A men’s lacrosse game may attract larger crowds but listen up, boys– there is a lot that can be learned from girls’ lacrosse and by no means should the female version of the game be ignored or downplayed. There are some key differences between boys and girls lacrosse – from the physicality allowed to the sticks used to the rules enforced –that have changed the way girls are playing the game...and in a good way.
To begin with, girls’ lacrosse is a purer form of the game, with a lineage closer to the sport’s early history. In the female version of the game, players abide by rules that are closer to the original regulations, with being “out of bounds” only recently resulting in a stoppage of play. (More info: http://apps.uslacrosse.org/news/2005/hardboundaries.phtml)
The sticks used in girls’ lacrosse have a shallower pocket than the sticks boys use in their games. This lack of pocket depth forces girls to be more aware of where the ball is, since the ball is more likely to fall out of a shallow pocket. For this same reason, girls also must be aware of their body positioning, grip placement, and stick location at all times since any false movement could mean loss of the ball. From this, boys can see how increased awareness makes girls more attentive to the physical aspect of the competition and can learn to increase focus on the mechanics of the game.
Girls are also experts at defensive positioning. Much like in basketball, girls’ lacrosse players are not permitted to openly check each other so girls don’t have the option of knocking another player out of position. Instead, girls are always aware of their location and must be precise about their positioning. If boys can add this additional consciousness to their game, they would be able to improve their method of body-checking while remaining in proper position to defend their goal as necessary.
Teamwork is also hyper-important in girls’ lacrosse. In the girls’ game, each player needs to always be aware of their position on the field and communication plays a huge role in that. When the whistle is blown to stop the game, girls are not permitted to move. Therefore, they must think ahead when they see a ball going out-of-bounds. It can be easier to beat someone one-on-one without the physicality allowed in boy’s lacrosse, so girls rely on their teammates to let them know when their competitors are in their area so they can make the moves necessary to retain ball possession. Enhancing team communication for boys’ lacrosse can make a team stronger and more primed on both the offensive and defensive zones of the field.
To learn more, Lacrosse IQ's blog is available at http://bblax.com/lacrosse_IQ/.
158 comments
I couldn’t read all the childish posts but as a guy who played lacrosse in the 70’s and still plays pickup now (sometimes with current MLL players and D1 captains) who has also coached boys and girls lax – I think the boys here don’t understand the girls game at all. As a coach, I didn’t worry if a boy got run over on the field or took a hard shot or a stick to the head because the boy is wearing an excessive amount of modern padding and.a protective helmet (not a bucket). Although the girls are not supposed to check each other – they do wind up running each other over at full speed, taking sticks to the head, and catching lacrosse balls with their faces wearing only eye goggles – and they usually just play on after. Those of us who played playground basketball around new york city (or any other competitive spot) understand that you can get bones broken playing a game even if the rules don’t allow body checking and equipment. the fact is, you have to be tough to play the girl’s game as well s the boy’s game (although some of us oldschooler’s would say you have to be less tough now to play the boy’s game than 30 years ago - unnecessary roughness?? – when did they start calling that one???). I still have a couple of my 1970’s SL2’s and I consider that stick about halfway between a modern boy’s and girl’s pocket. You barely have to know how to cradle with a modern boy’s stick but you definitely need to know how to cradle with a girl’s. I just hope that one day you boy’s grow up and see differences for what they really are instead of what your fragile ego projects them to be – now go play some D without your helmet and pads and have some real fun.
The original Lacrosse IQ Blog from Building Block Lacrosse posted a reply to this comment thread. Click here to see it:
http://bblax.com/lacrosse_IQ/2012/04/27/boys-learn-comments-blog-post-girls-lacrosse/
I agree they tried to highlight the advantages from watching girls lacrosse to improve positioning and other aspects of a guys game. However, they require two different types of positioning. Girls dodging take different routes than guys dodging. The girls game has the charge call; the guys game does not. As a result, defense is played differently in both sports. Guys can understand some things from girls lacrosse positioning-wise, but all in all they are two completely different forms of the sport and are not similar at all.
Also, girls do not require more stick skills than guys, and they don’t acquire more stick skills than guys because there is no contact. Girls can cradle their stick in one spot and the other defender can not touch her. Guys have to worry about sticks coming from all directions, and as a result their awareness is a lot higher than the awareness of a girl who doesn’t face the same challenges.
All in all, it’s like comparing apples to bananas. They are both fruit and that’s about it.
it would be alright if there was no contact but you could shoot from anywhere. With girls lacrosse, the dangerous shot rules takes a lot of the skill out of the game. Also, less contact leads to girls knowing where to carry the ball so they cannot be touched.
I’m pretty sure the sport’s earliest history was kill the enemy. girls lacrosse could not be farther from that. The communication needed in any sport is necessary, girls lacrosse doesn’t enhance your ability to speak to your teammates. Girls do need skill to cradle however the lack of contact does not enhance a girls positioning or location skills. If they keep their stick in one place, they can’t be touched and can run through everybody. I agree girls need to be masters at positioning, however positioning is a major aspect in guys lacrosse as well. The contact isn’t a major part of the defense, as many successful defenders don’t utilize contact.
They are not comparable as the same sport. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges, the only similarities are the goals and the concepts. Otherwise they are different.