Thank you for your interest in National Lacrosse Stick

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Thank you for your interest in National Lacrosse Stick Technician
Institute and the Master Lacrosse Technician Certification. We
have attached a study guide for you to begin your studies.
You will receive an email in approximately five days with a link to
your exam. The multiple choice and true, false portion of this
exam will consist of 30 questions based exclusively on the
provided study material and links listed within that material. There
will be a 30 minute time limit. You are allowed to use your study
guide to assist with the exam. However, the time limit will not
allow you enough time to look up every answer. We find that most
successful applicants spend at least four hours studying the
material provided.
In order to become completely certified you must: Achieve 90% or
better on the exam After successful completion of the exam:
Reply to this email with the Name, Email and Phone Number of
two References. These should be individuals for which you have
either repaired, restrung, dyed, or completed other technical work.
Reply to this email with a video, video link, or pictures of the stepby-step process of you doing one of the following: Stringing
Mesh Stringing Traditional
Dyeing a Head Please do not worry about editing the video as we
are just looking for proper technique.
Thank you!
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Certified Stick Technician Program
Welcome to the Certified Stick Technician Program. With the growth
of the sport and the introduction of more products and more manufactures,
the time has come to build a certification of base line knowledge required
by a stick technician. It is well known that games are being won and lost
on stick penalties or turnovers caused by a faulty stick. For that reason, it
is recommended that at least one coach and one player have a working
knowledge of the components of this program. In addition, stick stringing
and dyeing has become a way for players to make extra money on a
flexible schedule. There are many articles, blogs and videos out there for
those that want to learn how to string and repair sticks. We salute all those
that dedicate their time to sharing their passion with others at the various
blogs used in this program. We have chosen some of these articles and
videos to highlight our program. We realize that there is more than one
way to skin a cat, but ask you to focus on these techniques for the
certification. We welcome you to suggest other topics that should be part
of the program at NLSTI@stickdoctor.net.
The NLSTI Certification Program will:
• Set
a standard of excellence in lacrosse service and product
knowledge
• Encourage and promote professionalism in the lacrosse industry
• Instill consumer confidence in stick stringers and technicians
• Expand the availability of expert stick stringers and technicians
• Endorse the competence of qualified stick stringers and technicians
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Types of Stringing Products
Hard - Fairly easy to break in and will hold its pocket pretty well in poor weather. Provides great hold
and good shot speed. Most popular mesh on all levels. It is easier to maintain than traditional. Also, Hard
mesh is much easier to string than traditional.
Soft - Uncoated mesh that is extremely easy to break in.
Provides great hold and descent shot speed but is less
durable than most other mesh.
Diamond (5,6,7,8,10)- Basic principle is the larger the size of
each diamond (5= largest diamonds, 10=smallest diamonds)
the easier it is to string and break in. Along the same lines, 5Diamond has more hold and usually doesn’t shoot as fast as
10-Diamond.
Traditional - Leather material that is harder to maintain and string than your typical mesh. However,
once strung correctly, some argue you can’t beat the feel and shot speed.
Dura - Very similar to hard mesh. Breaks in well, descent hold and descent shot speed.
Marc - Canadian-made mesh. Has a substance (marc butter) spread over it to increase the hold and feel of
the mesh. Breaks in very quickly and is great in any type of weather.
American - Same feel as soft mesh but just thicker. This allows the pocket to say intact through wet or
cold weather better than the normal soft mesh.
Catapultion - Similar to hard mesh but thicker. Pocket will be hard to break in but will endure harsh
weather and last longer than typical hard mesh.
Micro-Mesh- mesh style consists of extremely small mesh, by far the smallest of any mesh. Natural Micro
Mesh is uncoated, therefore it is actually easier to break in than most players would expect.
Double Layer, Large Diamond, Uncoated- This extra thick, large 10 diamond mesh offers maximum hold.
Like all composite mesh it achieves a unique semi-hard feel without any coating allowing it to break-in
immediately and play consistently.
Double Layer, Small Diamond, Uncoated- This extra thick, small 10 diamond mesh is our most popular
composite. Like all composite mesh it achieves a unique semi-hard feel without any coating allowing it to
break-in immediately and play consistently.
