High School Lacrosse Deferred 2010 Lacrosse Stick Changes
When the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented stick changes in its 2010 lacrosse rules, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) did not adopt the changes for high school lacrosse.
In the past few years, lacrosse equipment manufacturers developed head designs for men’s lacrosse sticks making them narrower while still complying with existing rules. The new designs made it more difficult for the ball to be dislodged and thereby altered the way college lacrosse was being played.
However, starting with its 2010 lacrosse rules, the NCAA rules that apply to men’s lacrosse will require a minimum head width dimension of 3-inches for the throat of the lacrosse stick head. Traditional head dimensions, just like X or Universal specs, have always been 6.5 by 10 inches and will continue to be maintained for high school lacrosse and those that follow NFHS rules. The NCAA stated that the modified specifications will return the stick head to the more traditional shape, restore the balance between defense and offense, and preserve the traditions of the sport.
2011 Lacrosse Activities Continue the Expansion of High School Lacrosse
New programs and competitions were initiated in 2011, giving impetus to the popularity and growth of high school lacrosse. Another Cross-American level was added to the US Lacrosse High School American program. Under the auspices of US Lacrosse, the sport’s national governing body, the program chooses high school players for eligibility to compete in the lacrosse event of Champion Challenge at the ESPN RISE Games.
Formed out of the various lacrosse organizations and associations in the USA, US Lacrosse was organized in 1998. Its headquarters is situated at the grounds of Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. Through its over 60 chapters around the USA, the organization provides services and organizes events to promote the lacrosse sport, encourage its growth and regulate its conduct.
A Comparison Between College Lacrosse and High School Lacrosse
The rules for college lacrosse are written by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) while those for High School Lacrosse are made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). There are high school and college lacrosse rules for men and women.
There a number of differences in the rules for college lacrosse and high school lacrosse but the most important one is the length of the game. A college lacrosse game lasts for 60 minutes compared with 48 minutes for a high school lacrosse game and both are divided into 4 quarters. There is a 2-minute break in between the first and second quarters and another one between the third and fourth quarters with a 10-minute break at half time. There are 2 time-outs lasting 45-seconds allowed in each half. Both college lacrosse and high school lacrosse allow for a sudden-death playoff in case the game is tied at the end of the regular period.
The Rules of High School Lacrosse
There are almost 3,000 high school lacrosse programs in the USA, and the sport is gaining popularity in many countries around the world, with lacrosse being incorporated into the athletics programs of high schools. Although the way the game is essentially played stays the same, there are some rules for high school lacrosse that are different from those used in professional or college lacrosse. The rules for high school lacrosse are made by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the national body that governs high school sports. From time to time, the NFHS revises or updates rules and regulations governing high school lacrosse. These changes are readily available at the federation’s web site. These are some of the more fundamental rules of high school lacrosse.
