Lacrosse Question?--very off topic

[JRutledge]

Since no one goes to the Lacrosse board and I think my question will not go answered I have a question for those that either work Lacrosse or experience the sport as a fan with their kids or go to games.

Why does Girl's Lacrosse the girls wear only eye shields and the Boy's wear helmets?



Peace

[fonzzy07]

From what I understand and again I may be wrong but it has to do with contact. In mens contact is greatly encouraged infact it is a very physical game. The womens game is much much less physical, it might be that you can only use your stick to hit another stick. I am guessing this is where the diffrence in equiptment comes from. hope this helps and anyone feel free to correct me.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Why does Girl's Lacrosse the girls wear only eye shields and the Boy's wear helmets?

I worked girls lacrosse for 1 year while I was in MD. The boys game is a completely different game from the girls one. The boys essentially play hockey on grass. The girls contest is supposed to be more akin to soccer. Contact is supposed to be minimal.

For example, in the girls game field players are not even allowed to position their bodies in between the shooter and the goal in order to block shots. It is called a screen and is illegal.

With regard to your helmet question, the girls game has an imaginary sphere around each player's head, I can't recall exactly how big, which opponents cannot put their stick inside. It is a foul.

With this in mind, the rationale to keep helmets and some other protective gear (such as shoulder pads) off the players is that it makes them have to be more concerned about safety. They must think about both their own safety and that of others. With only minimal protective gear on they are less likely to play in a reckless manner. That is how it was explained to me anyway, so don't shoot the messenger.

[ChuckElias]

It's been a while since I worked lacrosse and I reffed boys' lax, which as Nevada points out is completely different from girls' lax. Until just a few seasons ago, there was no such thing as OOB in girls' lax.

I think that the reason the girls don't wear helmets is that they are not allowed to "stick check". They're not allowed to use the stick to contact an opponent or her stick. So obviously, it should not come anywhere near an opponent's head.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by ChuckElias

It's been a while since I worked lacrosse and I reffed boys' lax

So....that means you're an "ex-lax"?

[Snake~eyes]

Chucks got it right, NCAA-M championship was on ESPN today. Boys is a much more rough and physical sport, while the girls is more about finesse.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

So....that means you're an "ex-lax"?

Kind of a long running joke, isn't it Mark?