A girls lacrosse stick consists of a head, neck, shaft, pocket, sidewall, throwing strings, and sidewall strings. The plastic head of the stick is screwed onto the shaft, or handle, at the neck. The ball stopper is the foam pad at the bottom of the stick head used to cushion the ball as it rests in the pocket. Stick shafts can be made of aluminum, titanium, wood, or a composite material.
Girls and women's lacrosse sticks must be between 35.5 and 43.5 inches long. Younger players (ages 6-10) may play with shorter sticks (about arms length), but it is recommended that they use regulation-length sticks as soon as possible.
A goalie stick should measure between 35.5 and 48 inches long. Based on the age and body size of a player, you may need to saw off a few inches of the shaft to shorten the length of a stick after purchasing it. When sizing your lacrosse stick, keep in mind that defenders might prefer slightly longer sticks for reach and attackers slightly shorter ones so that they can protect their stick better. Whatever the chosen length, you just need to feel comfortable throwing and catching with the stick.
The standard way to determine a comfortable shaft length is to extend your arm in front of you, gripping the stick a few inches below the stick head at the shaft. Hold the stick horizontal to the ground. Where the bottom of the stick meets the shoulder is generally the proper length for the player.