NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Ball Color Requirements Changing

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA (July 30, 2026) – NCAA men’s lacrosse will see a change in standard game ball color to fluorescent green or yellow that will take effect in all three divisions in 2027-28.

The Division I Men’s Lacrosse Oversight Committee approved new rules on July 27 and the Division II and III Playing Rules Oversight Panel previously approved recommendations that also included expanded video review usage.

The standard game ball color to fluorescent green or yellow is recommended for the 2026-27 academic year and will be required in 2027-28. The rationale for the change is to provide increased visibility for student-athletes, officials, spectators and television audiences.

Expanded video review for coaches challenges and officials was approved for all three divisions. Under the coaches challenge rule change, a request can be made to initiate a review of a goal that could be negated for the following violations:

• Offsides.
• Too many players on the field.
• To see whether a player in possession of the ball stepped on a boundary line (the midline and the restraining lines).

The challenge can be requested only if the goal was scored within 15 seconds of when the violation occurred and no whistle has sounded between the potential violations listed above and the goal.

If the clock is not burned into the video feed, officials may use a stopwatch while reviewing the play at actual speed to determine the 15-second count.

Also, officials may initiate video review of potential contact to the head/neck without having originally made a call.

If there is a play where officials have originally made a call for contact to the head/neck, officials may rescind the penalty if video review confirms there was no illegal contact.

Overtime

Until the winning goal is scored, overtime will be played in 15-minute periods. All timeout and video challenge rules will remain unchanged.

Previously, overtime was conducted in four-minute periods, with the teams switching sides of the field until the game-winning goal was scored. 

Experimental rule

In fall competition in all three divisions, teams can experiment with a rule that if a player releases the ball below the restraining line on the defensive end of the field, it will be considered a legitimate shot only if a goal is scored or the ball hits the piping of the net.

Both committees discussed a tactic that has surfaced in which teams facing a time violation hurl the ball from their defensive end without trying to make a legitimate shot attempt. Teams place a player near the end line in the offensive end so they will be awarded possession of the ball. The committee said it will look for feedback from teams using the experimental rule.