Equipment care, named: the practices, and the limits the rules set.

The practices, named

Several practices are commonly named in lacrosse: stringing or re-stringing a pocket, pocket adjustment, head shaping, fitting protective equipment, and reconditioning or recertifying helmets. This site names them only. It does not describe how any of them is done; the rule books say only what a legal stick must be when an official inspects it.

Altering a stick: what the rules forbid

• World Lacrosse women's field, Appendix H B.1.a (2025-2026, v1.0; a v1.1 dated March 2025 was not read): altering a crosse for advantage is illegal. The book names baking, drilling extra holes, breaking and re-gluing, stretching, pinching and shaving as examples, and allows no sharp or protruding parts.
• World Lacrosse men's field, Rules 16.2 to 16.4 and 16.8 (2025-2027, v1.0; a v1.1 dated January 2026 was not read): sticks built or strung to withhold the ball, slow its dislodgement, gain an advantage by tampering or mislead an opponent are prohibited. Under Rule 45.5, reshaping the head or changing the stringing or pocket depth to interfere with a stick check cancels a goal.
• World Lacrosse box, Rule 2.3 (2026-2028, v2.0): building up the goalkeeper's shaft with tape or other material for undue help is not permitted; Rule 2.4.1 bars filling the shaft with any substance.
• NFHS boys' 2026 (summary of changes): an editorial change to Rule 1-9-2a(1) sets out what is illegal and what must be fixed without penalty.
• NFHS girls' 2027 (summary of changes), Rule 2-2-4: all pocket materials must meet the elasticity standards in the Manufacturer's Specification on the USA Lacrosse website. That specification could not be opened for this site.

The full limits are on men's sticks, women's sticks and box sticks.

Altering protective equipment

• Gloves, NFHS boys' 2024, Rule 5-6: gloves may not be altered in a way that weakens their protection.
• Helmets, NFHS boys' 2024, Rule 1-9-1 Article 1a: the chin pad and chin strap are attached as the maker designed, secured at every attachment point.
• Helmets, World Lacrosse box Rule 2.8.2: tape, characters, non-sponsor logos and the like may not be added to a player's helmet.
• Mouthguards, World Lacrosse women's field Rule 6.A.5: the mouthguard must not be altered to reduce protection, and field players must remove protruding tabs.
• Uniforms, World Lacrosse sixes Rules 2.4.5 and 2.4.6 and box Rule 2.8: no altered uniforms.

What NOCSAE's labels say

NOCSAE's standards require makers to tell users certain things on the product. They name the topics; the maker supplies the detail.

• Damage: ND041 (helmets, edition ND041-15m24, June 2024) requires an outside warning not to use a helmet with a cracked or deformed shell or deteriorated padding, and that severe head or neck injury, paralysis or death may still occur.
• Cleaning substances: ND041 and ND200 (chest protectors, edition ND200-22m25, December 2025) both require warnings that common substances, such as solvents and cleaners, can damage the product, possibly without visible sign, and that makers list recommended cleaning agents or procedures.
• Certification life: under ND041 section 11.5, a helmet its maker says is not to be recertified carries a warning saying so and stating its certification life, which may be no more than 5 years from manufacture. Under section 11.6, makers of helmets meant to be recertified must state a recertification interval.
• Assembly: ND200 requires that where a protector's primary protective component sits in an assembly, such as a shirt-like garment, the product says it is not compliant unless assembled as the maker instructs.

Recertification and reconditioning

NOCSAE publishes a specification for recertified lacrosse helmets (ND043) and a laboratory guide for recertifying them (ND044), and its lacrosse standards page points to the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) for recertification and reconditioning. This site does not describe either process. A helmet's own label, its maker and NOCSAE's documents set what applies.

A blow to the head or chest, or a suspected concussion, needs medical care; see concussion by body and commotio cordis.