What are the stick and pocket rules at 12U?

Q: What are the stick and pocket rules at 12U?

Under the 2026 girls youth rules (Appendix B): Legal girls sticks are required at 12U. Certified sticks and molded heads are listed on the USA Lacrosse website. Pocket depth: at 12U and 14U, with a ball in the pocket of a horizontally held stick, the top of the ball must be visible above the top of the entire sidewall. Free ball movement: the ball must roll freely through the whole head, side to side and end to end, and fall out easily when the stick is turned upside down. It must not get wedged anywhere. Holes: no gap in the pocket larger than 1.5 in. Shooting strings: no more than two, not crossed, attached within 3.5 in. of the top of the head. A bottom string shaped like an inverted "U" may be within 6.5 in. Loose strings: strings or leathers hanging off the stick can be no longer than 2 in. Officials can check any pocket on the field. Goalkeeper sticks are 35.5-52 in. long, including the end cap. They can have an unlimited pocket depth, as long as the ball moves freely.

Question

Accepted Answer

Under the 2026 girls youth rules (Appendix B):

Legal girls sticks are required at 12U. Certified sticks and molded heads are listed on the USA Lacrosse website.
Pocket depth: at 12U and 14U, with a ball in the pocket of a horizontally held stick, the top of the ball must be visible above the top of the entire sidewall.
Free ball movement: the ball must roll freely through the whole head, side to side and end to end, and fall out easily when the stick is turned upside down. It must not get wedged anywhere.
Holes: no gap in the pocket larger than 1.5 in.
Shooting strings: no more than two, not crossed, attached within 3.5 in. of the top of the head. A bottom string shaped like an inverted "U" may be within 6.5 in.
Loose strings: strings or leathers hanging off the stick can be no longer than 2 in.

Officials can check any pocket on the field.

Goalkeeper sticks are 35.5-52 in. long, including the end cap. They can have an unlimited pocket depth, as long as the ball moves freely.