Essential Lacrosse Gear for Every Player: A Checklist

Every season we see the same thing: half the roster shows up with mismatched gear, the wrong stick length, or a chest protector that doesn’t meet current standards. This lacrosse gear checklist is the version we hand to coaches and team parents so nobody gets benched on day one. It covers field players, goalies, box lacrosse, and the women’s-specific lacrosse equipment that the boys’ lists usually skip.

One caveat before the list: rules vary by sanctioning body. USA Lacrosse, NCAA, NFHS, and World Lacrosse all publish their own equipment rules, and they don’t always agree on stick length, glove requirements, or chest protection. Always confirm with your league before you order in bulk.

Lacrosse Equipment for Field Players

The core kit every field player needs, with notes on where the boys’ and girls’ rules diverge. If you’re outfitting a new team, start here.

• Helmet (Boys’ & Men’s Lacrosse): Must meet NOCSAE standards and include a face mask. Recertify before each season — a cracked shell or expired sticker means it’s not legal for play.
• Protective Eyewear (Women’s/Girls’ Lacrosse): Required and must meet ASTM F3077. Goggles, not a cage. This is one of the biggest equipment differences between the women’s and men’s game.
• Lacrosse Stick:
  • Men’s/Boys’: Short (40–42”) for attack and midfield, long (52–72”) for defense and LSM.
  • Women’s/Girls’: 35.5–43.25” per current rules. The pocket depth rule is stricter than the men’s game; check it at every practice.
• Gloves: Required for boys’ lacrosse; optional but commonly worn at the women’s college level. Make sure the cuff covers the wrist.
• Mouthguard: Required across the board, and it has to be a visible (non-clear) color so officials can confirm it from the sideline.
• Shoulder Pads (Boys’ & Men’s Lacrosse): Must be NOCSAE ND200 compliant. The ND200 standard exists specifically to protect against commotio cordis and is still the current requirement for boys’ and men’s lacrosse chest protection.
• Arm Pads (Boys’, Men’s & Box Lacrosse): Standard for any contact game.
• Cleats: Lacrosse, soccer, or football cleats all work. Avoid metal spikes. Most leagues ban them.
• Protective Cup (Boys’ & Men’s Lacrosse): Mandatory.
• Lacrosse Team Uniforms: Breathable, moisture-wicking jerseys, shorts, and reversibles for practice. This is the piece most programs replace the dealer model on first.

A note on girls’ lacrosse equipment

Women’s and girls’ lacrosse is a different sport at the equipment level. There is no body checking in the women’s game, so the protective requirements are lighter: ASTM-certified goggles, mouthguard, and a stick built around the women’s pocket rules. Body checking restrictions are why you don’t see helmets and shoulder pads on the women’s field, though headgear that meets ASTM F3137 is now permitted (and in some leagues encouraged) at the youth and high school level. If you’re outfitting a girls’ program, confirm whether your league allows or requires headgear before ordering.

Lacrosse Goalie Gear

Goalies need everything the field players need plus dedicated head, chest, and (for the women’s game) leg protection. Don’t try to retrofit field gear here.

• Goalie Helmet: Extra coverage and a throat protector. NOCSAE certified, like all boys’ and men’s helmets.
• Chest Protector: NOCSAE ND200 compliant. Goalie chest protectors have their own version of the standard. Confirm the certification stamp before the first practice.
• Goalie Gloves: Reinforced palms and thumbs. Field gloves don’t survive a season in the cage.
• Goalie Stick:
  • Men’s: 40–72”
  • Boys’ (U-9, U-11): 37–72”
  • Women’s: 35.5–52”
• Leg Pads (Women’s/Girls’ Goalies): Required in the women’s game; not used in men’s.
• Pelvic & Abdominal Protection: Cup or pelvic protector depending on the player.

Box Lacrosse Gear & Additional Equipment

Box adds a few pieces on top of the field kit because the walls, the ball, and the close quarters change what gets hit.

• Helmet (NOCSAE certified, often with a hockey-style cage)
• Shoulder Pads with bicep protectors
• Rib Pads. Required in box, where field shoulder pads don’t cover enough.
• Lacrosse Balls: White for men’s games, yellow for women’s, orange for box. Stock training balls separately.
• Lacrosse Equipment Bags: One per player, labeled. Saves you a season of “whose glove is this?”

Gear Up Your Team with Secondslide

Secondslide is the modern team outfitter for lacrosse programs that are tired of the dealer-model runaround. We do custom team uniforms, bulk equipment ordering, and team stores that actually work, built around a free account, faster turnaround than BSN or SquadLocker, and a fundraising option so the program can offset gear cost. One contact, one platform, one invoice. Set up your team store →