What Boys Can Learn From Girls’ Lacrosse


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/.

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158 Comments

  1. A Laxer on June 1, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    I believe that boys lacrosse is more physical and harder at some points. But stick skills are more essential in girls. But I do respect both sports, boys more because I play it.

  2. A Laxer on June 1, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    I believe that boys lacrosse is more physical and harder at some points. But stick skills are more essential in girls. But I do respect both sports, boys more because I play it.

  3. A Laxer on June 1, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    I believe that boys lacrosse is more physical and harder at some points. But stick skills are more essential in girls. But I do respect both sports, boys more because I play it.

  4. Katelyn Avery on March 9, 2014 at 1:40 am

    Women’s lacrosse seems fun, but I won’t play because of the skirts. Same as field hockey, and those stupid elastic shorts in volleyball. Whose the sicko who won’t change the rules?

  5. Nathan on August 27, 2013 at 3:10 am

    How do you take the ball in girls lacrosse? Besides the offensive player just screwing up…

  6. Nathan on August 27, 2013 at 3:10 am

    How do you take the ball in girls lacrosse? Besides the offensive player just screwing up…

    • Katelyn Avery on March 9, 2014 at 1:38 am

      You can check the other persons stick. Same as the guys, it can’t be between the hands.

    • Katelyn Avery on March 9, 2014 at 1:38 am

      You can check the other persons stick. Same as the guys, it can’t be between the hands.

    • Katelyn Avery on March 9, 2014 at 1:38 am

      You can check the other persons stick. Same as the guys, it can’t be between the hands.

    • Katelyn Avery on March 9, 2014 at 1:38 am

      You can check the other persons stick. Same as the guys, it can’t be between the hands.

    • Katelyn Avery on March 9, 2014 at 1:38 am

      You can check the other persons stick. Same as the guys, it can’t be between the hands.

  7. Nathan on August 27, 2013 at 3:10 am

    How do you take the ball in girls lacrosse? Besides the offensive player just screwing up…

  8. Nathan on August 27, 2013 at 3:10 am

    How do you take the ball in girls lacrosse? Besides the offensive player just screwing up…

  9. Nathan on August 27, 2013 at 3:10 am

    How do you take the ball in girls lacrosse? Besides the offensive player just screwing up…

  10. […] on June 18, 2013 by Lacrosse PlaygroundCategories: Womens Lax BALTIMORE, June 18, 2013 — Unbeaten McDonogh (Md.), which concluded its 2013 season by winning its fifth straight Interscholastic Athletic […]

  11. […] for every position, excluding goalie of course.The Arise and Tiva are going to be on display at the Elite 120 Combine in January. The Elite 120 is a cross between a girls lacrosse tournament and an NFL-style combine. […]

  12. Lori on October 19, 2012 at 8:24 pm

    Men or women, Lacrosse is still better than baseball

  13. BuzzK on July 6, 2012 at 3:48 am


    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” – Wow…such BS. Please go re-learn your lax history, as the sport of lacrosse was not intended to be anything like girls lacrosse. The only thing that resembles the original lacrosse are the sticks. 

    I actually respect the stick work required in girls’ lax, but don’t overemphasize things just for the sake of an argument. The truth is, girls lacrosse sucks because of how many safety rules they have. You have to remember, this is lacrosse, not basketball, lacrosse. The message that I get from girls’ lacrosse is that girls aren’t capable of competing with the same tenacity as boys, which is not true. Again, the only thing I respect about girls lacrosse is the stick work, and that’s it. Everything else is a complete joke.

  14. BuzzK on July 6, 2012 at 3:48 am


    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” – Wow…such BS. Please go re-learn your lax history, as the sport of lacrosse was not intended to be anything like girls lacrosse. The only thing that resembles the original lacrosse are the sticks. 

    I actually respect the stick work required in girls’ lax, but don’t overemphasize things just for the sake of an argument. The truth is, girls lacrosse sucks because of how many safety rules they have. You have to remember, this is lacrosse, not basketball, lacrosse. The message that I get from girls’ lacrosse is that girls aren’t capable of competing with the same tenacity as boys, which is not true. Again, the only thing I respect about girls lacrosse is the stick work, and that’s it. Everything else is a complete joke.

  15. Pimp Daddy on May 18, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    Why did people take the time to write essays here

  16. Pimp Daddy on May 18, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    Why did people take the time to write essays here

  17. Anonymous on April 29, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    I’ve never understood why lacrosse has such different rules for men than women. Rules for most other sports are the same – or have only minor differences. The only major women’s sport with radically different rules is baseball/softball. The rules of women’s lacrosse restrict the athleticism of the players too much. It reminds me of the old archaic rules for women’s basketball that restricted players to only one side of the half court line. Once women started playing hoops by the men’s rules, the sports popularity exploded. Same thing with hockey. Women play by the men’s rules, including the physical checking style. Woman’s hockey is now growing quickly too.

    Bottom line, women and men should play by the same set of lacrosse rules.

  18. Bob on April 28, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    I can’t believe I wasted 5 minutes reading this crap. Only thing we can learn from girls is how to cook and clean. Get off the field and back in the kitchen ladies.

    • Mary on April 28, 2012 at 11:30 pm

      Bob your mother would be proud. 

  19. ncc80 on April 27, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    I couldn’t read all the childish posts but as a guy who played lacrosse in the 70’s and still plays pickup now (sometimes with current MLL players and D1 captains) who has also coached boys and girls lax – I think the boys here don’t understand the girls game at all. As a coach, I didn’t worry if a boy got run over on the field or took a hard shot or a stick to the head because the boy is wearing an excessive amount of modern padding and.a protective helmet (not a bucket).  Although the girls are not supposed to check each other – they do wind up running each other over at full speed, taking sticks to the head, and catching lacrosse balls with their faces wearing only eye goggles – and they usually just play on after. Those of us who played playground basketball around new york city (or any other competitive spot) understand that you can get bones broken playing a game even if the rules don’t allow body checking and equipment.  the fact is, you have to be tough to play the girl’s game as well s the boy’s game (although some of us oldschooler’s would say you have to be less tough now to play the boy’s game than 30 years ago – unnecessary roughness?? – when did they start calling that one???).  I still have a couple of my 1970’s SL2’s and I consider that stick about halfway between a modern boy’s and girl’s pocket.  You barely have to know how to cradle with a modern boy’s stick but you definitely need to know how to cradle with a girl’s. I just hope that one day you boy’s grow up and see differences for what they really are instead of what your fragile ego projects them to be – now go play some D without your helmet and pads and have some real fun.

  20. ncc80 on April 27, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    I couldn’t read all the childish posts but as a guy who played lacrosse in the 70’s and still plays pickup now (sometimes with current MLL players and D1 captains) who has also coached boys and girls lax – I think the boys here don’t understand the girls game at all. As a coach, I didn’t worry if a boy got run over on the field or took a hard shot or a stick to the head because the boy is wearing an excessive amount of modern padding and.a protective helmet (not a bucket).  Although the girls are not supposed to check each other – they do wind up running each other over at full speed, taking sticks to the head, and catching lacrosse balls with their faces wearing only eye goggles – and they usually just play on after. Those of us who played playground basketball around new york city (or any other competitive spot) understand that you can get bones broken playing a game even if the rules don’t allow body checking and equipment.  the fact is, you have to be tough to play the girl’s game as well s the boy’s game (although some of us oldschooler’s would say you have to be less tough now to play the boy’s game than 30 years ago – unnecessary roughness?? – when did they start calling that one???).  I still have a couple of my 1970’s SL2’s and I consider that stick about halfway between a modern boy’s and girl’s pocket.  You barely have to know how to cradle with a modern boy’s stick but you definitely need to know how to cradle with a girl’s. I just hope that one day you boy’s grow up and see differences for what they really are instead of what your fragile ego projects them to be – now go play some D without your helmet and pads and have some real fun.

