Sports injury expert witness · Engaged through counsel nationwideron@standardofplay.com
Standard of PlayRon Kramer, sports rules and officiating expert
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Lacrosse injury expert witness

Analysis of body contact, stick checks, protective equipment and officiating for attorneys handling lacrosse injury cases.

A lacrosse injury expert witness explains whether body or stick contact was legal under the boys' or girls' rules in force for that level, whether required protective equipment was worn and checked, and whether officials and coaches met their standard. Ron Kramer provides this analysis for attorneys in any state.

What a lacrosse case usually turns on

Lacrosse rules change a great deal by level and by game. Boys' and men's lacrosse allow body contact with full protective equipment. Girls' and women's lacrosse limit contact far more and use different equipment rules. Ron reviews the play against the rules that actually governed that game.

  • Body contact. Legal and illegal body checks, checks to the head and neck, and contact on a defenseless player.
  • Stick checks. Slashing and other stick fouls, and when a stick check crosses the line.
  • Chest protection and commotio cordis. USA Lacrosse, NFHS and NCAA rules require chest protectors meeting the NOCSAE ND200 standard, for goalies since 2021 and boys' field players since 2022. Was the gear certified, worn and checked?
  • Other protective equipment. Helmets, gloves, mouthguards and goalie equipment, and who was responsible for the pre-game check.
  • Level of play. Differences between youth, high school and college rules, and whether the right rules were applied.
  • Officiating and coaching. Game control, penalty enforcement, and practice drills and supervision.

Records Ron typically asks for

Game video, officials' reports, the governing rulebook for that season, league and school policies, equipment records and incident reports.

How engagement works

Ron works only through the attorney on the case. A first call covers the incident, the level of play and your deadlines, at no cost. Ron then reviews the records, gives a verbal assessment, writes a report if you want one, and testifies at deposition and trial in any state.

Common questions

Are lacrosse chest protectors required?

Yes, under USA Lacrosse, NFHS and NCAA rules, goalies and boys' field players must wear chest protectors meeting the NOCSAE ND200 standard, which addresses commotio cordis.

Are boys' and girls' lacrosse rules different for injury cases?

Yes. The two games treat body contact and protective equipment very differently, so an opinion has to start with which set of rules governed the game.

Last updated November 5, 2026 · Reviewed by Ron Kramer

Have a lacrosse case? Send the sport, level of play, incident date and deadlines.

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Other areas Ron reviews

Contact Ron about a case

Send the sport, the level of play, the date of the incident and your deadlines. Ron will reply to set up a short call. Please do not send confidential documents until a conflict check is done.

Emailron@standardofplay.com