Single Layer, Large Diamond, Coated Composite- Extremely light latex coating means a quick break in
time and the composite yarns limit whip and keep it very consistent and water resistant.
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Single Layer, Small Diamond, Uncoated Composite – Not your traditional soft mesh. Composite yarns
help it to keep its pocket shape and prevent stretching in wet weather. Pocket retains excellent flexibility.
10D HT Nylon Hard- Traditional 10 diamond nylon mesh constructed of High Tenacity nylon for great
durability and coated with our toughest acrylic/latex coating for a mesh that starts hard and stays hard.
10D HT Nylon Semi-Hard- Traditional 10 diamond nylon mesh constructed of High Tenacity nylon for
great durability and latex coated for improved water resistance without over hardening.
10D HT Nylon Semi-Soft- Lightly coated 10D HT nylon mesh with latex to produce this mostly soft mesh
with good resistance to moisture and bagging.
10D HT Nylon Soft- 10 diamond HT Nylon mesh uncoated. Excellent durability in a soft mesh.
An Important note on stringing product selection.
The benefits of mesh over traditional pockets are simple. The vast majority of stick technicians
can fix or restring a mesh pocket easier and faster than traditional. We have watched the trend to mesh
over the years and it is remarkable. The reason, in addition to the one mentioned already, is the advent of
mesh gives many of the benefits of traditional (i.e. pocket conformity) without the problem associated
with maintaining a traditional pocket. Mesh pockets break in quicker and are not as susceptible to
weather. When leather gets wet, the pocket stretches and sags and when they dry, they get stiff and tight.
Soft mesh is easier for beginners but will "bag out" with hard passes at higher levels of the game. In
conclusion, this is just our opinion of what we see as the popular choice for players. It is important to
understand that every player is different and therefore every player has a certain product that works the
best for them.
Stick Technician Tools
Phillips Head Screwdriver - Just as it sounds. Having a Phillips is critical to be able to change shafts and
heads on the fly.
Lighter - A lighter is useful for tightening up frayed ends on shooters, sidewall
or top strings.
Pocket Knife - Handy tool that is crucial in cutting off excess stringing or
stripping a head entirely of its mesh.
Lotion/Shaving Cream - Just as they keep your face soft and looking good,
basic facial and body products like shaving cream and lotion soften up that
hard mesh and allow players to break in their stick more quickly.
Tape - Something that is extremely overlooked yet the basic fix it for everything from sidewalls to a loose
butt end. Under current ruling, you must have a manufactured butt end on the end of your stick. This
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means no beer caps or tape as a butt end. Also, you can use tape, placed above the butt end, to create a
“trigger” for better pull with your bottom hand
Extra String – It is absolutely fundamental to have extra shooters and sidewall on you at all times. You
never know when that sidewall is going to bust or you’ll need a fresh shooter.
Always be prepared.
Short Tape Measure - With the new rules specs and refs cracking down on
anyone with an illegal stick, a tape measure is a great idea to keep around to
ensure you’re not going to be spending any unearned time in the box.
Water - One of the basic elements but essential for stretching out and
softening up mesh prior to stringing.
Types of Pockets
High - The pocket for the more advanced player. Higher pockets provide a quicker release and are ideal
for the player who dishes out assists. The ability to hold the ball with a vertical cradle is limited.
Mid - The popular pocket choice on any level. Middle pockets provide good ball retention and a descent
release. This is a great pocket for shooters who are looking to light up the cage.
Low - Popular pocket for attackmen and players looking to carry the ball a lot. Low pockets provide great
ball retention but the release will be slower than that of the Mid or High pocket. Great for players looking
to be a dodger and ball carrier.
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Advanced Pocket and Stringing Techniques
Top Lace: How to put together a great top lace first hand.
10 Hole top lace- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2441
Normal top lace- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2190
Triangle top lace- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEehNRwYxRY&feature=related
Goalie top lace- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2415
What is the difference between toplace and sidewall?
Toplace is 1/2 mm thicker than sidewall. Some string technicians prefer to use thicker cord to
attach their mesh to the top of the head and/or a top shooting string above the hockey laces. Many
stringers use sidewall on the entire perimeter of their head.
