Youth Lacrosse Equipment

USA Lacrosse Equipment Guide 

  • How to buy Lacrosse Gear

    • There are three ways to purchase Lacrosse gear:

      • 1. Buy a new starter kit and new stick (see stick recommendation below) online. The simplest way to get the necessary player equipment and costs about $270 - $290. This kit includes the lacrosse specific equipment, and each player would still need to secure a protective cup, mouthguard, cleats and water bottle.

      • 2. Buy new equipment at one of the following vendors - the Club has no affiliation with any of the below vendors - but these are all reputable sources of gear:

      • 3. Tips for New or Used Gear - Buy used gear from Play it Again Sports, Sideline Swap, eBay, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace. You will need the following - links included in each step for examples:

        • Please keep an eye out for youth vs high school and college gear sizing.

        • Brands to look for:  STX, Maverik, Warrior, Stringking, Powell

        • Youth helmet - Cascade is the most popular youth helmet

        • Shoulder pads (minimum standard "NOCSAE" pads are required) - Finding these can be difficult, consider just buying STX Stallion 75 Shoulder Pads for $40 online (google search will find it) 

          • If you use Sideline Swap to purchase shoulder pads that they are NOCSAE

        • Gloves (YOUTH SIZES 9-12 INCHES)

        • Arm pads (Youth sizes are generally small)

        • Protective Cup - similar to this set-up with liner shorts available at Dicks or other sporting goods dealers

        • Mouth Guards - a low-profile protective mouthguard will allow better communication - don’t get the big football ones - the kids will have a harder time communicating - make sure it’s sized appropriately for your child - Sisu is good, ShockDoctor all make good options

        • Cold weather - kids fingers can get cold - lacrosse gloves are not necessarily designed to keep them warm. A pair of surgical gloves if they fit can help keep kids fingers warm - or there are a couple of new products on the market to help - Wickers or Frostfur

  • Stick Recommendations

    • Arguably the most important piece of equipment to allow your child to progress with the sport. Many beginner sticks come outfitted with sub-par pockets and stringing materials. It is our recommendation to get a higher quality set-up for your child at the start - it will last several seasons and not hold back their stick skill progression.

    • Recommended beginner to intermediate stick options - Stringking Starter Attack or Complete Intermediate 2, Powell Scout or Maverik Critik

    • Beginner or starter players should only source short stick or attack/midfield length shafts for their sticks. Do not purchase a defense length shaft for a start stick. Even if your kid thinks they will want to be a defenseman they have to work up to it. Full length or long-stick defense sticks are only utilized formally starting at the Grade 7/8 level. For Grades 3/4 and 5/6 they utilize standard handle length.

    • Stick Re-stringing Services - to be posted ASAP

  • Tips for Helmet Fitting

    • Make sure the helmet is NOCSAE approved. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment conducts rigorous tests and sets standards for safe athletic equipment, including lacrosse helmets.

    • Always review the specific helmet manufacturer’s recommendations for proper helmet fitting either on the manufacturer’s web site or in the store.

    • Helmets are measured in inches. Check manufacturers’ charts to show the proper size helmet for your child’s head.

    • Padding of the helmet shall give firm and uniform pressure about the head. The skin of the forehead should move as the helmet is moved from left to right and from front to back.

    • Be sure there is a four-point chin-strap attached to the helmet. The chin-strap should be tightened so that there is no slack.

    • Properly fitted helmets must take into account the hairstyle of your child; if your child has a great deal of thick hair and then receives a haircut, the helmet must then be refitted.

    • Proper helmet fit should never cause headaches.

    • The facemask should attach cleanly to the helmet and should be replaced if it is bent.