The Sport | dumxl

LACROSSE: THE SPORT

Lacrosse is a popular sport in America and in the UK. There are men's, women's, mixed, indoor, and kids versions of the sport, and the rules differ between them, however mixed lacrosse rules are very similar to women's rules.

Mixed lacrosse is a non-contact field sport, with eleven field players and one goal keeper on the pitch at a time. Points are scored by getting the ball into the opposition's square goal. A lacrosse match usually lasts 40 minutes, with a 2 minute break at half time.

The Pitch

A lacrosse pitch is divided into thirds. At each end there is a square goal inside a small goalie circle, which only the goal keeper may enter. Unlike other sports, play may continue behind the goal and surrounding the goal is an 11m fan and a 15m semi circle.

In the centre third is a centre circle, where play begins at the start of a match and is reset from there every time a point is scored.

The Players

There are twelve players on a team, and these are divided into four types of position: midfield, attack, defence, and goalie.

Midfield: Centre, Attack wings and Defence wings.

Play begins with the 'draw', where the centres from each team put their sticks together and, at the whistle, launch the ball into the air. The centre and wings try to field the ball down to the attacking end, using speed and endurance.

Attack: 1st Home, 2nd Home, 3rd Home.

The attack usually remain in the attacking third, trying to dodge and avoid the player marking them in order to score. This is done by shooting the ball into the goal using power and quick stick skills.

Defence: Point, Cover Point, 3rd Man.

Defence 'mark' the opposition and try to prevent passing and scoring. Defence need to be quick to keep close to their opposite player, being strong and reliable to prevent the enemy scoring.

Starting positions of a team in a game

Goal Keeper:

The Goalie usually remains in his/her goal circle, keeping a close eye on the ball, and preventing goals by putting their stick and themself in the way of the incoming shot. Goalies use a different, larger lacrosse stick than field players, and wear a helmet, chest pad, gloves, padded shorts and shin pads to protect them.

The Stick

The lacrosse stick consists of a basket and a shaft. A 'check' is a tackle where a player sharply hits their stick down onto the ball-carrier's stick, to make the ball fall out. Players use a technique called 'cradling' to defend the ball in their stick from checks.

Sticks can be purchased through the club at the beginning of the year.