The National Federation of State High School Associations has announced boys’ and girls’ 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’s board of directors. USA Lacrosse collaborates with the NFHS on the rules for high school boys' and girls' lacrosse.
Among notable changes for high school boys, 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.
In girls’ lacrosse, the primary focus of the rules committee continues to be on improving game flow and pace of play.
Notable girls’ changes include:
A change to Rule 5-2 Penalty 1 (Starting Play – Draw) now allows any player to take the free position when one player draws illegally. Also, for Rule 7-3 Penalties 1a and 3a (Deputy Rules), the offending player shall be placed 4 meters away (instead of behind) from the player taking the free position for a goal circle foul.
Rule 4-3-3d, e, aligns the restart procedure after a possession time-out when the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in the goal circle by requiring play to restart at the closest dot and allows any player to restart play.
Under Rule 2-4-5, regarding crosse inspection, the allowable times for stick check requests have been revised. Stick checks may only be requested “at any point during a quarter break, halftime, a team-called time-out, prior to the start of an overtime period, prior to the start of a draw, and shall include immediately following goals in regulation and overtime periods,” according to the new rules.
Finally, Rule 2-8-3 (New) & Penalty, regarding electronic equipment, clarifies that no on-field player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during a game. Violations will result in a coach misconduct penalty.
“We appreciate the NFHS’ leadership and their commitment to the student athlete's experience in lacrosse, and we value the opportunity to work with them in this space and to support the growth of the game,” said Caitlin Kelley, Senior Director of Sport Experience at USA Lacrosse.
USA Lacrosse will announce any changes for boys’ and girls’ youth rules in the coming weeks.
A full breakdown of the high school rule changes for boys’ lacrosse and for girls’ lacrosse can be accessed on the NFHS’ website.