  21. mcherenson on April 27, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    The original Lacrosse IQ Blog from Building Block Lacrosse posted a reply to this comment thread. Click here to see it: 
    http://bblax.com/lacrosse_IQ/2012/04/27/boys-learn-comments-blog-post-girls-lacrosse/

  22. Ripthegnar on April 27, 2012 at 3:19 am

    I’m pretty sure the sport’s earliest history was kill the enemy. girls lacrosse could not be farther from that. The communication needed in any sport is necessary, girls lacrosse doesn’t enhance your ability to speak to your teammates. Girls do need skill to cradle however the lack of contact does not enhance a girls positioning or location skills. If they keep their stick in one place, they can’t be touched and can run through everybody. I agree girls need to be masters at positioning, however positioning is a major aspect in guys lacrosse as well. The contact isn’t a major part of the defense, as many successful defenders don’t utilize contact.

    They are not comparable as the same sport. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges, the only similarities are the goals and the concepts. Otherwise they are different.

  23. Ripthegnar on April 27, 2012 at 3:19 am

    I’m pretty sure the sport’s earliest history was kill the enemy. girls lacrosse could not be farther from that. The communication needed in any sport is necessary, girls lacrosse doesn’t enhance your ability to speak to your teammates. Girls do need skill to cradle however the lack of contact does not enhance a girls positioning or location skills. If they keep their stick in one place, they can’t be touched and can run through everybody. I agree girls need to be masters at positioning, however positioning is a major aspect in guys lacrosse as well. The contact isn’t a major part of the defense, as many successful defenders don’t utilize contact.

    They are not comparable as the same sport. Comparing the two is like comparing apples to oranges, the only similarities are the goals and the concepts. Otherwise they are different.

  24. Guest on April 27, 2012 at 1:13 am

    As a mother of 2 young girls who play lacrosse, and love it,  I am appauled and disgusted by some of the comments that have been made by ignorant young men.  I would love to see the young punks who have posted such mean and hurtful things play with the sticks that the girls play with today.  They wouldn’t stand a chance.
    My girls play for the love of the game, and they play to be their very best.  The game of Lacrosse is made up of family….both boys and girls.  We should respect each side of it, learn from it, and support it.
    Its all about “One Love” nothing more, nothing less. 
    Shame on those who disrespect the game, and who disrespect these young ladies who strive to be their very best.  They work just as hard as the men, maybe even harder because it just doesn’t come that easy for them.

  25. Guest on April 27, 2012 at 1:13 am

    As a mother of 2 young girls who play lacrosse, and love it,  I am appauled and disgusted by some of the comments that have been made by ignorant young men.  I would love to see the young punks who have posted such mean and hurtful things play with the sticks that the girls play with today.  They wouldn’t stand a chance.
    My girls play for the love of the game, and they play to be their very best.  The game of Lacrosse is made up of family….both boys and girls.  We should respect each side of it, learn from it, and support it.
    Its all about “One Love” nothing more, nothing less. 
    Shame on those who disrespect the game, and who disrespect these young ladies who strive to be their very best.  They work just as hard as the men, maybe even harder because it just doesn’t come that easy for them.

  26. Guest on April 27, 2012 at 1:13 am

    As a mother of 2 young girls who play lacrosse, and love it,  I am appauled and disgusted by some of the comments that have been made by ignorant young men.  I would love to see the young punks who have posted such mean and hurtful things play with the sticks that the girls play with today.  They wouldn’t stand a chance.
    My girls play for the love of the game, and they play to be their very best.  The game of Lacrosse is made up of family….both boys and girls.  We should respect each side of it, learn from it, and support it.
    Its all about “One Love” nothing more, nothing less. 
    Shame on those who disrespect the game, and who disrespect these young ladies who strive to be their very best.  They work just as hard as the men, maybe even harder because it just doesn’t come that easy for them.

  27. Guest on April 27, 2012 at 1:13 am

    As a mother of 2 young girls who play lacrosse, and love it,  I am appauled and disgusted by some of the comments that have been made by ignorant young men.  I would love to see the young punks who have posted such mean and hurtful things play with the sticks that the girls play with today.  They wouldn’t stand a chance.
    My girls play for the love of the game, and they play to be their very best.  The game of Lacrosse is made up of family….both boys and girls.  We should respect each side of it, learn from it, and support it.
    Its all about “One Love” nothing more, nothing less. 
    Shame on those who disrespect the game, and who disrespect these young ladies who strive to be their very best.  They work just as hard as the men, maybe even harder because it just doesn’t come that easy for them.

  28. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    As a female college lacrosse player, it is so hurtful when guys are saying that women’s lacrosse isn’t a sport. I am FULLY aware of the ridiculous rules, dumb skirts and differences between the two games. I challenge any male player to attempt playing under our rules and with our sticks and not get frustrated. You don’t think that we would prefer to put on some pads and have the opportunity to hit each other they way you do? We we love that chance, but we’re not going to get it, so we work with what we have. We are athletes and it takes skill and practice to play the way we do. You pigs are probably the same people that think women belong in the kitchen.
    get a fucking clue.

    • your future ex-husband on April 26, 2012 at 10:44 pm

       either that or the laundry room

    • your future ex-husband on April 26, 2012 at 10:44 pm

       either that or the laundry room

    • Laxerrrr on May 5, 2012 at 3:34 am

      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

    • Laxerrrr on May 5, 2012 at 3:34 am

      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

  29. Brolax19 on April 26, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    I’m sorry but girls lacrosse just can’t compare to the male version. I’m not saying it isn’t a good sport but when my college can invite anyone to join a team and have people pick up and almost master the sport in the matter of weeks. It’s not sexist not ignorant but i dont feel that men can learn a whole lot from the women’s game

  30. Brolax19 on April 26, 2012 at 7:29 pm

    I’m sorry but girls lacrosse just can’t compare to the male version. I’m not saying it isn’t a good sport but when my college can invite anyone to join a team and have people pick up and almost master the sport in the matter of weeks. It’s not sexist not ignorant but i dont feel that men can learn a whole lot from the women’s game

  31. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    Men don’t like Women’s Lax for two reasons pertaining to defense:

    1. It is virtually impossible to actually play defense without getting a penalty, so men get frustrated when offensive players don’t just run by the defender.
    2. On the flip side, defenders are protected by rules about shooting space and dangerous shots, which prevents the offensive player from making what men consider “logical” moves/shots.

    The frustration for men is that while the women’s rules are made for safety, they don’t seem to make sense when you think about “sport”. If the idea is to get the ball in the goal, why can’t I shoot it whenever I want, regardless of who is in the way? Or, if I am a defender, why can’t I physically keep a player from getting closer to the goal?