Sidewall: Some great links for normal and more advanced sidewall stringing
Normal sidewall- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2191
Double sidewall- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2445
Alternate sidewall- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndSLda4Gcuw&feature=related
Goalie double sidewall- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2422
Goalie single sidewall- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2416
Bottom Lace: Great links for different bottom lace techniques
Normal bottom lace- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2192
Bottom lace- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8tNM2XdYNw&feature=related
Goalie bottom lace- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2417
Shooting Strings: Links for how to string shooters
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Shooters- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9m7JQnDuh4&feature=related
Channel String- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNR9H5ePdg0&NR=1
Shooters- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vA-3oUiXGc&feature=related
Goalie Shooters- http://www.lax.com/story.phtml?story=2421
Important Note on Shooting Strings
Hockey laces or bootlaces have become the shooting string of choice by most players. There is more to this
simple aspect of a lacrosse stick than you might realize including what the laces are made of. We have
chosen synthetic fibers for our laces in order to provide the best shooting strings (Cotton holds too much
water in rainy conditions). More importantly, the shooting strings are the key to proper ball release and
can be adjusted to get that individual feeling for the ball coming out off the head.
Whip
Whip is defined as how much hold you have on the ball. The amount of whip preferred depends on a
player’s position and style of play. More whip is usually preferred by players who like to throw fakes, have
large pockets, and shoot hard with a big wind up. Less whip is preferred by players who want to have a
sharper, quicker release on their passes.
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Advanced Pockets
The links below are great for those who need more information on how to string some of your more
popular pockets and also those pockets that are very original. Be sure to read the Code of Ethics regarding
Patents before stringing these pockets.
Pita Pocket- http://lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=31996
Basic Traditional- http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=19616
Corner Pocket Traditional- http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=25340
Torpedo Pocket Traditional- http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=26268
Bay Pocket Traditional- http://forums.insidelacrosse.com/showthread.php?t=40991
5-Diamond Mesh Pocket- http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=34307
7-Diamond Mesh Pocket- http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=43404
Snatch n’ Go Traditional- http://forums.insidelacrosse.com/showthread.php?t=22085
6 Diamond Mesh Pocket- http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=50044
Kevo Pocket- http://forums.insidelacrosse.com/showthread.php?t=55004
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The Business of Stringing
•
Below is a chart that shows the benefits gained dependent upon what type of stringing business
you are involved with.
Benefits
Home
Stringing
/ Mail
Order
Stringing
Employment
at Sports or
Lacrosse
Specialty
Store
Partnering
with
Retail
Store to
Outsource
Stringing
or
Overflow
Stringing
Camp
Stringing
Hybrid
Increased
Customer
Base
Low
Medium
Medium
Medium
Highest
Highest
Revenue
per
Pocket
High
Low
High
High
High
Ability to
Make
Margins
on
Stringing
YES
NO
NO
YESWhere
Allowed
YES
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Supplies
Pricing
2 Year Membership-$35.00
Membership Includes:
• Membership Card
• Study Materials
• One Exam (Re-takes cost $10.00 per test)
• Stick Technicians Certificate (upon successful completion of exam)
• Listing as Certified Stringer on www.stickdoctor.net - “Find a Stringer” page
• Access to Retail Partners
Ø Certification will last for 2 years. Renewal will require 3 hours of continued
education hours and proof of 100 hours of stringing. Continued education
credits will be available via webcast, e-learning, quizzes, and conference calls
hosted by the National Lacrosse Stick Technician Institute. Other subject
experts can apply for their teachings to qualify for continuing education
credits by emailing NLSTI@stickdoctor.net
Exams
The Certified Stick Stringer (CSS) exam will consist of a 40 question multiple
choice exam. The exam will be given on the computer in an open-book fashion. The
completion time will be limited to 30 minutes to assure that the candidate has studied
and knows his/her material. The candidate must achieve a 90% and will immediately
get the results after submitting. The applicant will then be asked to provide 3 references
and be asked to attach a video of them stringing a stick to assure that the applicant can
achieve the practical techniques required. The candidate will not receive their
Certificate until their references have been contacted by the Institute and their video has
been reviewed by the NLSTI Certification Board.
