Footwear and uniforms: shoes, cleats, numbers and what may not be worn.

This page reports the rules only. It does not advise on choosing or fitting shoes or clothing, and whether any item is legal on the day is for the officials applying the rule in force.

Footwear

The NFHS change was announced on 16 August 2022 for the 2023 season. The box book's footwear wording is not in the research and is not given here.

Men's and boys' uniforms

World Lacrosse men's field (2025-2027, version 1.0)

• Rule 17.2: numbers centred on the front and back of the jersey, at least 8 in (20.3 cm) high on the front and 10 in (25.4 cm) on the back, one or two digits from 00 to 99, with no duplicates; shorts in the same dominant team colour.
• Rules 17.3 and 18: the home team wears a colour contrasting with the visitors' notified colour; no body-mounted or helmet-mounted cameras; and no jewellery or piercings except taped medical alert or religious items.

A version 1.1 dated January 2026 exists but was not read.

NFHS boys' high school (from published change summaries)

• 2024, Rule 1-9-1 Article 4: contrasting trim up to 2 in is allowed on numbers, but the number's main colour must contrast with the body of the jersey.
• 2026, Rule 1-9-1h(3): the minimum number height on the back of the jersey dropped to 8 in, matching the front.
• 2026, Rule 4-3-1 Exception Note (editorial): undergarments may be white, grey, black or one of the team's official colours.

USA Lacrosse lists NFHS boys' high school uniform guidelines among its rules documents; they were not read for this site.

Women's and girls' uniforms

World Lacrosse women's field (2025-2026, version 1.0)

• Rules 6.A.9 to 6.A.18: field players are dressed uniformly. Visible undergarments match the shirt colour, or, under the kilt, skirt or shorts, match it or are one solid dark colour. Numbers are at least 15 cm on the front and 20 cm on the back, in a solid block font. At World Lacrosse tournaments, only numbers 1 to 98 are used.
• Rule 6.A.7: medical alert jewellery is taped and visible; other jewellery is removed, or taped if religious or a wedding ring. Hats or visors with soft neoprene brims are allowed, and a hijab may be worn.

A version 1.1 dated March 2025 exists but was not read.

NFHS girls' high school

• 2026, Rule 2-8-3 (NFHS, 11 July 2025): players may not wear audio (microphone) or video (camera) devices during a game; a violation is a coach misconduct penalty.
• 2027, Rule 2-9-4 (NFHS summary of changes): from 1 January 2031 the home team must wear white jerseys.
• 2024, Rule 2-9-4e: the National Sporting Goods Association, a trade body, reported that the school's name, nickname, logo or mascot, or the player's name, may appear above the number, with non-compliant marks illegal from 1 July 2027. No NFHS original was read, so this is unconfirmed.

Sixes and box

• Sixes, Rules 2.4.5 and 2.4.6 (2026-2028, version 2.0): matching jerseys and shorts, skorts or kilts; no altered uniforms; the home team in white or light jerseys unless both coaches agree otherwise; numbers 15 to 21 cm high on the front and 20 to 26 cm on the back, from 0 to 99.
• Box, Rule 2.8 (2026-2028, version 2.0): numbers at least 10 in high on the back; matching jerseys and shorts; no altered uniforms; nothing hanging below the jersey hem. Rule 2.8.2 also bars adding tape, characters or non-sponsor logos to a player's helmet.

Number sizes compared