    The rules come off almost as rules for the sake of having rules (not saying that’s the case, but I have heard this said).

  32. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    Men don’t like Women’s Lax for two reasons pertaining to defense:

    1. It is virtually impossible to actually play defense without getting a penalty, so men get frustrated when offensive players don’t just run by the defender.
    2. On the flip side, defenders are protected by rules about shooting space and dangerous shots, which prevents the offensive player from making what men consider “logical” moves/shots.

    The frustration for men is that while the women’s rules are made for safety, they don’t seem to make sense when you think about “sport”. If the idea is to get the ball in the goal, why can’t I shoot it whenever I want, regardless of who is in the way? Or, if I am a defender, why can’t I physically keep a player from getting closer to the goal?

    The rules come off almost as rules for the sake of having rules (not saying that’s the case, but I have heard this said).

  33. The Best on April 26, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    Let’s be honest…if I was a great sport, MEN would play it. This is a mans world. Yes it’s sexist but true. Men are smarter, faster, quicker, stronger. 

  34. The Best on April 26, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    Let’s be honest…if I was a great sport, MEN would play it. This is a mans world. Yes it’s sexist but true. Men are smarter, faster, quicker, stronger. 

  35. The Best on April 26, 2012 at 6:29 pm

    Let’s be honest…if I was a great sport, MEN would play it. This is a mans world. Yes it’s sexist but true. Men are smarter, faster, quicker, stronger. 

    • Gabby on April 27, 2012 at 12:29 am

      you my friend are simply ignorant, I wish you the best of luck in life because with that low of brain capacity, you are bound to need all the luck you can get.

    • Gabby on April 27, 2012 at 12:29 am

      you my friend are simply ignorant, I wish you the best of luck in life because with that low of brain capacity, you are bound to need all the luck you can get.

    • Gabby on April 27, 2012 at 12:29 am

      you my friend are simply ignorant, I wish you the best of luck in life because with that low of brain capacity, you are bound to need all the luck you can get.

  36. ALL AMERICAN on April 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    Girls lacrosse isn’t a sport, it’s a JOKE! 

  37. ALL AMERICAN on April 26, 2012 at 6:22 pm

    Girls lacrosse isn’t a sport, it’s a JOKE! 

    • Aisha Sheikh (GK) on April 27, 2012 at 9:38 pm

      Really? Have you played it before? Do you know how hard it is? How much skill women’s lacrosse really is? 

  38. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    There are several arguments made in this post that I disagree with completely. First off, men’s sticks and women’s sticks throw and catch almost identically. When women’s heads started using new technologies to enable deeper pockets and increased ball control, while still being legal, they rendered the argument that women’s sticks are more difficult to manage obsolete. Regardless of that a good lacrosse player can quickly adjust and perform the same with a girl’s stick. Regarding the argument that women’s lacrosse is closer to the original game, though there are certainly some aspects that are (i.e. no pads and no boundaries until recently) similar women’s lacrosse is entirely different than the original game. Set aside the obvious difference that is the brutality of the Native American game, women’s lacrosse was actually created in Scotland and was based off of field hockey. Another argument that I take particular offense to, being a close defenseman/LSM, is that women’s lacrosse requires better defensive skill. Certainly there are aspects of the defensive game in women’s lacrosse that limit the defenders ability to prevent the offense from scoring, however these are greatly overcome by the rules that incentivize/enable poor defense. I will begin with one of my least favorite rules, the charge call. This occurs when a offensive player knocks over  her defender while dodging. If you get knocked over, run into, or in some instances take a flop (to draw a foul) on a dodge and the person you are guarding beats you then you are a bad defenseman. In men’s lacrosse if this happens you get scored on, in women’s you get rewarded with possession. Another rule that helps the defense is the shooting space rule. Although it is a defensive penalty it prevents the offensive player from shooting the ball because the sliding defensive player is too close. Lastly, there is my absolute least favorite rule, the dangerous shot rule. If you are running with the ball and there is a defender in between you and the goal you must make every effort to go around them before shooting and you hit them with the shot you get a penalty. In men’s lacrosse if you have a shot and the defenseman is in the way you still shoot and if it hits them, it hits them. It gets more ridiculous when shooting from a stationary position, in this instance you must have at least one body length between you and the defender and have a clear lane before shooting. Again this makes defense much easier because all you need to do is get too close to the offensive player and they can’t shoot. The last instance for this rule is, if you decide to shoot the ball into a crowd and it hits another player, you will receive a two-minute minor penalty. Even if you hit an opposing player, including the goalie, with the ball while trying to pass, you will receive a penalty. This brings me to my next point there are equal, if not more, lessons women’s lacrosse players can learn from men’s lacrosse. In particular shooting/passing mechanics, defensive positioning, and dodging. For example, the women’s lacrosse team at my college is taught to throw and shoot from the shoulder using a pushing motion, this decreases both power and accuracy. To properly throw and shoot you should be using your entire upper body and legs, pushing off from your back leg forwards to your front leg, corking you torso and following through with your arm coming over the top ending with your stick on the opposite side of your body (if you are throwing with your right hand the stick should be next to your left leg). As far as defensive positioning goes do not rely on the charge rule when defending up top, instead, approach from and angle, match hips with them and drive them down the alley. When dodging from up top if they come at you with square shoulders pull out to the top of the box sprint straight at them throw a head fake to one side and then split off the defenders opposite hip. I taught all of these to my girlfriend and she scored nine goals with three assists in one game in high school before going on to become one of the top players on her college team. Are there lessons for men’s lacrosse players to be learned from the women’s game, yes. Are there lessons for women’s players that can be learned from the men’s game, again yes. However, these can be learned more effectively through through good coaches teaching skills that are relevant to both sports, because after all the fundamentals that make a good men’s lacrosse player make a good women’s lacrosse player and vice versa.   

