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This page explains what lacrosse's rule books, governing bodies and standards bodies publish. It is not a substitute for coaching from a qualified coach, and it does not replace medical advice.
This page reports the rules only. It does not explain how to choose, fit or mould a mouthguard, which is for the maker's instructions and, for custom products, a dental professional.
World Lacrosse, game by game
| Game and book | Rule | What it requires | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's field, 2025-2027 v1.0 | 17.1 | Every player, goalkeeper included, properly wears an intra-oral tooth and mouth protector covering all upper teeth: a commercial mouldable product or a custom product made by a dental professional | A highly visible colour, neither white nor clear, is recommended |
| Women's field, 2025-2026 v1.0 | 6.A.5 | Every player, goalkeeper included, correctly wears a professionally manufactured intra-oral mouthguard covering all upper teeth; it must not be altered to reduce protection, and field players must remove protruding tabs | Any colour, including white or clear |
| Sixes, 2026-2028 v2.0 | 2.4.2 | All players, goalkeeper included, wear a mouthguard moulded to the teeth and jaw covering all upper teeth | A visible colour is recommended |
| Box, 2026-2028 v2.0 | 2.5.1 and 2.5.5 | A mouthguard is part of every player's required equipment and must be worn at all times while the ball is live | Not set out in the research |
Later versions of two World Lacrosse books exist and were not read: men's field version 1.1 (January 2026) and women's field version 1.1 (March 2025).
When a mouthguard is missing
- Men's field, Rule 17.1: play is suspended at once if a player in a scrimmage area loses or lacks required equipment, and that includes a properly worn mouthguard.
- Box, Rule 2.5.5: a first failure to wear it means removal from the floor; a repeat is a delay-of-game minor penalty.
Colour: the men's and women's books differ
World Lacrosse's men's field book recommends a highly visible colour that is neither white nor clear. Its women's field book allows any colour, white and clear included. Neither wording is a ban in the other game: the men's book recommends rather than requires, and each book governs only its own game.
NFHS high school (United States)
Boys
- 2026, Rule 1-9-1b(4 and 5) (NFHS summary of changes): colour restrictions on tooth and mouth protectors were removed, and items attached to the protector that do not help protect the teeth or mouth are prohibited, bringing lacrosse into line with other NFHS sports. USA Lacrosse (27 January 2026) describes the same change as allowing any colour, white and clear included, and banning decorative or non-protective attachments.
- 2026 points of emphasis (19 February 2026): tooth and mouth protectors must be secured in the mouth, cover the teeth and be worn properly at all times.
Girls
The National Sporting Goods Association, a trade body, reported in July 2023 that the NFHS 2024 girls' change to Rule 2-7-1 removed colour restrictions on tooth and mouth protectors and edited the rule to follow NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee guidance. No NFHS original was read, so this is unconfirmed.
NCAA and USA Lacrosse youth
NCAA mouthguard rules were not read in an NCAA document, and USA Lacrosse's youth rule books could not be opened on the research date, so neither is given here.
Mouthguards and concussion
The rules above treat the mouthguard as protection for the teeth and mouth. NFHS concussion guidance, as adapted by Vanderbilt's Sports Concussion Center in February 2011, says there is no convincing scientific evidence that mouthguards prevent concussion. A blow to the head or a suspected concussion needs medical care. Each body's concussion rules are on concussion by body.
Sources
- World Lacrosse, Men's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules 2025-2027, v1.0 (copy hosted by BC Lacrosse with World Lacrosse's permission)
- World Lacrosse, Women's Field Lacrosse Official Playing Rules 2025-2026, v1.0 (copy hosted by Lacrosse Victoria)
- World Lacrosse, Sixes Lacrosse Official Playing Rules 2026-2028, v2.0 (May 2026)
- World Lacrosse, Box Lacrosse Official Playing Rules 2026-2028, v2.0 (May 2026)
- NFHS, 2026 boys' lacrosse summary of rules changes with rationale
- USA Lacrosse, boys' rule changes and points of emphasis announced for 2026 (27 January 2026)
- NFHS, boys' lacrosse points of emphasis 2026 (19 February 2026)
- National Sporting Goods Association, equipment and uniforms part of high school girls' lacrosse rules changes (July 2023)
- NFHS concussion guidance as adapted by the Vanderbilt Sports Concussion Center (February 2011)
- World Lacrosse, playing rules page (lists men's field v1.1, January 2026, and women's field v1.1, March 2025; read 23 October 2026)