What Boys Can Learn From Girls’ Lacrosse
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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 seriously couldnt agree with you more… im a college player too and i have dreamed of putting pads on… haha my thoughts exactly in this rediculous mess. i freaking hate the skirts
i seriously couldnt agree with you more… im a college player too and i have dreamed of putting pads on… haha my thoughts exactly in this rediculous mess. i freaking hate the skirts
Okay… except for the fact that there are plenty of grown men on this thread who have coached both sports saying that women’s lacrosse is respectable. Women’s lacrosse can be so intense if played the right way. If girls knew how to play by the rules then the game wouldnt be stopped so much. I play women’s lacrosse in college and my brother(who is the main coach at my school) who has played, coached, taught camps for girls AND guys says girls lax is pretty intense when played right. I mean its boring because there is no contact and we live in a world where that is exciting (im not going to lie, i love it to, im a huge hockey fan for just that) but to go to the extreme of comlpetely dismissing the sport in general is completey ignorant. Why the hell do people like basketball when there is no contact in that either… oh and by the way? im 19.
Okay… except for the fact that there are plenty of grown men on this thread who have coached both sports saying that women’s lacrosse is respectable. Women’s lacrosse can be so intense if played the right way. If girls knew how to play by the rules then the game wouldnt be stopped so much. I play women’s lacrosse in college and my brother(who is the main coach at my school) who has played, coached, taught camps for girls AND guys says girls lax is pretty intense when played right. I mean its boring because there is no contact and we live in a world where that is exciting (im not going to lie, i love it to, im a huge hockey fan for just that) but to go to the extreme of comlpetely dismissing the sport in general is completey ignorant. Why the hell do people like basketball when there is no contact in that either… oh and by the way? im 19.
It’s a sport people!! And it’s a relatively new sport at that! (I’m speaking in terms of national play, not history). It’s growing and evolving every year, and it really sets us all back when simple minds draw lines in the sand and say “mine is better because of X”
Lacrosse is too beautiful to make it ugly with ignorance and hate – So all you boys who don’t get it, do the sport a favor and start playing baseball