New Mexico Lacrosse Officials Association

Crosse Prohibitions
Due to current innovations in the construction of crosse design, along with stringing at the bottom of the crosse which is designed to withhold the ball from play, the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Committee felt it necessary to emphasize Rule 1-8 (Crosse Prohibitions):

Additionally, per Rule 1-8, no player may use a crosse that has stringing that retards the normal and free dislodgement of the ball by an opponent. The pocket shall be deemed to have sagged too deeply if the top surface of a lacrosse ball, when placed therein, is below the bottom edge of the sidewall (this prohibition does not apply to the goalkeeper’s crosse). A crosse that has been altered in such a way as to give an advantage to an individual is illegal. Adjustable-length handles are illegal. Handles that have been altered in any fashion other than taping or adding another covering designed to improve the grip are illegal. The use of pull strings to alter the depth of the pocket is illegal. No more than one sidewall string on each side is allowed. A broken crosse is considered as no crosse.

Eyeshade
The NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee has aligned with other sports to standardize the use of eyeshade. Eyeshade (grease or non-glare strips or stickers) shall be a solid stroke and may not include words, numbers, logos or other symbols. It should be emphasized that eyeshade that extends outside the eye socket or below the cheekbone is prohibited. A player found to be in violation of the eyeshade rule (1-10-1h) will be subject to a one-minute non-releasable personal foul for illegal equipment.

Properly Worn Mandatory Equipment
High school student-athletes are often influenced by what they see at the college and professional levels. Recently, players have started to emulate what they have seen at these levels with the wearing of improper equipment. The NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee believes the safety of high school student-athletes is paramount. Therefore, an emphasis will be placed on players wearing mandatory equipment properly. This includes the wearing of helmets, arm pads, shoulder pads, and mouthpieces as the manufacturer intended.

NEW: The chinstrap shall be worn under the chin and shall be firmly attached at all the helmet’s manufactured attachment points, securely enough so that the helmet is unable to be removed without detaching the chinstrap from the attachment point(s).

Rule 5-6: A player may not use equipment that does not conform to specifications. Use of illegal equipment or failure to properly wear mandatory equipment will be penalized as a non-releasable foul.

Checks Involving the Head/Neck
The NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee continues to emphasis the safety of a player’s head and neck.

When the initial force of the contact is through the body of the opponent and then slides up to the head and/or neck area, this will be considered indirect contact to an opponent’s head and/or neck. The result shall be a one-minute non-releasable penalty to the offending player.

Players who make direct contact to an opponent’s head and/or neck shall receive a two-minute non-releasable penalty.

Players who make excessive or flagrant contact to an opponent’s head and/or neck shall receive a three-minute non-releasable penalty and/or possible ejection.