  39. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    There are several arguments made in this post that I disagree with completely. First off, men’s sticks and women’s sticks throw and catch almost identically. When women’s heads started using new technologies to enable deeper pockets and increased ball control, while still being legal, they rendered the argument that women’s sticks are more difficult to manage obsolete. Regardless of that a good lacrosse player can quickly adjust and perform the same with a girl’s stick. Regarding the argument that women’s lacrosse is closer to the original game, though there are certainly some aspects that are (i.e. no pads and no boundaries until recently) similar women’s lacrosse is entirely different than the original game. Set aside the obvious difference that is the brutality of the Native American game, women’s lacrosse was actually created in Scotland and was based off of field hockey. Another argument that I take particular offense to, being a close defenseman/LSM, is that women’s lacrosse requires better defensive skill. Certainly there are aspects of the defensive game in women’s lacrosse that limit the defenders ability to prevent the offense from scoring, however these are greatly overcome by the rules that incentivize/enable poor defense. I will begin with one of my least favorite rules, the charge call. This occurs when a offensive player knocks over  her defender while dodging. If you get knocked over, run into, or in some instances take a flop (to draw a foul) on a dodge and the person you are guarding beats you then you are a bad defenseman. In men’s lacrosse if this happens you get scored on, in women’s you get rewarded with possession. Another rule that helps the defense is the shooting space rule. Although it is a defensive penalty it prevents the offensive player from shooting the ball because the sliding defensive player is too close. Lastly, there is my absolute least favorite rule, the dangerous shot rule. If you are running with the ball and there is a defender in between you and the goal you must make every effort to go around them before shooting and you hit them with the shot you get a penalty. In men’s lacrosse if you have a shot and the defenseman is in the way you still shoot and if it hits them, it hits them. It gets more ridiculous when shooting from a stationary position, in this instance you must have at least one body length between you and the defender and have a clear lane before shooting. Again this makes defense much easier because all you need to do is get too close to the offensive player and they can’t shoot. The last instance for this rule is, if you decide to shoot the ball into a crowd and it hits another player, you will receive a two-minute minor penalty. Even if you hit an opposing player, including the goalie, with the ball while trying to pass, you will receive a penalty. This brings me to my next point there are equal, if not more, lessons women’s lacrosse players can learn from men’s lacrosse. In particular shooting/passing mechanics, defensive positioning, and dodging. For example, the women’s lacrosse team at my college is taught to throw and shoot from the shoulder using a pushing motion, this decreases both power and accuracy. To properly throw and shoot you should be using your entire upper body and legs, pushing off from your back leg forwards to your front leg, corking you torso and following through with your arm coming over the top ending with your stick on the opposite side of your body (if you are throwing with your right hand the stick should be next to your left leg). As far as defensive positioning goes do not rely on the charge rule when defending up top, instead, approach from and angle, match hips with them and drive them down the alley. When dodging from up top if they come at you with square shoulders pull out to the top of the box sprint straight at them throw a head fake to one side and then split off the defenders opposite hip. I taught all of these to my girlfriend and she scored nine goals with three assists in one game in high school before going on to become one of the top players on her college team. Are there lessons for men’s lacrosse players to be learned from the women’s game, yes. Are there lessons for women’s players that can be learned from the men’s game, again yes. However, these can be learned more effectively through through good coaches teaching skills that are relevant to both sports, because after all the fundamentals that make a good men’s lacrosse player make a good women’s lacrosse player and vice versa.   

  40. Andrewhwagner on April 26, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    Girls lacrosse is nothing more then organized freeze tag, girls and boys lacrosse shouldn’t even be compared. 

    this is what girls lacrosse sounds like to me…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feTytlRd2KY&feature=related

  41. Kristopher Hovland on April 26, 2012 at 4:56 pm


    This lack of pocket depth forces girls to be more aware of where the ball is” That’s because girls don’t have to worry about a 250 pound kid charging at them. The boys lax I played was brutal and is almost a completely different sport then girls lax.

    GUESS THAT MAKES ME SEXIST HUH

  42. Kristopher Hovland on April 26, 2012 at 4:56 pm


    This lack of pocket depth forces girls to be more aware of where the ball is” That’s because girls don’t have to worry about a 250 pound kid charging at them. The boys lax I played was brutal and is almost a completely different sport then girls lax.

    GUESS THAT MAKES ME SEXIST HUH

  43. Abraham Lincoln on April 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    As much as respect women’s lacrosse and agree that it does take a lot of skill and endurance to play. To say and argue that it is the purer form of the game is a fucking joke. No contact and penalty shots, can you even imagine how high scoring men’s lacrosse would be with those kind of rules. This is not to diss women’s lacrosse, but we have an old saying when girls say that they play lacrosse, “no you don’t, you play girl’s lacrosse, there’s a difference”. It goes both ways, just as hard it is for a guy to you a girls stick, it is equally difficult for women to use a men’s stick, they throw straight into the ground. This article completely discredits the skill and hardwork it takes to make it in lacrosse at any level. 

    The two sports are equally challenging, you cannot compare to unlike things, they are so different it’s like comparing apples to oranges. 

  44. Abraham Lincoln on April 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    As much as respect women’s lacrosse and agree that it does take a lot of skill and endurance to play. To say and argue that it is the purer form of the game is a fucking joke. No contact and penalty shots, can you even imagine how high scoring men’s lacrosse would be with those kind of rules. This is not to diss women’s lacrosse, but we have an old saying when girls say that they play lacrosse, “no you don’t, you play girl’s lacrosse, there’s a difference”. It goes both ways, just as hard it is for a guy to you a girls stick, it is equally difficult for women to use a men’s stick, they throw straight into the ground. This article completely discredits the skill and hardwork it takes to make it in lacrosse at any level. 

    The two sports are equally challenging, you cannot compare to unlike things, they are so different it’s like comparing apples to oranges. 

  45. Abraham Lincoln on April 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    As much as respect women’s lacrosse and agree that it does take a lot of skill and endurance to play. To say and argue that it is the purer form of the game is a fucking joke. No contact and penalty shots, can you even imagine how high scoring men’s lacrosse would be with those kind of rules. This is not to diss women’s lacrosse, but we have an old saying when girls say that they play lacrosse, “no you don’t, you play girl’s lacrosse, there’s a difference”. It goes both ways, just as hard it is for a guy to you a girls stick, it is equally difficult for women to use a men’s stick, they throw straight into the ground. This article completely discredits the skill and hardwork it takes to make it in lacrosse at any level. 

    The two sports are equally challenging, you cannot compare to unlike things, they are so different it’s like comparing apples to oranges. 

  46. Abraham Lincoln on April 26, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    As much as respect women’s lacrosse and agree that it does take a lot of skill and endurance to play. To say and argue that it is the purer form of the game is a fucking joke. No contact and penalty shots, can you even imagine how high scoring men’s lacrosse would be with those kind of rules. This is not to diss women’s lacrosse, but we have an old saying when girls say that they play lacrosse, “no you don’t, you play girl’s lacrosse, there’s a difference”. It goes both ways, just as hard it is for a guy to you a girls stick, it is equally difficult for women to use a men’s stick, they throw straight into the ground. This article completely discredits the skill and hardwork it takes to make it in lacrosse at any level. 

    The two sports are equally challenging, you cannot compare to unlike things, they are so different it’s like comparing apples to oranges. 

  47. Bombers 5 on April 26, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    I completely agree with Celticlaxer, my lax has improved exponentially by coaching womens lacosse as well as using a womens stick. some of the games all time greats have moved into coaching womens lacrosse. Also my ball handling has got beter using a ladies stick and dont underestimate how much more power you can get once you have mastered how to throw a decent speed shot with a womens stick.

    finally I am saddened to be associated with lacrosse if playing mens means I am associated with some of the posts on here. I dont see women padding up with huge gloves, helmets etc but they use the same ball and some can throw some serious fire. 

    both mens and womens deserve respect for the skills they both require!

  48. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    It took me a while to really understand the girls game, but it really is a great sport.  There’s a ton of intricacies that are overlooked in the men’s game since they are overshadowed by physicality.  I actually liked when out of bounds was a guide rather than a rule. 

    The one thing that still annoys me about the women’s game is the freeze rule.

  49. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    It took me a while to really understand the girls game, but it really is a great sport.  There’s a ton of intricacies that are overlooked in the men’s game since they are overshadowed by physicality.  I actually liked when out of bounds was a guide rather than a rule. 

    The one thing that still annoys me about the women’s game is the freeze rule.

