2025 Rule Changes for Girls' High School, Youth Lacrosse

Use of the green card, managing safe play within the 8-meter arc, and offensive fouls inside the critical scoring area have been identified as the points of emphasis by both the high school girls’ and youth girls’ lacrosse rules committees for the 2025 season.  

The committees also approved some minor rule changes and editorial changes to the rulebooks.

The high school rule changes have been approved by the board of directors for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and for the youth level by USA Lacrosse.

Rule 4-1-2 & 3 was adjusted so that the clock will stop when there is a foul in the critical scoring area during the last minute of each quarter unless a team is leading by 10 or more goals.

In 5-2 Penalties 1 & 2, the free position was moved from the center line to the spot of the ball when one player draws illegally. The re-draw will occur at the center line when both players draw illegally.

9-1 Penalties 4a was modified to eliminate the indirect free position for a minor violation by a defense player occurring in the 12-meter fan and allows the player who is fouled to shoot from a free position on the 12-meter fan.

On Major Fouls, 10-1p clarified a player’s body and stick position for a legal pick, while 10-1r(1) clarifies that it is illegal for a player to make contact with an opponent’s crosse or body when the player’s crosse is in a horizontal position.

Major Fouls 10-1u(2) expanded the definition of a rough/dangerous check to include checking an opponent’s hand.

For Points of Emphasis, officials are being encouraged to utilize effective green card management, especially as it pertains to delay-of-game behavior, in order to discourage the interruption of the flow of the game. Managing safe play in the 8-meter arc encourages officials to penalize checks to the head and neck, uncontrolled play by defenders both before and after shots, and defenders using a stick in a horizontal position to make contact with an opponent’s body or crosse.

A complete listing of the girls' high school lacrosse rules changes is available on this USA Lacrosse Rules Interp document. 

USA Lacrosse training materials for the 2025 season can be accessed online at www.usalacrosse.com/girls-and-womens-rules.