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The Master Lacrosse Technician (MLT) exam will be issued in the exact same
way as the CSS exam. Again, a 90% must be achieved. However, this exam will consist
of all aspects encompassing a Master Lacrosse Technician. The video request may be to
string mesh or traditional, dyeing, pinching, or taping are other
possibilities. References will be asked to comment on all of the technical skills required
for the certification.
References
Each candidate should be prepared to list three references. The first reference
should be a character reference that can speak to the candidates’ sense of responsibility,
ethical character, and timeliness. The next two should be individuals or companies for
whom the candidate has done stringing or other technical work. The following
information is required:
•
•
•
•
•
Name of Reference
Email
Phone
Affiliation or Relation to the Candidate
Age
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Code of Ethics
Lacrosse is a game of great history and tradition. We follow US Lacrosse's motto
"Honor the Game." It is imperative that certified stick technicians hold themselves in
the highest ethical standards. Players trust that their stick is being worked on by service
partners that know both the written and implied rules of the game. Creating pockets or
adjustments to sticks that allow for quick adjustments to cheat the game is strictly
prohibited.
Responsibility
Certified Stick Technicians should meet obligations in a timely and professional manner
while giving status updates via email, phone, or text message.
Stolen Equipment
Certified Stick Technicians should not partake in making changes to stolen
sticks. Please notify NLSTI@stickdoctor.net if you suspect that any equipment you are
asked to work on is stolen.
Patents
Patents serve as an important discussion piece to ensure no violations occur. As a
Certified Stick Technician, you must not fulfill any requests for patented pockets. The
more popular examples of this are the Rock-it-Pocket (http://www.rockitpocket.com/) and another pocket that was invented by Paul Gait
(http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7507171.html). However, we do strongly
encourage you to explore the possibility of a patent for yourself. If you feel strongly that
you have a pocket that is extremely different and new-age, you may want to check out
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website for more information
(http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/howtopat.htm).
History of Lacrosse and Lacrosse Sticks
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For More Info on the History of the Lacrosse check out…….
http://www.simplylacrosse.com/lacrosse-stick.html
http://www.lacrossecentral.com/lacrosse-equipment-history/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/v/K7kiStfZyLM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param
http://www.youtube.com/v/K7kiStfZyLM&hl=en_US&fs=1
Head and Shaft Manufacturers
STX- STX Lacrosse is one of the leading names in the industry, and the Baltimore based
company makes a variety of men's and women's lacrosse sticks. Maker of several good
beginners sticks, such as the STX Spitfire and STX T-92, these sticks use wider heads,
making it easier to catch and control passes but decreasing accuracy when
shooting. The solid sidewalls of the head may feel clumsier or awkward, however, and
the rigid brittle plastic can break fairly easily. More expensive STX sticks include the
Impact and Arc. The Proton and Excalibur heads, two of the most popular in the nation,
are other great models produced by STX.
Warrior-Warrior Lacrosse is a manufacturer of lacrosse equipment and apparel based in
Warren, Michigan. It was founded in 1992 by Dave Morrow.[1] Warrior Lacrosse was
acquired by New Balance on February 1, 2004. Their largest competitors include STX
and Brine (also a subsidiary of New Balance). It sponsors several college lacrosse teams
as well as Major League Lacrosse (MLL) and the Canadian Men's National Team.
Warrior Lacrosse also sponsors many players individually such as Mark Millon and
Greg Cattrano. It was the title sponsor of the 2006 Warrior World Lacrosse
Championship in London, Ontario and the 2007 Warrior World Indoor Lacrosse
Championship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is also the presenting sponsor of ESPN's
annual coverage of the NCAA men's lacrosse championships. Warrior first broke into
the lacrosse industry with the introduction of the titanium shaft. Warrior's most popular
shafts are still the Titan(ium) Classic and the Titan(ium) Pro
Brine-In the 1950's the focus of the Brine business was in lacrosse. At that time, all
lacrosse sticks were wooden and the only producer was Chisholm Lacrosse located on
the St. Regis Reservation, Cornwall Island, Canada. With the encouragement and
assistance from A. MacDonald Murphy of Governor Dummer Academy, Ferris
Thomsen, coach of Penn and Princeton and Mort LaPointe of Bowdoin College, the
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Brine family began to explore the possibilities of manufacturing lacrosse sticks. In
attempts to come up with a lacrosse stick that was more durable and easier to
produce, the Brines experimented with laminated wood, plastic, fiberglass and
aluminum but did not find a material that would meet their standards for
performance. The Brines continued to experiment and in the 1970's identified Surlyn,
a DuPont plastic, as having the properties necessary to stand up to the rigors of
lacrosse and manufactured Brine's first plastic stick. Shortly thereafter, Brine
developed a molding technique that created the basic draft shape that is standard in
all present-day sticks. Since then Brine has continued to lead the market with
innovations such as the Offset head and the insertion of gel into protective equipment.
