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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (August 13, 2026) — Changes to the color of game balls starting with the 2029 season were among the rule changes made for high school boys lacrosse.
All game balls must be fluorescent green or yellow to improve visibility for players, officials and spectators as of January 1, 2029. Those were among 16 changes approved by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee and NFHS Board of Directors.
Other rules starting with the 2027 boys lacrosse season include states having the option to adopt a 70-second shot clock.
“The adoption of a shot clock has been a discussion topic over the last few years,” said Matt Dempsey, chair of the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee. “After two years of data collection and successful implementation by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association as an experiment, the committee felt the addition of the shot clock was the next step in the evolution of the sport.”
By state association adoption, a 70-second shot clock may be used beginning next school year. The shot clock begins when a team clears the defensive half of the field or gains possession in its offensive half. Once the clock reaches 60 seconds, the ball must be in the team’s offensive half or possession is awarded to the opposing team.
Additional clarifications in the rules state that a goal will be disallowed if the head of a scorer’s crosse comes off or the crosse breaks, causing the player to lose any portion of the crosse while taking the shot. The new rules also clarify that a helmet is considered dislodged when the chinstrap is no longer secured over the player’s chin. Other changes simplify the rules for situations in which the ball becomes lodged in a player’s uniform, stick or other equipment.
Field markings also were updated to allow a contrasting-colored line through the center of the field, perpendicular to the sidelines providing more flexibility, particularly on artificial fields. Prior to the change the line had to be white.
Responsibility has been placed on host administration to ensure the field meets rules requirements and minimizes risk. In the absence of host administration, the head coach will assume the role of host administration. Requirements for head coaches have also been extended to addressing spectator behavior. The head coach, upon the request of an official, is expected to control the actions of spectators not in conformity with standards of proper conduct.
“The rules committee prioritized risk minimization and improving pace of play for players and spectators,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee.
