2027 Rules Updates
One of 10 changes approved by the NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee at its June15-17 meeting in Indianapolis.
Starting with the 2027 girls lacrosse season, state high school associations may establish a 90-second possession clock.
This was one of 10 changes approved by the NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee at its June15-17 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were later approved by the NFHSBoard of Directors.
“The implementation of a possession clock has been a topic of conversation within high schoolgirls lacrosse over the last several years,” said Barb Martinichio, chair of the NFHS GirlsLacrosse Rules Committee. “The rules committee has been monitoring the New York StatePublic High School Athletic Association’s 90-second possession clock experiment over the pasttwo years and with overwhelming state association support for state adoption, the committee feltthis was the next step in the evolution of the game to support the development of the student-athletes.”
The new rule outlines the requirements for adopting a possession clock, giving states the optionto implement the measure to help reduce stalling and increase the pace of play.
Changes were also made regarding uniforms. Beginning January 1, 2031, home team jerseysmust be white. The update aligns girls lacrosse with other NFHS uniform requirements andremoves ambiguity.
Another significant revision concerns pocket stringing. The change provides more detailedguidance on equipment, clarifying that the pocket must be attached directly to the head throughstringing holes. The update aligns with USA Lacrosse standards and eliminates non-integralstringing that can create a competitive advantage. It also establishes clearer parameters forofficials to reduce gamesmanship and addresses elastic filaments that allow the pocket shape tochange dynamically during play.
Clarifying language was also added to the illegal switching of sticks. The revised rule explicitlystates that players may not switch sticks with another player on the field or receive a stick fromthe bench area during live play without properly entering and exiting through the substitutionarea. Stick changes remain permitted after a goal is scored and during time-outs.
Additional changes addressed crosse inspection ensuring the ball is mobile from sidewall tosidewall on the front and upper third of the back of the pocket, allowing players suspected ofinjury to remain in the game when it is determined that no health-care provider or coach is needto enter the field and attend to the player, and establishing guidance for when a goal countsfollowing the release of a shot before the horn ending the quarter or overtime period.
“The rules committee prioritized creating equitable and fair rules around stick stringing andexchange rules, improving pace and game flow while creating consistency with other NFHS said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS GirlsLacrosse Rules Committee.
This was one of 10 changes approved by the NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee at its June15-17 meeting in Indianapolis. All recommended changes were later approved by the NFHSBoard of Directors.
“The implementation of a possession clock has been a topic of conversation within high schoolgirls lacrosse over the last several years,” said Barb Martinichio, chair of the NFHS GirlsLacrosse Rules Committee. “The rules committee has been monitoring the New York StatePublic High School Athletic Association’s 90-second possession clock experiment over the pasttwo years and with overwhelming state association support for state adoption, the committee feltthis was the next step in the evolution of the game to support the development of the student-athletes.”
The new rule outlines the requirements for adopting a possession clock, giving states the optionto implement the measure to help reduce stalling and increase the pace of play.
Changes were also made regarding uniforms. Beginning January 1, 2031, home team jerseysmust be white. The update aligns girls lacrosse with other NFHS uniform requirements andremoves ambiguity.
Another significant revision concerns pocket stringing. The change provides more detailedguidance on equipment, clarifying that the pocket must be attached directly to the head throughstringing holes. The update aligns with USA Lacrosse standards and eliminates non-integralstringing that can create a competitive advantage. It also establishes clearer parameters forofficials to reduce gamesmanship and addresses elastic filaments that allow the pocket shape tochange dynamically during play.
Clarifying language was also added to the illegal switching of sticks. The revised rule explicitlystates that players may not switch sticks with another player on the field or receive a stick fromthe bench area during live play without properly entering and exiting through the substitutionarea. Stick changes remain permitted after a goal is scored and during time-outs.
Additional changes addressed crosse inspection ensuring the ball is mobile from sidewall tosidewall on the front and upper third of the back of the pocket, allowing players suspected ofinjury to remain in the game when it is determined that no health-care provider or coach is needto enter the field and attend to the player, and establishing guidance for when a goal countsfollowing the release of a shot before the horn ending the quarter or overtime period.
“The rules committee prioritized creating equitable and fair rules around stick stringing andexchange rules, improving pace and game flow while creating consistency with other NFHS said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS GirlsLacrosse Rules Committee.