High School Boys' Lacrosse Rules Changes Announced for 2026

The National Federation of State High School Associations has announced boys’ high school rules changes that will be implemented for the 2026 season.

The changes were proposed during rules committee meetings last month and subsequently approved by the NFHS’ board of directors. USA Lacrosse collaborates with the NFHS on the rules for high school boys’ and girls’ lacrosse.

Among notable changes, no defensive player other than a properly equipped goalkeeper can enter the team’s own crease with the perceived intent of blocking a shot or acting as a goalkeeper. Violations will result in a personal foul for illegal equipment and will be administered as a non-releasable foul.

The changes to Rules 4-18-4 PENALTY, 5-6-2 (NEW), 5-10 and 6-6-4 minimize risk of injury by discouraging players who are not properly equipped from acting as a goalkeeper by making the penalty more severe.

Relatedly, goalkeepers will no longer be given a maximum of five seconds to re-enter the crease on any restart. The change to Rule 4-22-1c aligns the treatment of the goalkeeper with that of a field player when it comes to injury or equipment issues while outside the crease, and it also eliminates the need for an official to judge whether a goalkeeper has left the crease to attempt to delay the game or for a legitimate purpose.

Other boys’ changes include:

The committee rewrote Rule 3-5-1 (Interruption of Games) to provide a procedure for an interrupted game to assist the host institution’s game management, while allowing state associations to develop modifications to game-ending procedures.

In Rule 4-3-3e regarding faceoffs, language was added stating that if a faceoff player must be repeatedly adjusted, a delay-of-game penalty can be called by an official.

On-field equipment and game administration rule changes were also written, with cones now required at the corners of the team areas (Rule 1-2-9) and a working horn required at the table on the sideline (Rule 1-12) to allow a coach to call for a double horn from the field.

Rule 1-9-1b, 4 and 5, regarding player equipment, was also modified to align with other NFHS rules codes on tooth and mouth protectors. Also, for player uniforms, numbers on the back of the jersey must now be at least 8 inches tall (1-9-1h[3]) instead of 12.

Rule 7-3 regarding resuming play after a penalty was simplified. Now, all restarts after penalties will be administered laterally outside the goal area, regardless of conditions, making it more consistent for officials and players learning the game.