Section 8: Safety Considerations
Helmet, Mouthpiece, and Protective Equipment
NCAA men's lacrosse mandates NOCSAE-approved helmets and mouthpieces, properly fitted shoulder pads, arm pads, gloves, and a protective cup; goalkeepers additionally wear a NOCSAE-approved throat protector and chest protector. Helmets must remain properly fitted throughout play — a player whose helmet comes off may not continue in the play and substitution is permitted.
Head and Neck Protections
Targeting an opponent's head or neck — including blindside hits, hits with the crown of the helmet, and hits to a player in a defenseless position — is a non-releasable personal foul of 2 or 3 minutes plus potential ejection. Effective with the 2027 season, officials may initiate video review of potential head/neck contact even when no call was made on the field, and may rescind a head/neck-contact penalty if review shows the contact was not illegal (Section 7).
Concussion Protocol
A player with an actual or suspected concussion is removed from play immediately and is subject to a graduated return-to-play assessment before being cleared for subsequent training and competition. NCAA medical observers and team medical staff have authority to remove a player; the return-to-play decision is independent of the on-field officials.
Heat and Hydration
NCAA championship policy uses WBGT-based thresholds for heat-related modifications and postponement; team athletic trainers are responsible for in-game hydration breaks and heat-related player welfare. Lightning detection halts outdoor activity within the standard radius of detected strikes; play resumes only after the all-clear interval has elapsed.
Stick and Equipment Safety
- Damaged sticks (cracked, gouged, missing parts) must be removed from play
- Stick checks may not target the head/neck of an opponent
- Cross-checking with the shaft (two-hand cross-check) is illegal at all levels
- Slashing (one-hand strike at an opponent with the stick) above the shoulders is a personal foul
- Per Rule 1-16, the game ball itself must meet the current NOCSAE lacrosse ball standard, supporting consistent player safety testing across the fluorescent and legacy ball colors permitted by mutual coach agreement
Medical Coverage
Each NCAA-sanctioned game requires at least one certified athletic trainer on the sideline; team physicians and emergency-medical responders are required at championship-level competition. An emergency action plan covering on-field cardiac, head/neck, and orthopedic emergencies must be in effect at every venue.