The 2024 Youth Lacrosse Guidebooks for both boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, written and published by USA Lacrosse, are now available for free download.
Designed as a resource for ages 14U and below, the guidebooks align with the principles of the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model and feature age-appropriate guidelines.
2024 Boys' Guidebook 2024 Girls' Guidebook
Key features in the youth guidebooks include standards for small-sided and full field play, a summary of the major rule changes and points of emphasis for 2024, and updated rule sets for Flex6 Lacrosse, USA Lacrosse Sixes, small-sided youth play, and full field youth play.
Additional information that may be helpful for newcomers include a full definition of terms used in lacrosse, equipment specifications, and various safety policies.
USA Lacrosse works collaboratively with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the NCAA to write the rules lacrosse, and the organizations often work together on rule development and player safety efforts.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer this free valuable resource for the lacrosse community, and hope that these comprehensive guidebooks will be helpful for both the experienced lacrosse participant as well as those who are new to the game,” said Caitlin Kelley, senior director of sports administration at USA Lacrosse.
She also highlighted the important work of the USA Lacrosse Rules Committee.
“We want to acknowledge the considerable work done by the members of our rules committee to review all the relevant injury surveillance data before making the recommended rule modifications that help keep our sport safe,” Kelley said.
As the governing body of lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse provides national leadership, structure, and resources to fuel the sport’s growth and enrich the experience of participants.
Since its inception in 1998, USA Lacrosse has invested more than $1,000,000 in funding for lacrosse-specific research to make the game safer. The organization also serves as a leader in training and certifying coaches and officials through instructional clinics and online educational opportunities.
