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.
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158 comments
I agree, it seems that women’s lacrosse has just about the same amount of stoppage as men’s, if not more.
I agree, it seems that women’s lacrosse has just about the same amount of stoppage as men’s, if not more.
As a man that coaches girls lacrosse I could not agree more. Girls LAX requires far more skill and finesse than the boys game. This sport will not grow until it no longer has the shallow attitudes displayed here.
I agree with many of the points here, and I have employed the “shallow pocket/girls stick” training method in the past. In fact, I prefer the quick, pure release that you get from a shallower pocket.
The one point I hold in contention is that “out of bounds” is the only stoppage of play in women’s lacrosse. As far as I can tell, from my limited knowledge of the nuances of the girls rules, and mostly from speaking with women’s lacrosse players, women’s lacrosse has far too much stoppage of play.
What’s clearly lacking among some of you is a trait called sportsmanship.
The writer is not trying to get one over on men’s lacrosse or claim that women’s lacrosse is better.
What he/she is able to do, unlike some of you, is find adjectives that are effective without being offensive…!?
It doesn’t matter what sport they are discussing, everyone should have an appreciation of other peoples game. Yea girls are smaller, not as physically strong blah blah, we know it, but the girls game involves different constraints that result in a skill set that some guys could benefit from.
Bear in mind boys… if you want lacrosse to be an olympic sport, think of the huge variations between the men and women’s game, they won’t really work, will they? So if it’s going to go to the Olympics it’ll have to change in some way, which way looks easier to move towards… I’ve already heard a rumor the field dimensions for men may change towards the women’s…