Can defenders make contact with their stick or body?

Q: Can defenders make contact with their stick or body?

Under the 2026 girls youth rules for 12U and 14U: Defenders may not start stick-to-body contact. Incidental contact can happen. A defender may not touch an opponent's body with her stick held horizontally, meaning below the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions. A hand or forearm holding the stick doesn't count as part of the stick, so it may contact an opponent's body. A defender may not "ride" an opponent by holding her stick against the opponent's body as they run. USA Lacrosse's 2026 points of emphasis remind players and coaches that the stick must never be used to hit, push or displace an opponent's body. Forcing through is a major foul committed by the player with the ball: trying to force her stick through a defender's stick. A defender in a legal position isn't penalized when an attacker forces through.

Question

Accepted Answer

Under the 2026 girls youth rules for 12U and 14U:

Defenders may not start stick-to-body contact. Incidental contact can happen.
A defender may not touch an opponent's body with her stick held horizontally, meaning below the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock positions.
A hand or forearm holding the stick doesn't count as part of the stick, so it may contact an opponent's body.
A defender may not "ride" an opponent by holding her stick against the opponent's body as they run.

USA Lacrosse's 2026 points of emphasis remind players and coaches that the stick must never be used to hit, push or displace an opponent's body.

Forcing through is a major foul committed by the player with the ball: trying to force her stick through a defender's stick. A defender in a legal position isn't penalized when an attacker forces through.