the referee blows the whistle to stop play. The player who had the ball stuck in his stick begins with possession of the ball. If a goalie drops his stick holding the ball and it goes into the goal, the score does not count, but play is stopped.