  50. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    It took me a while to really understand the girls game, but it really is a great sport.  There’s a ton of intricacies that are overlooked in the men’s game since they are overshadowed by physicality.  I actually liked when out of bounds was a guide rather than a rule. 

    The one thing that still annoys me about the women’s game is the freeze rule.

  51. Mike Tobin on April 26, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    Listen up “lax bro’s”.  As a guy who grew up playing lacrosse, I never gave the girls game a second of my time, other than watching the girls in “skirts”.  Now, a little more than 10 years later, I’m a HS girls lacrosse coach and I’ve got a whole new appreciation for the girls game.  Don’t just write the girls game off so quickly and sound like an immature “bro”.  Time to grow up boys. 
     
    The girls game is a purer form of lacrosse, to baggataway, then the current guys game.  Someone already commented that the guys game was played to settle wars and was many miles long.  True, it was, but it was also played to help cure the sick on reservations.  Native American tribes played the game and believed that the harder they played, the better the sick would feel.  So it’s not just about war.
     
    Before I get to the girls game, I love watching the guys game and watch all the games on TV that are shown, so I’m by no means, against the guys game.  They are both great games to watch.  I also still play the guys game, field and box, so I’m around both games, a lot. 
     
    Back to the girls game.  Excellent post by the way LPG.  On the defensive side of the field, the girls game is very similar to basketball in that, you need proper feet positioning and stick position, if not, you’ll get beat, and you don’t have a 6′ pole to cover your mistakes.  Yes there are a lot of rules in the girls game and it makes it inherently more difficult to be a defensive player in the girls game, but there is nothing better than watching a team defense in the girls game.  The slides/crashes on the ball carrier, making sure you aren’t in “shooting space” and having the right positioning, make it extremely difficult.  Not that the guys defensive game isn’t difficult either, but that 6′ pole really gives you a lot of room for error.  The point, guys defensive players can learn from their girl counterparts, on body positioning, to be a better player.
     
    The offensive side of the ball in the girls game is a lot different.  Not only with all of the rules that the defender has to play by, but girls aren’t shooting from outside of the 8m arc.  So there’s a more creative aspect to getting open in the girls game.  Girls just can’t dodge from up top, get a step on their defender and rip it from 15 yards out (I know that’s not the only way to score in the guys game).  Girls have to set multiple picks at times, protect their stick and get a shot off, all within a much smaller area and usually with more defenders around them.  The team I coach, we play a form of a zone defense, so we’re packed in tight on the 8m arc and it makes it extremely difficult to get inside of the 8m, catch a pass and shoot, without hitting a defender with the ball or your stick on the follow through. 
     
    This also makes goalie play in the girls game different.  95% of the shots a goalie sees in the girls game is within 5 yards of the crease.  Granted, girls goalies don’t worry about an 80mph shot from outside, so I’m not going to say which is tougher to play.  Being a lacrosse goalie is crazy for both genders. 

    Being a girls lacrosse coach has helped me becoming a better player, especially on the defensive side of the field.  I’ve also become a better ball handler, because when I coach the girls game and warm up our goalies, I use a girls stick.  Cradling, passing and shooting with a girls stick is more difficult.  The release point on a girls stick is higher in the pocket and a pass can sail on you very easily if you aren’t paying attention to where the ball is sitting in the pocket.  I challenge any guy to practice with a girls stick, I promise you, you will become a better ball handler. 

    So guys, don’t just dismiss this post with some immature reply.  Learn to appreciate the girls game for what it is.  I can’t think of any other sport that is played by both men and women, that has so many diferences, but are both great sports to watch and play.  Remember, lacrosse is a community, there’s no need to disrespect the other, because you don’t understand it. 

  52. Mike Tobin on April 26, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    Listen up “lax bro’s”.  As a guy who grew up playing lacrosse, I never gave the girls game a second of my time, other than watching the girls in “skirts”.  Now, a little more than 10 years later, I’m a HS girls lacrosse coach and I’ve got a whole new appreciation for the girls game.  Don’t just write the girls game off so quickly and sound like an immature “bro”.  Time to grow up boys. 
     
    The girls game is a purer form of lacrosse, to baggataway, then the current guys game.  Someone already commented that the guys game was played to settle wars and was many miles long.  True, it was, but it was also played to help cure the sick on reservations.  Native American tribes played the game and believed that the harder they played, the better the sick would feel.  So it’s not just about war.
     
    Before I get to the girls game, I love watching the guys game and watch all the games on TV that are shown, so I’m by no means, against the guys game.  They are both great games to watch.  I also still play the guys game, field and box, so I’m around both games, a lot. 
     
    Back to the girls game.  Excellent post by the way LPG.  On the defensive side of the field, the girls game is very similar to basketball in that, you need proper feet positioning and stick position, if not, you’ll get beat, and you don’t have a 6′ pole to cover your mistakes.  Yes there are a lot of rules in the girls game and it makes it inherently more difficult to be a defensive player in the girls game, but there is nothing better than watching a team defense in the girls game.  The slides/crashes on the ball carrier, making sure you aren’t in “shooting space” and having the right positioning, make it extremely difficult.  Not that the guys defensive game isn’t difficult either, but that 6′ pole really gives you a lot of room for error.  The point, guys defensive players can learn from their girl counterparts, on body positioning, to be a better player.
     
    The offensive side of the ball in the girls game is a lot different.  Not only with all of the rules that the defender has to play by, but girls aren’t shooting from outside of the 8m arc.  So there’s a more creative aspect to getting open in the girls game.  Girls just can’t dodge from up top, get a step on their defender and rip it from 15 yards out (I know that’s not the only way to score in the guys game).  Girls have to set multiple picks at times, protect their stick and get a shot off, all within a much smaller area and usually with more defenders around them.  The team I coach, we play a form of a zone defense, so we’re packed in tight on the 8m arc and it makes it extremely difficult to get inside of the 8m, catch a pass and shoot, without hitting a defender with the ball or your stick on the follow through. 
     
    This also makes goalie play in the girls game different.  95% of the shots a goalie sees in the girls game is within 5 yards of the crease.  Granted, girls goalies don’t worry about an 80mph shot from outside, so I’m not going to say which is tougher to play.  Being a lacrosse goalie is crazy for both genders. 

    Being a girls lacrosse coach has helped me becoming a better player, especially on the defensive side of the field.  I’ve also become a better ball handler, because when I coach the girls game and warm up our goalies, I use a girls stick.  Cradling, passing and shooting with a girls stick is more difficult.  The release point on a girls stick is higher in the pocket and a pass can sail on you very easily if you aren’t paying attention to where the ball is sitting in the pocket.  I challenge any guy to practice with a girls stick, I promise you, you will become a better ball handler. 

    So guys, don’t just dismiss this post with some immature reply.  Learn to appreciate the girls game for what it is.  I can’t think of any other sport that is played by both men and women, that has so many diferences, but are both great sports to watch and play.  Remember, lacrosse is a community, there’s no need to disrespect the other, because you don’t understand it. 

  53. Dconner1 on April 26, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    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.

  54. Michaelc-m on April 26, 2012 at 3:11 pm

    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.

    • Zdblax33 on April 26, 2012 at 3:48 pm

       I agree, it seems that women’s lacrosse has just about the same amount of stoppage as men’s, if not more.

