What size lacrosse stick does my kid need?
By Aaron Siebold, former D1 player at Hofstra
Updated
For a boy at 8U or 10U, a short stick is 37 to 42 inches long. At 12U and 14U it’s 40 to 42 inches. That’s the whole stick, head included.
From USA Lacrosse’s 2026 youth rules, which I read on October 20, 2026. Girls play by different rules, further down.
Boys' stick lengths by age group
| Age group | Short stick | Long pole | Goalie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8U | 37 to 42 inches | Not allowed | 37 to 54 inches |
| 10U | 37 to 42 inches | 47 to 54 inches | 37 to 54 inches |
| 12U | 40 to 42 inches | 52 to 72 inches | 40 to 72 inches |
| 14U | 40 to 42 inches | 52 to 72 inches | 40 to 72 inches |
At 6U there’s no minimum. The stick shouldn’t come up past your kid’s waist. In small-sided games for 6U to 10U, the rule book also allows a smaller stick.
The long pole is the defense stick. Kids at 8U and younger don’t use one, and after that the rules cap how many a team can have on the field at once.
Inside the legal range, go short for a small kid. A stick at the top of the range is a lot of shaft for a 7-year-old, and they end up choking up on it anyway.
Girls' sticks
Girls’ lacrosse has its own stick rules.
- 6U and 8U: a smaller stick is allowed, with no pocket limits.
- 10U: the smaller stick is still allowed, with a modified pocket.
- 12U and up: the high school (NFHS) rules apply.
Buying for a girl? Ask her club which stick it wants before you pay for one.
Complete stick, or head and shaft
For a first stick, buy a complete one: head, shaft and pocket put together at the factory. It works out of the box.
After a season or two, a player can buy the head and shaft separately. Spend on the pocket before the shaft. The pocket is what changes how the ball comes out.
Got an older sibling’s stick and it’s too long? An aluminum shaft cuts with a hacksaw. Stay inside the legal length and put the end cap back on before the next practice.
Check the pocket
Hold the stick level and drop a ball in. If the top of the ball sits below the bottom of the sidewall, the pocket is too deep. That’s the boys’ rule, and a ref can check it at a game.
Pockets wear out, too. If throws start going into the ground, the ball rattles out on a cradle, or the strings are frayed, the stick needs work.
If it needs a new pocket
I string sticks. You bring the head and the strings, I do the work. What it costs and how long it takes is on the stringing page. Coming to a lesson? Bring the stick and I’ll look at it for free.
New to all of this? Start with how to start lacrosse in Los Angeles.