Maverik- Maverik Lacrosse is a manufacturer of lacrosse equipment and apparell,
based in Mineola, New York. The company was founded by two professional lacrosse
players, Jay Jalbert and John Gagliardi in 2005. Maverik was founded to produce
equipment for the player, by the player. Maverik makes lacrosse gloves, elbow pads,
shoulder pads, and shafts.
DeBeer/Gait- A head and shaft manufacturer that has shafts and head designed by Lacrosse
legend Paul Gait. Today deBeer is proud to be affiliated with teams such as the 2006
Men's Lacrosse National Champions, the University of Virginia, 2006 Women's
National Lacrosse Runner-Up, Dartmouth and the U.S. National Women's Lacrosse
Team. Although the torch has been passed to a new generation, 117 years later, deBeer's
mission is still to design quality, innovative equipment that enhances the player's
natural performance and ability.
Reebok-Reebok has been a successful sports supplier for a number of years. We see their gear
and equipment on athletes in the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB. Reebok also is a successful head
and shaft supplier of lacrosse equipment for the National Lacrosse League.
Adidas-Adidas, like Reebok, has been a successful sports supplier for a long time. We mostly
see their equipment and apparel in the MLS but also on some players in the NBA and in
numerous NCAA sports. Adidas also has begun to manufacture Lacrosse heads and shafts.
Nike-Nike, teamed with STX, is the most recognizable sports supplier in the world. Nike
represents a plethora of sports and teams at all levels. Recently, Nike has added to their
Lacrosse apparel with debuting new heads and shafts.
Harrow- Harrow is a Denver-based manufacturer of sports equipment and apparel. Along with
designing men’s and women’s lacrosse equipment, they also are a large manufacturer of
hockey, field hockey and squash equipment. Harrow is most well-known for their I-beam shaft
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which features a unique tapered stress-flex point precisely placed within the shaft so as to
provide maximum torque power for shot or pass. Also, it has a rubberized grip for optimal feel
and control.
Mohawk- Mohawk International Lacrosse is the last remaining manufacturer of Lacrosse
Sticks on the Akwesasne Reservation. The sport of lacrosse has been played by the Mohawk
people for several hundred years, even before the 1500's. Over the centuries, the art of
Manufacturing a lacrosse stick has been passed down from one generation of Mohawk
craftspeople to another. Since 1928, lacrosse sticks have been commercially manufactured in
Akwesasne. At one point, Akwesasne manufactured 97 percent of the World's output of
lacrosse sticks. With the introduction of plastic sticks the demand for wooden lacrosse sticks
from Akwesasne, dwindled.
Today, the situation is much different. Lacrosse has taken off as a worldwide sport and lacrosse
stick manufacturing is a vibrant growing industry. Even the wooden lacrosse stick, which
Akwesasne is known for, is once again in demand.
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Stick Dyeing
Tools needed:
1. RIT dye in either powder or liquid form. This can be found anywhere from hardware to
grocery stores. RIT is the most popular dye used because of the consistent color and
resistance to fading.
2. Next you’re going to need a container or pot that is suitable to handle very hot water
and also deep enough to fully submerge the stick. Make sure the container or pot you
use is not being used for anything else because it will most likely contain the dye
coloring afterwards.
3. Duct Tape, Medical Tape or Electrical Tape
4. Scissors to cut the tape
5. Glue Gun to add designs prior to dyeing
6. Oven Mitts or Gloves to handle stick in and out of hot water
Steps for Dyeing:
1. Before you start dyeing, make sure all the tools above are readily available. Also, make
sure you have some idea of the design and color scheme so you avoid making any
unwanted mistakes.
