Are you interested to know the difference between men’s and women’s lacrosse? Or do you want to join the lacrosse game and don’t know the different rules or the required rules? Just like in most exist several differences in lacrosse based on gender.
However, don’t worry anymore, as this article will provide you with all the information you require to know about the differences between men’s and women’s lacrosse.
Why are women’s lacrosse sticks different from men’s
Women’s lacrosse stick is another difference between men’s and women’s lacrosse. Generally, all women players have the same lacrosse stick size, except the goalie.
Most women’s lacrosse sticks have a smaller head, usually measuring about six inches across or less. This enables players to have more control over the ball and decreases the chance of being hit with a stick in a collision.
The pocket depth is another example of a difference between women’s and men’s lacrosse sticks due to a variation in the way the ball is caught. A shallower pocket on a woman’s stick allows the ball to easily fall out when the stick is tapped against the ground. This is an advantage because it gives players more time to react to a bad pass.
However, men’s lacrosse stick size varies from player to player. Some play with a head measuring more than 12 inches wide, which allows for a very large pocket that is more difficult to get the ball out of quickly. More control over the ball can be hard on men’s sticks because of its smaller size and deeper pocket.
How are men and women lacrosse different
Generally, both men and women lacrosse have various features in common, for instance, hand-eye coordination and physical stamina. However, there are several differences between them. They include:
Checking vs no checking
This is one of the main differences, in men checking is allowed and in women checking is not allowed. Checking is a type of body check where one player uses their body to impede the movement of an opposing player. This rule difference means that men can physically dominate the game, which can result in more aggressive play.
In women’s lacrosse, both body and stick checking are not allowed, which makes the game more strategic, as players must use finesse and stick skills to score goals.
Cradling
Both men and women employ cradling for similar reasons, however, the style of cradling between genders. For men, the top hand remains stationary and controls the bottom hand’s movement. For women, both hands move-in coordination to maintain posseşsion of the ball and control its movement.
Gameplay
Another difference is that in men, the game is started/resumed after scoring with a face-off chance where a player from each team has a chance to fight for ball control from a hunch-over position. In women, the face-off is taken from a stationary position, where the ball is thrown into the air at the center of the two teams.
Goalie Gear
The goalie gear is different in men’s and women’s lacrosse. In men’s lacrosse, the goalie has a lot more protection including a helmet with a face mask, chest protector, arm pads, and gloves. Goalies in women’s lacrosse only have a chest protector, gloves & women Goggles.
Number of Players
There are ten players on the field in men’s lacrosse, while there are only twelve players on the field in women’s lacrosse.
Playing Field
The playing field for men’s lacrosse is 110 yards long by 60 yards wide, while the playing field for women’s lacrosse is 120 yards long by 70 yards wide
Body Weight
While men’s lacrosse requires strength, speed, and endurance, women’s lacrosse demands agility, athleticism, and coordination instead. That said, men are heavier than women, with an average of 200 pounds compared to the average 136-pound weight of women players. As a result, female players need smaller sticks and use less physical force when striking the ball.
Generally, both men and women have their own sets of rules that differentiate their play, Men can check, goals are different sizes, and gameplay differences like face-offs and ‘line changes’ add to the variations between men’s and women’s lacrosse.
Why is women’s lacrosse different?
Generally, there exist several significant differences between men’s and women’s lacrosse game rules that bring about the difference.
First, the size of the lacrosse ball is different. A women’s lacrosse ball is smaller in diameter and weighs less than a men’s ball. This makes it easier for women to control and throw.
Second, the stick length is also different. A typical women’s lacrosse stick is about 36 inches long while a men’s stick is about 40-42 inches long. This makes it easier for women to cradle the ball and avoid being checked.
Third, women play with twelve players on the field while men play with ten players on the field. This difference in numbers affects both offensive and defensive strategies.
Fourth, the playing area is different. The boundaries of the women’s lacrosse field, or pitch, are larger than that of men. This allows for more freedom in ball movement and makes it easier for defenders to prevent forward passes
In conclusion
The above article has provided you with the differences between men and women lacrosse. Women’s lacrosse is different from men’s lacrosse because of the following rule differences: the gameplay, the length of the stick, the number of players on the field, and the playing area.
These differences account for why women play a more finesse game that emphasizes strategic play over physicality.