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Lacrosse Head Specification Guide

The 2010 NCAA lacrosse head specifications set new standards for the dimensions of a lacrosse head. In short, the 2010 NCAA lacrosse head specifications widened the throat of the head to a minimum of 3 inches (current heads can be as narrow as 2.5 inches), and allow the top of the head, known as the "scoop", to be as narrow as 6 inches (current heads cannot be narrower than 6.5 inches). Every lacrosse head, new or old, now falls into one of three categories. The three head categories and are shown and explained below.

Category 1: The NFHS is the National Federation of State High School Associations. Every high school lacrosse program follows the NFHS rules for head specifications EXCEPT the Texas High School Lacrosse League (THSLL), which follows the NCAA rules for head specifications. The vast majority of the older heads you are familiar with, like Warrior's "Evolution Pro", Brine's "Clutch", and STX's "Proton Power" fall into Category 1, which are heads that have at least a 6.5 inch-wide scoop and are narrower than 3 inches at the throat. These heads are legal at the youth and high school levels everywhere in the country (except at the high school level in Texas), but are not legal at the college level.

Category 2: The NCAA is the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Every collegiate lacrosse program, including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, and the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) will adhere to the 2010 NCAA head specifications. In this second category, heads like Warrior's "Evolution Pro", Brine's "Clutch", and STX's "Proton Power" are not legal, because they are narrower than 3 inches at the throat. Therefore, they cannot be used at the college level - or at the high school level in Texas.

Category 3: "NCAA + NFHS" heads are legal under both the NCAA and NFHS rules, meaning these heads can be used at any and all levels of lacrosse. These heads are commonly referred to as "Universal" heads. They are at least 6.5 inches wide at the scoop and at least 3 inches wide at the throat, satisfying both the NFHS and NCAA head requirements.

For all youth and high school programs (except for the high school programs in Texas), there is no change. However, if you are not sure which heads are legal in your league, you can purchase a "universal" head which meets the specifications for every league.

Which heads fall into which categories?

NFHS: These heads are legal at all youth levels and in all high school leagues except in Texas. They are not legal in college.

NCAA: These heads are only legal for college players or high school players in Texas. They are not legal for youth players or high school players in states other than Texas.

NFHS + NCAA (Universal): These heads are legal at all levels, including youth, high school, and college.