    • Zdblax33 on April 26, 2012 at 3:48 pm

       I agree, it seems that women’s lacrosse has just about the same amount of stoppage as men’s, if not more.

  55. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:57 pm

    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… 

  56. Celticlaxer on April 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, boys.  Nothing- and I mean NOTHING- has done more to make me a better men’s lacrosse player than coaching women’s lacrosse.    (For the record, I’ve played at 4 World Games (3 field, 1 indoor) and currently coach a pro box team.)  
    Pick up a girl’s stick to practice with, or at least tighten the pocket in one of your backup sticks all the way, then do everything you would with your gamer- hit the wall, shoot, do some mess-around dodging with your buddies.  After just a week or two you will have better ball, stick, and field awareness than you ever imagined.

  57. Celticlaxer on April 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, boys.  Nothing- and I mean NOTHING- has done more to make me a better men’s lacrosse player than coaching women’s lacrosse.    (For the record, I’ve played at 4 World Games (3 field, 1 indoor) and currently coach a pro box team.)  
    Pick up a girl’s stick to practice with, or at least tighten the pocket in one of your backup sticks all the way, then do everything you would with your gamer- hit the wall, shoot, do some mess-around dodging with your buddies.  After just a week or two you will have better ball, stick, and field awareness than you ever imagined.

    • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 10:41 pm

       dont do drugs.

    • Confused on May 18, 2012 at 9:29 pm

      Why is there essays on the comment section….

    • Confused on May 18, 2012 at 9:29 pm

      Why is there essays on the comment section….

  58. tisktisk on April 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Oh dear…dont get me wrong but the womens game is a perfectly respectable game without this type of drivel trying to boost its rep, when in fact it all it does is just embarrass it.
    Purer for of the game? What, because is formely had no “official” boundaries? What about physical contact? (girls is non-contact obviously), what about historically only men were permitted to play? Please tell me what else makes the womens game purer, cause id love to know..
    I just realised that I could rip this poor excuse for an article a new one, but just saw the usage of “hyper important” and realised you’re probably some prepubescent kid with too much time on their hands.
    So, let me do your job for you and put foward a case for womens lacrosse.

    ah-hem….

    Womens lacrosse.

    Yeah, we have different rules, different sticks, different ways to play the game. But in the end, its OUR game and we love it. Be it pro, DIII, club, social, JV, peewee, indoor, outdoor, rez ball, mens or womens, in China or in Poland, Lacrosse is Lacrosse. We are all bound by it, and by our love for it. Its gets inside you and wont let go. Thats how I feel about lacrosse and im a woman. If you dont like our game, then you dont really love lacrosse. So stuff you.
    See you on the field.

    There you go, much better. Now Lacrosse playground, stop hiring people who cant write to besmirch your name. It makes you look really bad.

    A concerner laxer.

  59. tisktisk on April 26, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Oh dear…dont get me wrong but the womens game is a perfectly respectable game without this type of drivel trying to boost its rep, when in fact it all it does is just embarrass it.
    Purer for of the game? What, because is formely had no “official” boundaries? What about physical contact? (girls is non-contact obviously), what about historically only men were permitted to play? Please tell me what else makes the womens game purer, cause id love to know..
    I just realised that I could rip this poor excuse for an article a new one, but just saw the usage of “hyper important” and realised you’re probably some prepubescent kid with too much time on their hands.
    So, let me do your job for you and put foward a case for womens lacrosse.

    ah-hem….

    Womens lacrosse.

    Yeah, we have different rules, different sticks, different ways to play the game. But in the end, its OUR game and we love it. Be it pro, DIII, club, social, JV, peewee, indoor, outdoor, rez ball, mens or womens, in China or in Poland, Lacrosse is Lacrosse. We are all bound by it, and by our love for it. Its gets inside you and wont let go. Thats how I feel about lacrosse and im a woman. If you dont like our game, then you dont really love lacrosse. So stuff you.
    See you on the field.

    There you go, much better. Now Lacrosse playground, stop hiring people who cant write to besmirch your name. It makes you look really bad.

    A concerner laxer.

  60. Stinkygear on April 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    Ok this is super lame. The only interesting rule is the one about going out of bounds. “When the whistle is blown to stop the game, girls are not permitted to move.”

    This would result is so many fast breaks in the men’s game.

  61. Stinkygear on April 26, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    Ok this is super lame. The only interesting rule is the one about going out of bounds. “When the whistle is blown to stop the game, girls are not permitted to move.”

    This would result is so many fast breaks in the men’s game.

  62. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  63. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  64. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  65. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  66. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  67. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  68. Psychofreek666 on April 26, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Sadly, i believe that many of the comments below are pretty sexist and ignorant. I can see how the differences work, however, as far as i’m concerned i wonder why there even IS a difference in the game….i don’t see why the games should be any different…

  69. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    The comments on this article are exceptionally harsh given that all it did was state that there are learning points from watching women’s lacrosse.  Discrediting the women’s sport as a whole simply because it is played differently than men’s is just as inappropriate as saying that both men’s and women’s lacrosse players have nothing to learn from one another.  I’ve played lacrosse for more than twenty years, I appreciate both men’s and women’s lacrosse equally despite their differences. The sport is growing worldwide for both men and women because it is entertaining and fun to play for both genders.  The sport is incredibly unique compared to most, and provides individuals at all levels of athleticism an opportunity to play a team sport that is inherently fun.  In my book, a lacrosse player is a lacrosse player whether they are guy or girl.  I’ve been all over the world playing lacrosse, and what I’ve found is that whether it’s a guy or a girl the majority of players share three common characteristics: a desire to be competitive, a desire to play an incredibly awesome sport and to do so while have a lot of fun.  Men and women lacrosse players should mutually support one another above anything else.  Failing to do so only hurts the sport and those who choose to play it.   

  70. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    The comments on this article are exceptionally harsh given that all it did was state that there are learning points from watching women’s lacrosse.  Discrediting the women’s sport as a whole simply because it is played differently than men’s is just as inappropriate as saying that both men’s and women’s lacrosse players have nothing to learn from one another.  I’ve played lacrosse for more than twenty years, I appreciate both men’s and women’s lacrosse equally despite their differences. The sport is growing worldwide for both men and women because it is entertaining and fun to play for both genders.  The sport is incredibly unique compared to most, and provides individuals at all levels of athleticism an opportunity to play a team sport that is inherently fun.  In my book, a lacrosse player is a lacrosse player whether they are guy or girl.  I’ve been all over the world playing lacrosse, and what I’ve found is that whether it’s a guy or a girl the majority of players share three common characteristics: a desire to be competitive, a desire to play an incredibly awesome sport and to do so while have a lot of fun.  Men and women lacrosse players should mutually support one another above anything else.  Failing to do so only hurts the sport and those who choose to play it.   

  71. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    The comments on this article are exceptionally harsh given that all it did was state that there are learning points from watching women’s lacrosse.  Discrediting the women’s sport as a whole simply because it is played differently than men’s is just as inappropriate as saying that both men’s and women’s lacrosse players have nothing to learn from one another.  I’ve played lacrosse for more than twenty years, I appreciate both men’s and women’s lacrosse equally despite their differences. The sport is growing worldwide for both men and women because it is entertaining and fun to play for both genders.  The sport is incredibly unique compared to most, and provides individuals at all levels of athleticism an opportunity to play a team sport that is inherently fun.  In my book, a lacrosse player is a lacrosse player whether they are guy or girl.  I’ve been all over the world playing lacrosse, and what I’ve found is that whether it’s a guy or a girl the majority of players share three common characteristics: a desire to be competitive, a desire to play an incredibly awesome sport and to do so while have a lot of fun.  Men and women lacrosse players should mutually support one another above anything else.  Failing to do so only hurts the sport and those who choose to play it.   

