Section 8: Safety Considerations
Mandatory Headgear and Eyewear
NCAA women's lacrosse mandates ASTM F3137-compliant women's lacrosse headgear for field players (mandated by the NCAA since 2017) and ASTM F803-compliant eyewear. Mouthpieces are mandatory. Goalkeepers wear a full goalkeeper helmet with face mask, throat protector, and chest protector. The mandatory-headgear rule reflects long-running player-safety concerns and concussion-incidence data from the pre-headgear era of women's lacrosse.
Head and Neck Protections
Stick contact to the head is a major foul (typically yellow card territory), with potential red-card ejection for severe or repeated violations. The 2026 video-review framework permits review of player identification for cards and confirmation/reversal of yellow/red cards, which supports consistent discipline of head-contact incidents.
Concussion Protocol
A player with an actual or suspected concussion is removed from play immediately and is subject to a graduated return-to-play assessment before being cleared for subsequent training and competition. NCAA medical observers and team medical staff have authority to remove a player; the return-to-play decision is independent of the on-field officials.
Heat and Hydration
NCAA championship policy uses WBGT-based thresholds for heat-related modifications and postponement; team athletic trainers are responsible for in-game hydration breaks and heat-related player welfare. Lightning detection halts outdoor activity within the standard radius of detected strikes; play resumes only after the all-clear interval has elapsed.
Stick and Equipment Safety
- Damaged sticks (cracked, gouged, missing parts) must be removed from play
- Stick checks must be directed at the opponent's stick, not the head or body, and away from the head of the ball-carrier
- Body checks are not permitted in NCAA women's lacrosse
Medical Coverage
Each NCAA-sanctioned game requires at least one certified athletic trainer on the sideline; team physicians and emergency-medical responders are required at championship-level competition. An emergency action plan covering on-field cardiac, head/neck, and orthopedic emergencies must be in effect at every venue.