Equipment

When buying lacrosse equipment, getting the most expensive is not always the best option. Good starter kits are available for around $200 and will meet the needs of most beginning players.

Men's Lacrosse Equipment:

• Men's lacrosse stick
• Helmet
• Elbow pads
• Shoulder pads
• Gloves
• Mouth guard
• Protective cup

Optional: Cleats, rib pads

Men's Lacrosse Sticks: $30–$300
The lacrosse stick is composed of the head, pocket, and handle. You can purchase a complete stick or purchase the items separately to get exactly what you want. If your child is just starting out in lacrosse, it is best to go with a complete stick in the starter price range.

Heads:
Made of plastic, heads come in various models. Beginner sticks have a larger face and wider scoop to make it easier to pick up and catch the ball. Advanced sticks vary in features based upon the player's position, playing style, and skill level. Except for the goalie stick, the head must be 6 ½ inches wide at the top and at least 10 inches long from the ball stop to the top of the head.

Pockets:
The three main types of pocket are hard mesh, soft mesh, and traditional. Soft mesh makes an easier catching pocket for beginners. Hard mesh is the most popular and allows for a more consistent pocket and a harder throw. The traditional is made of nylon cord and four leather pieces. Traditional pockets provide a better feel of the ball in the stick, but its need for constant maintenance is normally beyond the beginner to intermediate player.

Handles:
Handles are available in four sizes, attack/middie length (30-inch), defense (60-inch), box (32-inch) and goalie (40-inch). Most complete sticks come with a standard aluminum handle, which is fine for most beginners. Upgraded handles are available in various alloy metals and composites. Upgraded handles are stronger and/or lighter than standard aluminum.

Helmets: $100–$250
A helmet consists of the shell, face mask, chin strap, visor, and chin. All lacrosse helmets provide essentially the same protection, so the most important aspect of buying a helmet is ensuring the proper fit. We can’t stress enough to make sure the helmet fits properly before you leave the store. Also make sure it has the required NOCSAE certification sticker on the back.

Helmet prices vary based upon the weight, features, and feel of the helmet. If your child is in high school or will enter high school in a year or two, try to purchase the helmet colors that are appropriate for the school, so you don't have to buy another one later. Be very careful when buying used helmets and ensure that there are no loose parts, rivets or bolts.

Elbow Pads: $25–$90
One of the primary tactics of lacrosse is stick checking, in which a player tries to disrupt an opponent's pass or shot by striking across the arm with his stick, requiring most players to protect their arms with elbow pads. Most elbow pads use some sort of Velcro to keep the pad at the appropriate spot on the player's arm. Each model provides various protection and comfort features. For youth players below the high school level, a basic entry-level arm pad will do. Entry-level pads cover the elbow and a significant amount of the forearm.

As players progress and solidify their positions and styles of play, they can make more informed decisions about what works best for them. Generally, attackmen need the most arm protection, middies slightly less, and defensemen may opt for a neoprene sleeve.

A word of caution: There is a trend in lacrosse to allow youth players to wear the bare minimum pads. While this comes from watching college lacrosse players at the highest levels, most youth players do not have the muscle mass to absorb a hard check to an unprotected forearm. It is best to err on the side of too much protection than not enough.

Shoulder Pads: $30–$180
The main reason players wear shoulder pads in lacrosse is to protect their collarbones from stick checks. Pads vary from the bare minimum (covering just the collarbone) to high-tech pads that protect the shoulder, upper arm, front chest, and back. A good entry-level shoulder pad will cover the upper chest, collarbone, shoulder, and upper arm and can be purchased for $30–$40. They work for most youth players who don't have a prior shoulder injury. Football shoulder pads are not recommended as they do not provide enough freedom of movement above the shoulder.

Gloves: $25–$200
Because gloves provide the direct connection between the player and his stick, they are considered a player’s second most important piece of equipment. Lacrosse gloves protect the hands from the ball and stick checks. Entry-level gloves are made out of a durable cloth, while higher-end gloves are covered with synthetic leather. Gloves come in four general sizes, 8-inch (for 1st–3rd grades), 10-inch (4th–6th grades), 12-inch (7th–10th grade, and 13-inch (adult). Because hands vary in size, make sure your player tries the gloves on at the store to make sure they get the proper fit.

Mouthguard: $1.50–$100
Buy a mouthguard that connects to the helmet. It will save your child from losing it on the field. A player cannot play without one.

Cup/Supporter:
Pretty simple and available at most sporting goods stores. While no one will check your child on this issue, don't let him play without it.

Cleats: $30-$100
If your child already has soccer cleats, stay with those. They'll work fine. With any footwear, fit and comfort are the most important features, not price. If you want to buy a lacrosse-specific cleat, look for something with a speed cleat (the cleat directly under the toe). Football cleats are the most common. Stay away from baseball cleats.

Women's Lacrosse Equipment:

• Women's lacrosse stick
• Eye protection
• Mouth guard

Optional: Cleats, Gloves

Women's Lacrosse Sticks:
Women's lacrosse sticks differ from the men's in two areas.

1. The pocket on a woman's stick does not have the depth a man’s does.
2. The handle is smaller in diameter and shorter.

Don't buy a $30 stick unless you have to. For $40–$45 more, you can get a far better stick with an offset design and pocket. Sticks are available in an array of colors, with yellow being the most popular due to the yellow ball used in women's lacrosse.

Handles:
Most sticks come with a standard aluminum handle. Upgraded handles are available in an array of materials but are rarely needed since checking is limited in the women's game.

Eye Protection/Goggles: $20–$65
While women's lacrosse is relatively injury free, a player can be injured in or near the eye by a ball or inadvertent stick. Therefore, US Lacrosse has mandated the use of eye protection. There are essentially two types of eye protection, wire and plastic. Wire goggles are the most popular and are essentially a wire cage that protects the eyes and eye socket and are worn as a goggle. Some models are available in different sizes which can be important for youth leagues.

Wire goggles offer the most protection and don't fog up. The downside is many girls find them cumbersome and unattractive. Plastic goggles are essentially the same safety goggles students wear in chemistry class. Made out of a durable polycarbonate, they cover the eye, are more attractive than wire goggles (many look just like sunglasses), and are less expensive than wire, however, they tend to fog up and don't provide as much protection as wire.

Gloves: $20–$50
Gloves are not required in lacrosse, some players choose to use them to protect their hands against errant checks. They’re available in various sizes, but the biggest differentiating factor in them is warmth. Winter gloves have additional material to keep a player’s hands warm, while summer gloves provide more venting to keep the hands cool.

Cleats: $30–$100
If your daughter already has soccer cleats, stay with those. They'll work fine. As with any footwear, fit and comfort are the most important features, not price. If you want to buy a lacrosse-specific cleat, look for something with a speed cleat (the cleat directly under the toe).