  72. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    The comments on this article are exceptionally harsh given that all it did was state that there are learning points from watching women’s lacrosse.  Discrediting the women’s sport as a whole simply because it is played differently than men’s is just as inappropriate as saying that both men’s and women’s lacrosse players have nothing to learn from one another.  I’ve played lacrosse for more than twenty years, I appreciate both men’s and women’s lacrosse equally despite their differences. The sport is growing worldwide for both men and women because it is entertaining and fun to play for both genders.  The sport is incredibly unique compared to most, and provides individuals at all levels of athleticism an opportunity to play a team sport that is inherently fun.  In my book, a lacrosse player is a lacrosse player whether they are guy or girl.  I’ve been all over the world playing lacrosse, and what I’ve found is that whether it’s a guy or a girl the majority of players share three common characteristics: a desire to be competitive, a desire to play an incredibly awesome sport and to do so while have a lot of fun.  Men and women lacrosse players should mutually support one another above anything else.  Failing to do so only hurts the sport and those who choose to play it.   

  73. Anonymous on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    What a sad collection of comments. The comments alone show the ignorance of most “boys” reading Lacrosse Playground articles… Why don’t you little punks go tell Gary Gait that the girls game is hardly a sport, or some of the “girls” on the national team… They’d school you from one end of the field to the other. It’s comparing apples to oranges. The ONLY similarity is they both have “Lacrosse” in the name and the goals are the same, otherwise they are different. It’s a good thing you can sit behind your computer and type such ignorant things… Surprised by you fools!     RESPECT THE GAME-GROW THE GAME… MEN”S AND WOMEN’S

  74. Anonymous on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    What a sad collection of comments. The comments alone show the ignorance of most “boys” reading Lacrosse Playground articles… Why don’t you little punks go tell Gary Gait that the girls game is hardly a sport, or some of the “girls” on the national team… They’d school you from one end of the field to the other. It’s comparing apples to oranges. The ONLY similarity is they both have “Lacrosse” in the name and the goals are the same, otherwise they are different. It’s a good thing you can sit behind your computer and type such ignorant things… Surprised by you fools!     RESPECT THE GAME-GROW THE GAME… MEN”S AND WOMEN’S

  75. Anonymous on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    What a sad collection of comments. The comments alone show the ignorance of most “boys” reading Lacrosse Playground articles… Why don’t you little punks go tell Gary Gait that the girls game is hardly a sport, or some of the “girls” on the national team… They’d school you from one end of the field to the other. It’s comparing apples to oranges. The ONLY similarity is they both have “Lacrosse” in the name and the goals are the same, otherwise they are different. It’s a good thing you can sit behind your computer and type such ignorant things… Surprised by you fools!     RESPECT THE GAME-GROW THE GAME… MEN”S AND WOMEN’S

  76. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    Wow. The comments on this article are representing male lacrosse players in such a arrogant manner. I don’t understand what the need is to get so defensive. Whether it is men’s or women’s lacrosse, it’s a great sport all around despite the differences. This article is merely just pointing out the differences and positive aspects of women’s lacrosse. You people need to relax.

  77. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    Wow. The comments on this article are representing male lacrosse players in such a arrogant manner. I don’t understand what the need is to get so defensive. Whether it is men’s or women’s lacrosse, it’s a great sport all around despite the differences. This article is merely just pointing out the differences and positive aspects of women’s lacrosse. You people need to relax.

  78. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

    Wow. The comments on this article are representing male lacrosse players in such a arrogant manner. I don’t understand what the need is to get so defensive. Whether it is men’s or women’s lacrosse, it’s a great sport all around despite the differences. This article is merely just pointing out the differences and positive aspects of women’s lacrosse. You people need to relax.

  79. Ian Chadwick on April 26, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I really just want to know how many of the people who commented on this article are under 18 years old….

  80. Ian Chadwick on April 26, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I really just want to know how many of the people who commented on this article are under 18 years old….

    • Laxerrrrr on May 5, 2012 at 3:28 am

      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.

    • Laxerrrrr on May 5, 2012 at 3:28 am

      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.

    • Laxerrrrr on May 5, 2012 at 3:39 am

      sorry ian, i thought you were someone who had previously said rediculous things on this thread… ignore that comment below. i mean it still has good stuff in it haha

  81. Jdc002 on April 26, 2012 at 1:56 pm

    Wow, girls are allowed to have shallower pockets because noone cant touch them. Women’s lacrosse takes zero skill. I’m sorry any sport that has a rule involving the goalie being moved out of the net and allwoing the opposing player to shoot on an open net is ridiculous. Not to mention some people still miss that gal. Women’s lacrosse is boring and will never compare to the Men’s game. Come on, they wear skirts for crying out loud!

    • Ekens13 on April 26, 2012 at 2:29 pm

      Not being able to touch them makes you have to have more skills you dumbass. You can’t just sit there and sack them you have to learn so many things correctly so why dont you stop being ignorant and learn something.

      • ripthegnar on April 27, 2012 at 3:29 am

         it would be alright if there was no contact but you could shoot from anywhere. With girls lacrosse, the dangerous shot rules takes a lot of the skill out of the game. Also, less contact leads to girls knowing where to carry the ball so they cannot be touched.

  82. Pomartin18 on April 26, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    What a JOKE…..woman’s lacrosse is so lame………not exciting and absolutely……BORING. Men’s lacrosse takes a lot of skill and hard work, the woman just run around with their stick up in the air HOPING to catch the ball…..LOL !!! 

  83. Sesh on April 26, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    Hands down the worst post on lacrosseplayground I have read. I am actually disappointed in the crew for this. I am ok with arguments of why which for is better, (though I believe they are almost two different sports) as long as they are valid reason. This is just irrational and incorrect.

    • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 2:10 pm

       worst article i have ever read period.

    • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 2:10 pm

       worst article i have ever read period.

  84. Selina on April 26, 2012 at 2:24 am

    So true!

  85. Joke on April 26, 2012 at 2:11 am

    looks like the author of this is a feminist

  86. Joke on April 26, 2012 at 2:11 am

    looks like the author of this is a feminist

  87. Joke on April 26, 2012 at 2:11 am

    looks like the author of this is a feminist

    • guest92 on April 26, 2012 at 2:19 pm

      no f**king s**t sherlock!!!

    • guest92 on April 26, 2012 at 2:19 pm

      no f**king s**t sherlock!!!

  88. Reichardt on April 26, 2012 at 1:58 am

    Obviously written by a women who doesn’t know much about mens lacrosse or its origins of war on many miles of field.

