US Lacrosse, the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse, is in the midst of a comprehensive effort to improve the quality of experience for everyone associated with youth lacrosse. A key component of this effort is the development of consistent national rules that are based on the physical, cognitive and psychological development stages of children. The US Lacrosse youth rules have been developed with those stages in mind to focus on player development, team play, sportsmanship and safety.

The Youth Rules and Best Practices Guidebooks are intended as educational tools for players, parents, coaches, officials and administrators to help explain the rules and the rationale behind the rules. The best practices included in these books are as important as the rules. They provide guidelines for youth lacrosse organizations to make sure the emphasis is where it should be – on the health and well-being of the children playing the sport, and their enjoyment and development in the game.