Balls used in lacrosse have to meet quite specific requirements in the U.S. according to the NCAA Men’s Rules. The ball used in games must be white, yellow, orange, or lime green. There are other colors but very few. The only other regularly available “color” would be the off-white color that is in fact a glow-in-the-dark ball (ineffective). Requirements also include detailed measurements:
- Circumference: 7.75 – 8 inches
- Weight: 5 – 5.25 ounces
- Bounce: When dropped from a height of 72 inches upon concrete the ball should bounce 43-51 inches in temperatures of 65 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Before a game, balls are spread out along the endlines to be retrieved by players on a deadball. A ball is also placed at midfield and on the center X for face-offs. Normally teams will keep many balls on hand usually ordered in mass such as in a bucket form (60 balls). In a game, balls are the responsibility of the home team.
References from the 2004 NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Rulebook