Box Lacrosse Gear vs. Gear for a Lacrosse Field Game
Indoor or box lacrosse is much faster and rougher than a lacrosse field game so there are different requirements for box lacrosse gear. Because box lacrosse is played on a smaller lacrosse field, the size of a hockey rink, it has many differences from field lacrosse both in terms of field equipment and players’ gear.
For starters, the box lacrosse goal is smaller than the goal used for a lacrosse field game. It measures 1.2 by 1.2 meters compared with 1.8 by 1.8 meters in field lacrosse. The next major difference is in the sticks used. Box lacrosse gear uses sticks measuring 1.0 to 1.2 meters long, whereas the sticks used in a lacrosse field game are 1.3 to 1.8 meters long. Unlike field lacrosse, box lacrosse allows for the use of wooden sticks, although aluminum ones are now mostly used.
An Easy Way to Layout a Lacrosse Field and Install Equipment
In men’s field lacrosse, the measurements of a lacrosse field are 110 yards long by 60 yards wide. There are 80 yards between goals and 15 yards behind each goal. The entire lacrosse field is equally divided into two by a center line. Each goal is situated inside a circle measuring 18 feet in diameter. Around each goal, there is a rectangle measuring 35 yards by 40 yards known as the “goal area” which is a restricted zone, off limits to opposing players until the ball enters the area. In between the goal posts, a line is drawn and is known as the “goal line”. An “X” marks the center of the field and a substitution area is located on the sidelines beside the timer’s table.
For measurements in women’s field lacrosse, the goals are from 100-90 yards apart with 10-20 yards behind each goal. A restricted area extends 30 yards from the goal line with no more than 7 offensive players and 8 defensive players allowed inside the area. In front of each goal is an area in the shape of an arc 12 meters long where players are positioned after a foul is committed.
Essential Lacrosse Gear for a Lacrosse Field Game
Lacrosse gear may refer to personal paraphernalia like uniforms, footwear, helmets, gloves and the like or it may mean equipment needed for a lacrosse field. For a lacrosse game, all that is needed on the field are a lacrosse goal, ball, sticks and markings to delineate things like goal lines, restricted areas and the center of the field. For lacrosse gear used by players, more items are needed.
In a men’s lacrosse field game, players need the following lacrosse gear:
Headgear – The headgear in a lacrosse field game is a helmet with a face guard to protect the player’s head and eyes. The helmet is made of hard plastic with heavy padding on the inside. Only helmets that comply with official safety standards are allowed in a lacrosse field game. A mouth guard is required to protect the player’s teeth from injury in what is a tough contact sport.
Measurements of a Lacrosse Field
The size of the original lacrosse field was anywhere from 500 yards to a couple of miles. Lacrosse, which started as early as the 5th century was played by native tribes first in Canada then moving into the east coast of the United States. It had deep religious significance and was part of a ceremonial ritual to give thanks to the Creator, hence the reference to lacrosse as “The Creator’s Game”. From 100 to 1,000 men played the game on a lacrosse field from sunup to sundown for two or three days straight explaining the need for such a large playing field.
As lacrosse grew in popularity it became formalized and codified so that in 1867 things like the size of a lacrosse field, the number of players and the duration of a game were established. Today, there are two major types of lacrosse – field lacrosse and box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse. The dimensions of the lacrosse field in both types differ.
