LYSA Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a native-American game that requires speed, agility, teamwork, and endurance. It combines the fast-paced action of basketball, excitement of ice hockey, and field-sense of soccer to create a unique game for players and spectators alike. Anyone can play lacrosse, regardless of size or stature. The game requires and rewards coordination and agility, not brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in this exhilarating game. 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 varies from other sports in that the rules of the game are very different for men and women. Men’s lacrosse is a contact sport and the men wear full protective equipment including helmets, shoulder pads, arm pads, and gloves. There is no contact in the women’s game, and women’s style of play remains truer to the original native-American game.

There are 10 players on a men’s lacrosse team, including 3 attack, 4 defense, and 3 midfield players. Goals are placed 80 yards apart on a field with clearly defined boundaries. Game times vary depending upon level of play (collegiate, high school, or youth), but games are always played in 4 quarters.

Women compete with 12 players on a team, including 7 defense and 5 attack players. Goals are placed a minimum of 100 yards apart and boundaries are determined by the natural restrictions of the field. There are visual guidelines on the side of the field that are in place to provide a consistent indicator to the officials of what is considered the playing field. Similar to men’s lacrosse, game times vary depending upon level of play, but games are played in halves versus quarters.

There are many other differences between men’s and women’s lacrosse; both games should be respected and the integrity of each upheld so that the wonderful distinctions between the two games can be honored.