2. Prepare your stick. Using your choice of tape, glue or anything else that will withstand
the water temperature to make designs, numbers or letters that will remain white
throughout the dyeing process. Also, be sure to remove your pocket unless you want
that to be dyed as well.
3. Bring your heat resistant container or pot to the sink and fill with the required amount
of water to completely submerge your stick. Place over heat to bring the water to a boil.
4. Once the water is brought to a boil, remove from heat. Allow the water to cool for a
minute and then add your choice of dye.
5. Depending on the water temperature, it should be around 5 minutes for the stick to
become your preferred color. It’s important to note that for multi-color dyeing you use
the lighter color first followed by the darker color.
6. Once you are satisfied with the color, you are ready to remove the stick from the dye.
Make sure you move the container or pot as close to the sink as possible to avoid any
dripping of the dye onto carpet or flooring. Once you have made it to the sink, remove
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the stick with water proof gloves and run under very cold water. This will run any
excess dye off and stop the dye from fading. Remove any tape or glue if done dyeing.
7. If you wish to dye another color onto your stick, keep the tape or glue on and repeat the
steps above using the new dye.
Great site for choosing colors for stick dyeing…
http://www.ritdye.com/ColoRit_Color_Formula_Guide.96.lasso
Advanced Dyeing Techniques
•
Here are some quick, easy instructions on how to dye multi-colored designs on to your
head.
1. First thing you want to do is make stencils or have the stickers present and place them
on your head. Make sure these will withstand the water temperature.
2. If you are using the multi-colored technique, make sure you dye the lightest color first.
3. Boil your light color (e.g. Yellow), and place your head in once the mix is ready. Notice
that the first stencils you put in will keep those designs white on the stick.
4. Next, boil your next, darker color (e.g. Dark Blue). Keep the stickers/stencils on that you
want to remain white and remove those you want to become your next color. Also, you
can add more stencils or stickers to the already dyed area, which will make it that color
(e.g. Yellow).
5. Lastly, if you want to dye an even darker color (e.g. Black), do this last and it will outline
all of the stencils and give it a nice, solid look.
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Recommendations
Recommendation on Number of Sticks and Stick Storage
It is recommended that players maintain at least two sticks at a time. This allows for a
player to switch out sticks if bad weather, repairs or other issues arise. Furthermore, a
Stick Technician should recommend that players practice with both sticks. This gets the
player comfortable with both sticks in the event that a sudden change is needed in a
game and also reduces the wear and tear on the players preferred stick.
After reading the stick specifications below, if you find that your head is too pinched
towards the throat of the stick, several objects (baseball with tape around it, field
hockey ball, block of wood) can be used to stretch out the plastic.
It is a certified stringers responsibility to help the coaching staff make sure that all sticks
are legal going into the game. For this reason, it is recommended that each program
have at least one CSS or CST per class.
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2010 NCAA, NFHS, and NLL Stick Specifications
Measurement from Throat (Inches)
1.25
3.0
5.0
Widest Point
Minimum distance between narrowest
point of head
3.0 (all measurements)
3.0 (all measurements)
3.5 to 4 on the front; 3.5 on the back
6 to 6.5 on the front; 6 on the back
Ø From the 1.25-inch measurement to the top of the crosse, the distance
between the sidewalls of the crosse must be at least 3 inches.
Lacrosse Head Specification Guide- NCAA & NFHS
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2010 Head Regulations and Penalties
Ø For a legal pocket, the top of the ball must be at least a little above the bottom edge of
the sidewall. In other words, the pocket is illegal if the top surface of the ball, when
placed in the pocket, is below the bottom edge of the sidewall. If you can see daylight
between the bottom of the sidewall and top of the ball, your stick is illegal. In addition, it
is no longer required for players to have a ballstop on their head.
Legal Heads-All Levels
NCAA-ONLY LEGAL HEADS-Warrior Evo Pro X6, Warrior Revo Pro X6, Brine Voyce X6,
Brine Cyber Pro X6, STX Professor, STX Super Power.
