Sanctioning is a designation given to events / leagues that have adopted a set of operational and safety standards set forward by USA Lacrosse. These tournament standards are a set of best practices that cover five main areas of an event: game format, venue, risk management, event administration, and certified officials. When these practices are adopted in their entirety, events create a more positive experience for participants while receiving insurance and marketing benefits from USA Lacrosse.

The purpose of sanctioning is to provide a more consistent playing experience for participants across the lacrosse tournament landscape. Today, many lacrosse tournaments are running by different rules and game formats which leaves players, parents, and spectators adjusting from event to event. When a tournament is sanctioned, the event operator guarantees participants what they can expect from the event.