Basics to Lacrosse
Lacrosse Equipment
The Rules and Positions
Leagues
Camps
Clubs
BASICS TO LACROSSE
The sport of lacrosse is similar to the sports of
basketball, soccer and hockey. Anyone can play lacrosse--the big or the
small. The game requires and rewards coordination and agility, not
brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse.
An exhilarating sport, lacrosse is fast-paced and full of action. Long
sprints up and down the field with abrupt starts and stops, precision
passes, and dodges are routine in men's and women's lacrosse. Lacrosse
is played with a stick, the crosse, which must be mastered by the
player to throw, catch, and scoop the ball.
Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the
United States. Youth membership (ages 15 and under) in US Lacrosse has
more than tripled since 1999 from 40,000 to over 125,000. No sport has
grown faster at the high school level over the last 10 years and there
are now an estimated 169,000 high school players. Lacrosse is also the
fastest-growing sport over the last five years at the NCAA level and
that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are more than 400 college
club programs, the majority of which compete under the umbrella of US
Lacrosse and its "intercollegiate associates" level.
LACROSSE EQUIPMENT
The rules of lacrosse for boys and girls are very different and require much different types of pads equipment.
The boys wear a lot of
protective gear that is required that include a helmet, shoulder pads,
elbow pads, gloves, and mouth guard. Suggested equipment include a cup,
cleats (soccer, football, or lacrosse) and any athletic gear you are
comfortable wearing. Despite what many people think you do not wear
anything on your legs. Every player is required to have a stick that
meet the approved specifications.
The girls wear eye protection
and a mouth guard. Other then that, they can wear hand protection but
it is not required since there is far less contact then the boys. Every
girl needs a girl’s lacrosse stick which have different requirements
then the boys.
THE
RULES AND POSITIONS
MEN'S LACROSSE POSITIONS
Attack: The attackman's
responsibility is to score goals. The attackman generally restricts his
play to the offensive end of the field. A good attackman demonstrates
excellent stick work with both hands and has quick feet to maneuver
around the goal. Each team should have three attackmen on the field
during play.
Midfield: The midfielder's
responsibility is to cover the entire field, playing both offense and
defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often
called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense. A good
midfielder demonstrates good stick work including throwing, catching
and scooping. Speed and stamina are essential. Each team should have
three midfielders on the field.
Defense: The defenseman's
responsibility is to defend the goal. The defenseman generally
restricts his play to the defensive end of the field. A good defenseman
should be able to react quickly in game situations. Agility and
aggressiveness are necessary, but great stick work is not essential to
be effective. Each team should have three defensemen on the field.
Goal: The goalie's
responsibility is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from
scoring. A good goalie also leads the defense by reading the situation
and directing the defensemen to react. A good goalie should have
excellent hand/eye coordination and a strong voice. Quickness, agility,
confidence and the ability to concentrate are also essential. Each team
has one goalie in the goal during play.
MEN'S LACROSSE RULES
Men's lacrosse is a contact game played by ten players: a
goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen. The
object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The
team scoring the most goals wins.
Each team must keep at least four players, including the
goalie, in its defensive half of the field and three in its offensive
half. Three players (midfielders) may roam the entire field.
Collegiate games are 60 minutes long, with 15-minute quarters.
Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 12-minute
quarters. Likewise, youth games are 32 minutes long, with eight-minute
quarters. Each team is given a two-minute break between the first and
second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. Halftime is ten
minutes long.
Teams change sides between periods. Each team is permitted two
timeouts each half. The team winning the coin toss chooses the end of
the field it wants to defend first.
The players take their positions on the field: four in the
defensive clearing area, one at the center, two in the wing areas and
three in their attack goal area.
Men's lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed
between the sticks of two squatting players at the center of the field.
The official blows the whistle to begin play. Each face-off player
tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can run after
the ball when the whistle sounds. The other players must wait until one
player has gained possession of the ball, or the ball has crossed a
goal area line, before they can release.
Center face-offs are also used at the start of each quarter
and after a goal is scored. Field players must use their crosses to
pass, catch and run with the ball. Only the goalkeeper may touch the
ball with his hands. A player may gain possession of the ball by
dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a stick check. A stick
check is the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and gloved
hands of the player in possession of the ball.
Body checking is permitted if the opponent has the ball or is
within five yards of a loose ball. All body contact must occur from the
front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders, and with both
hands on the stick. An opponent's crosse may also be stick checked if
it is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the air. Aggressive
body checking is discouraged.
If the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes out of
bounds, the other team is awarded possession. If the ball goes out of
bounds after an unsuccessful shot, the player nearest to the ball when
and where it goes out of bounds is awarded possession.
An attacking player cannot enter the crease around the goal, but may reach in with his stick to scoop a loose ball.
A referee, umpire and field judge supervise field play. A chief bench official, timekeepers and scorers assist
MEN'S LACROSSE PERSONAL AND TECHNICAL FOULS
There are personal fouls and technical fouls in boy's lacrosse.
The penalty for a personal foul results in a one to three minute
suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled.
Players with five personal fouls are ejected from the game. The penalty
for a technical foul is a thirty-second suspension if a team is in
possession of the ball when the foul is committed, or possession of the
ball to the team that was fouled if there was no possession when the
foul was committed.
Personal Fouls
Slashing: Occurs when a player's stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.
Tripping: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the crosse, hands, arms, feet or legs.
Cross Checking: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his crosse between his hands to make contact with an opponent.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Occurs
when any player or coach commits an act which is considered
unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, arguing, or obscene
language or gestures.
Unnecessary Roughness: Occurs when a player strikes an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force.
Illegal Crosse: Occurs when a
player uses a crosse that does not conform to required specifications.
A crosse may be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if any other
part of the crosse was altered to gain an advantage.
Illegal Body Checking: Occurs when any of the following actions takes place:
a. body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within five yards of a loose ball.
b. avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball.
c. body checking an opponent from the rear or at or below the waist.
d. body checking an opponent above the shoulders. A body check must
be below the shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of the
player applying the body check must remain in contact with his crosse.
LEAGUES
The best way to get started playing lacrosse is in
the South Swell Lacrosse League. This league involves a lot of
instruction and game play at the same time.
You can find information at the following link:
http://eteamz.active.com/southswell
CAMPS
There are many camps out there for you to choose from so we have narrowed it down to one.
You can find information at the following link:
http://www.adrenalinelacrosse.com/index.php
CLUB TEAMS
Lacrosse does not end with your school season any
more. The Starz League is a great way to keep the stick in your hand
year round.
You can find information on Starz Lacrosse Clubs at the following link:
http://www.starzlax.com
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