  89. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 1:56 am

    How can you even compare freeze tag to mens lacrosse! they are two different sports! if you can even call womens lax a sport

  90. Guest on April 26, 2012 at 1:51 am

    Hahahahaha wow this is soooooo fucking dumb

  91. Girlslaxblows on April 25, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    this is a joke

  92. Girlslaxblows on April 25, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    this is a joke

  93. Girlslaxblows on April 25, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    this is a joke

  94. wuddajoke on April 25, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    hahahahahaha

  95. wuddajoke on April 25, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    hahahahahaha

  96. Greyhoundmike on April 25, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    For starters, did you mean basketball or hockey? I think you meant hockey. 2. You didn’t talk about angles, spacing, and the bigger importance of positioning and precise execution.

    Just like women’s basketball in comparison to men’s basketball, physicality is minimized so positioning is far more important. That’s what this article should have been about. 

  97. Greyhoundmike on April 25, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    For starters, did you mean basketball or hockey? I think you meant hockey. 2. You didn’t talk about angles, spacing, and the bigger importance of positioning and precise execution.

    Just like women’s basketball in comparison to men’s basketball, physicality is minimized so positioning is far more important. That’s what this article should have been about. 

  98. Guest on April 25, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    “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.” – WHAT?!? that makes the game harder? lack of physical contact..? seems to me that makes it so you don’t have to worry about getting blind sided by a 250lb defense man. i don’t care that women have their own sports, but please, don’t try to tell people it is more difficult than men’s, because we all know it’s a lie.

    • Meganne on April 26, 2012 at 3:03 am

      This article never said that womens lacrosse is harder than men’s. If you don’t think body poisition and stick skills are important then you have reason to discredit this article, but otherwise if you observe the article more closely, it just shows a positive side of women’s lacrosse that many people tend to mock.

      • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

         meganne, in the nicest way possible, please stop talking. in other words, shut the fuck up girls lacrosse is the worst sport on earth. i would rather watch a marathon.

      • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

         meganne, in the nicest way possible, please stop talking. in other words, shut the fuck up girls lacrosse is the worst sport on earth. i would rather watch a marathon.

        • guest92 on April 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm

          Firstly, I question your judgement as a person for having chosen vanilla fudge over chocolate fudge (ya fraake).

          Secondly, there IS no polite way to tell someone to STFU, so don’t act like you’re not being an absolute CYUNNNNT.
          Lastly, Meganne made an unbelievably true and valid point in reference to the comment above, without the use of verbal abuse (ya slag) so now it’s yourr turn to put your finger over your lips and go sit in the corner. K?
          kthanksbye.

          • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 10:48 pm

             k? did you just use the ‘word’ k?



          • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 10:48 pm

             k? did you just use the ‘word’ k?



          • Laxmom on May 1, 2012 at 5:02 pm

            Why is there such an argument here? These are two totally different sports. They can ’t be compared. None of the rules are the same… women would have off-sides, women would have man up or man down, men would get a penalty for hitting the goalie in the helmet, and men would fake shoot a lot to get a free shot on goal due to shooting space? I say if the women want to say they are on the same level then play the same level… not against men (Not fair), but with pads and just play the same game. I would enjoy watching that! I do not enjoy watching freeze tag…and i have watched it a lot.



          • Laxmom on May 1, 2012 at 5:02 pm

            Why is there such an argument here? These are two totally different sports. They can ’t be compared. None of the rules are the same… women would have off-sides, women would have man up or man down, men would get a penalty for hitting the goalie in the helmet, and men would fake shoot a lot to get a free shot on goal due to shooting space? I say if the women want to say they are on the same level then play the same level… not against men (Not fair), but with pads and just play the same game. I would enjoy watching that! I do not enjoy watching freeze tag…and i have watched it a lot.



        • Ian Chadwick on April 26, 2012 at 2:29 pm

          Please look into getting your highschool diploma and learn how to have an intelligent conversation, that doesn’t involve cursing, before you decide to attack someone making a very valid point.

          As a matter of fact, I didn’t see where in your comment you made any attempt at making a valid argument.

      • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

         meganne, in the nicest way possible, please stop talking. in other words, shut the fuck up girls lacrosse is the worst sport on earth. i would rather watch a marathon.

      • vanilla fudge on April 26, 2012 at 2:12 pm

         meganne, in the nicest way possible, please stop talking. in other words, shut the fuck up girls lacrosse is the worst sport on earth. i would rather watch a marathon.

      • ripthegnar on April 27, 2012 at 3:39 am

        I agree they tried to highlight the advantages from watching girls lacrosse to improve positioning and other aspects of a guys game. However, they require two different types of positioning. Girls dodging take different routes than guys dodging. The girls game has the charge call; the guys game does not. As a result, defense is played differently in both sports. Guys can understand some things from girls lacrosse positioning-wise, but all in all they are two completely different forms of the sport and are not similar at all.

        Also, girls do not require more stick skills than guys, and they don’t acquire more stick skills than guys because there is no contact. Girls can cradle their stick in one spot and the other defender can not touch her. Guys have to worry about sticks coming from all directions, and as a result their awareness is a lot higher than the awareness of a girl who doesn’t face the same challenges.

        All in all, it’s like comparing apples to bananas. They are both fruit and that’s about it.

  99. Guest on April 25, 2012 at 7:57 pm

    This is the stupidest fucking thing I have ever read.

    • gues on April 25, 2012 at 8:26 pm

      I couldn’t agree more. Women’s lacrosse is inferior to men’s in every way, shape, and form.

      • re-laxin' lady on April 30, 2012 at 1:51 am

        Way to represent yourself as a lame misogynistic boy who understands little about lacrosse or women… Nice one “bro”

        Enjoy being single

      • re-laxin' lady on April 30, 2012 at 1:51 am

        Way to represent yourself as a lame misogynistic boy who understands little about lacrosse or women… Nice one “bro”

        Enjoy being single

      • re-laxin' lady on April 30, 2012 at 1:51 am

        Way to represent yourself as a lame misogynistic boy who understands little about lacrosse or women… Nice one “bro”

        Enjoy being single

      • re-laxin' lady on April 30, 2012 at 1:51 am

        Way to represent yourself as a lame misogynistic boy who understands little about lacrosse or women… Nice one “bro”

        Enjoy being single

    • gues on April 25, 2012 at 8:26 pm

      I couldn’t agree more. Women’s lacrosse is inferior to men’s in every way, shape, and form.

    • Business Casual on April 30, 2012 at 3:17 am

      Is there a woman on earth who makes a living off of playing lacrosse?

    • Business Casual on April 30, 2012 at 3:17 am

      Is there a woman on earth who makes a living off of playing lacrosse?

      • Alexandra Jane on May 1, 2012 at 10:36 pm

        Is there a man? Most have other jobs or forms of income.
        My guess is, you aren’t ever going to make a living off the game of lacrosse because you don’t even respect it.

      • Alexandra Jane on May 1, 2012 at 10:36 pm

        Is there a man? Most have other jobs or forms of income.
        My guess is, you aren’t ever going to make a living off the game of lacrosse because you don’t even respect it.

        • Lax Lover on May 3, 2012 at 7:10 am

          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

        • Lax Lover on May 3, 2012 at 7:10 am

          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

        • Lax Lover on May 3, 2012 at 7:10 am

          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

        • Lax Lover on May 3, 2012 at 7:10 am

          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

        • Lax Lover on May 3, 2012 at 7:10 am

          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

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