Shelli Adam has one big rule in the house: shoes off, lacrosse sticks down.

For her two sons, 17-year-old Bryce and Hunter, 14, the mandate is not usually a problem.

Her husband, though, is a different story.

In college, Bussy Adam’s teammates at Boston State College gave him a marriage certificate for his lacrosse stick.

In his 30th season as the varsity boys’ coach at Newton North, he still has the tool of his trade locked in his firm grip. On Tuesday afternoon, he was twirling and cradling his prized possession on the sideline as his Tigers squared off against Bay State Conference foe Braintree.

Rather than simply yell out instructions, he acted them out for his players on the sideline during a 21-8 victory.

Adam picked up a lacrosse stick as a student at the old Newton High, and has never looked back, through an illustrious career at Boston State — now the University of Massachusetts Boston — graduating in 1981 before beginning his coaching career back in his hometown.

“I’ve always had the stick in my hands since I started playing,’’ said Adam. “I had a coach tell me that it becomes an extension of your arm and that really stuck with me. I carry it with me everywhere I go.’’

“I’m probably still the best stick handler on the team.’’

But Adam has competition in his own backyard: sons Bryce and Hunter are two of the top scorers for the Tigers this season.

As a sophomore last spring, Bryce set the program’s single-season mark for goals (71) and points (122).

A 5-foot-8, 150-pound lefthanded attack, he entered this season 92 points shy of North’s career scoring leader, David Quinn (1990), who went on to earn All-American honors at Towson University. He needed five points in the final two regular-season games to surpass Quinn’s total.

“Last season was a lot about the points, but this year I’ve really been focused on dodging and moving the ball. As long as we score, I’m happy,’’ he said.

“It will be nice to have something to leave behind. I hope my brother doesn’t break it, but at the same time I’ll be rooting for him to break it.’’

Hunter, a freshman with a lightning-quick lefthanded release, has already amassed 39 goals and 22 assists, surpassing his older brother’s freshman marks.

“There will be a lot of motivation to get to that number after he leaves,’’ said Hunter. “It is definitely a friendly competition between the two of us.’’

But stats and records do not drive the Adam family. It is a passion for the game, and playing together.

“I’ve been waiting for this for two years,’’ said Bryce of the opportunity to play alongside Hunter.

“Every sport we’ve always played together, every ball or stick, we’ve always picked it up and played one-on-one.’’

“We think alike. I know where he is going to be, and he knows what I am going to do.’’

Their father is dedicated to family, community, and lacrosse.

An investigator in the Newton Police Department, he served as a youth officer for 18 years starting in 1983. He has coached at countless lacrosse camps, and club teams, mentoring the sons and nephews of former teammates, and even coached against a few of his former players.

“It’s been a wonderful experience to this point,’’ said the 58-year-old Adam.

“I’ve always been a local guy. The community has been a big part of my life. To be able to buy a home and raise my kids in Newton, I feel very fortunate and I am very grateful.’’

Bryce and Hunter’s favorite memories: playing lacrosse in the backyard, with their parents often joining in.

“We would have someone throw on the goalie pads and we’d go one-on-one,’’ said Hunter. “Even our mom would get out there with us.’’

Shelli Adam said, “I would tell them they need to do things a certain way and they would say, ‘Mom, it’s not easy’, so I would put the helmet on and say ‘C’mon’’’, showing her competitive side as a former soccer and basketball player at Lexington High.

“Of course they’d whack my arm and I would have to pretend like it didn’t hurt. But they are fun memories.

“There is nothing I love more than coming to watch the three of them together.’’

Bryce said that “growing up with a stick in your hand, it has literally been like having a coach in your life every day.’’

The siblings both play football in the fall; Bryce is on the basketball court in the winer, while Hunter hits the hockey rink.

But lacrose has always been King.

Two days after Bryce was born, his parents had him at a lacrosse tournament at Brown University.

This season, under the tutelage of their father, the Adam boys have helped North clinch at least a share of BSC title.

“Being able to do something big, whether we make it to states or win the conference, would be great,’’ said Bryce. “Regardless, we’re always going to remember being together.’’

Brian Vona played for, and then coached under Bussy Adam at North before he was hired as the varsity coach at Lincoln-Sudbury.

This season, his own son, Cameron Vona, has made the jump to varsity for the Warriors, the Globe’s top-ranked team, and has taken over 60 percent of the faceoffs.

“I’ve been coaching for 20-plus years and coaching everyone else’s sons so it is nice to have my son around,’’ said Vona.

Cameron has the opportunity to learn from Junior Almeida, an All-American faceoff specialist.

“I feel lucky that he is around the leadership group that we have around on this team and the mentors he has been able to have,’’ said the elder Vona.

Vona’s younger son, Andrew is in eighth grade and will join the L-S program next season. As is the case with the Adam’s at Newton North, Vona is not focused on the end result.

“To focus on the last game kind of ruins the journey,’’ said Vona. “Right now, I am focused on watching my kids grow up, become better men and be great teammates. If that leads to us winning that last game, that is great.’’

Michael McMahon can be reached at mcman92@gmail.com.