Lacrosse is one of the oldest games played in North America, with several different varieties of the sport played by Native American tribes when Europeans first landed on the continent. In the oldest forms of the game, there was very little regulation over the style of equipment that was used. In the modern form, the sticks and lacrosse shafts that are allowed in the game are regulated by the sport's national governing bodies at all levels.
Material
At the high school and college levels of lacrosse, the shaft of the lacrosse stick can be made from synthetic material, wood, laminated wood or metal alloys. The shafts of the stick can be solid or hollow at this level of play. National Lacrosse League rules, however, dictate that the professional version of the game be played with hollow sticks that are made only from synthetic materials approved by the league.
Color and Handle
Lacrosse stick shafts are typically white or a natural wood color, although the color is not specifically regulated by the National Federation of State High School Associations or the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The handle portion of the shaft may contain metal alloys at the high school level. For all levels of the game, a plastic or rubber plug must close the butt end of the shaft if it is hollow.
Length and Diameter
The length of the shaft varies by the level of the game, with short shafts between 35 1/2 and 43 1/4 inches required at the high school level and longer shafts between 40 and 46 inches used at the professional level. The diameter of the shaft used in lacrosse is less strictly defined than the overall length. However, most shafts are less than 2 inches in diameter to allow easy handling by the offensive or defensive players.
Goalkeeper Restrictions
Goalkeepers use a longer shaft on their stick when playing. At the professional level of the sport, the overall stick length may be as long as 72 inches and still be legal. The shaft must be made of the same materials as the shafts of other players on the field, but more leeway is allowed in the diameter for tape on the shaft. In most cases, the officials of the game have a final say as to whether a goalie stick is legal or not.
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