NFHS/NCAA LEGAL HEADS-Warrior Evo Ti X, Warrior Spyne, Warrior Noz, Warrior
Razor X, Warrior Evo X, Warrior Revo X, Warrior Mojo X, Warrior Joker X, Brine Gospel,
Brine Clutch X, Brine Edge, Brine Alias, Brine Asset X, Brine Franchise X, Brine Recruit, STX
Super Power.
Another link showing Legal Heads for NCAA and NFHShttp://stickdoctor.net/2010%20NCAA%20Head%20Chart.pdf
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NCAA and NFHS HEAD AND SHAFT RULES
Head and
Shaft
NFHS
NCAA
Head
specifications
Listed Above
Listed Above
Pocket
specifications
Listed Above- If pocket is too deep, Illegal; 1 min
penalty and head may be adjusted. Anything else
found illegal with the Head/Pocket; 3 min and stick
is taken for the entire game.
Listed Above- If pocket is too deep, Illegal; 1 min
penalty and head may be adjusted. Anything else
found illegal with the Head/Pocket; 3 min and stick
is taken for the entire game.
Shaft
specifications
Mid/Att- 40 to 42 inches
Defense- 52 to 72 inches
Goalie- 40 to 72 inches
Mid/Att- 40 to 42 inches
Defense- 52 to 72 inches
Goalie- 40 to 72 inches
Metal cap on
shaft butt end
Cap must be wood or plastic or be taped to prevent
injury; unclear if metal cap can be taped
Not Allowed
Ball stop
Not required but may be used
Not required but may be used if no larger than 2" x
1.5" x 0.25"
Multi-colored
mesh
N/A
Illegal; 3:00 min penalty
Length of
hanging strings
Limited to 6"
Limited to 2"
Ø Men Goalie Head dimensions are 10-12 inches at the widest point for NCAA and NFHS.
Ø For youth, high school and collegiate women’s stick specifications, please visit
http://www.uslacrosse.org/the_sport/womens_rules.phtml to download a copy of the
up to date rules.
NLL Stick Regulations
STICK LENGTH - The lacrosse stick shall be an overall fixed length of forty (40”) to forty-six
inches (46”) except the goalkeepers lacrosse stick.
STICK WIDTH - The head of the lacrosse stick shall measure between four and one-half inches
(4 1/2”) and seven inches (7”) at its widest point, inside measurement except for the
goalkeepers lacrosse stick.
BALL STOP - A maximum of one guard stop at the throat of the stick must be a minimum of 10
inches (10”) from the head to the nearest edge (closest to the handle) of the stop.
POCKET DEPTH - The depth of the pocket shall not exceed five inches (5”) measured from the
outside edge of the head. Nothing may be added to or attached to the outside of the stick except
as noted in Rule 32 immediately below.
Sponsored by
GOALIE STICK DIMENSIONS – The maximum width shall be no more than thirteen (13”)
inches measured to the outside edges. The maximum length measured to the top of the head to
the bottom of the throat shall be no more than sixteen and a half inches (16” 1/2) inches. The
entire length of the entire stick shall be between forty (40 “) inches to seventy-two (72”) inches.
LACROSSE STICK CONSTRUCTION
STICK MATERIAL - The lacrosse stick shall be made of a hollow synthetic or metal type
material, with the head attached directly to the handle. The stick handle (shaft) may not be filled
with any substance. Only a lacrosse stick approved by the NLL can be used.
All other lacrosse sticks are ILLEGAL.
BUTT END MATERIAL - All stick handles (shafts) must have a plastic or rubber plug on the
end or adequately taped to prevent injury.
STICK COLOR - The lacrosse stick shall be white or uniformly conform to the specific team
colors or meet sponsorship requirements as specified by the NLL.
POCKET COLOR - The color(s) of the pocket shall remain consistent with the color(s) issued
by the manufacturer or sponsor of the stick and approved by the NLL. Pockets shall not be
painted in an attempt to disguise the ball from the opposing team.
ILLEGAL POCKET AND HEAD - Lacrosse sticks shall not be permitted in play when the
construction or stringing at the throat is designed to withhold the ball from play. The ball shall
travel between the sidewall for the entire length of the head section. When the stick is turned
parallel to the floor the ball must exit the stick.