What is Lacrosse?
A lacrosse team has 10 player on the field at all times. There are three attckmen, three midfielders, three defensemen and one goalie. The object is to throw a hard rubber ball (weighing about 5 oz.) into a six-foot by six-foot goal using a stick with a pocket on the end (crosse). Players are required to wear a helmet, mouthpiece, shoulder pads, arm pads and gloves. Players may run with the ball in the crosse, pass and catch the ball. Only the goalkeeper may touch the ball with his hands.
The game is usually divided into four 12-minute quarters. Each quarter is started with a face-off between two midfielders. There is also a face-off after every goal.
A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a stick check, which includes the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball. If the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes out of bounds, the other team is awarded possession of the ball.
If the ball goes out of bounds after an unsuccessful shot on goal, the player nearest to the ball when and where it goes out of bounds is awarded possession.
The Field:
A quick note about the different positions: Attakmen are offensive players. For the most part they stay in the offensive half of the field. Midfielders are required to play both offense and defense and usually run the length of the field. Defensemen usually confine themselves to the defensive half of the field and cover the opposing team's attakmen. Attakmen and midfielders usually play with sticks that are 40 inches in length. That is the shortest a stick can measure, from the top of its head to the bottom of the shaft. Defensemen usually use sticks that are between 52 and 72 inches long. A goalie stick can be anywhere from 40 to 72 inches long and has a much bigger head than the other player's sticks.
Some quick rules:
- Offsides: Each team must have three players in its offensive half of the field at all times (usually the attackmen). Each team must also have four players in its defensive half of the field at all times (usually the three defensemen and the goalie).
- Slashing: A player cannot hit another player with his stick anywhere but on his gloved hand or on his stick. Striking a player's head, shoulders, arms or legs can be called a slash.
- Body Checking: Body checking is legal if the opponent has the ball. However, all contact must occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. There is also an unnecessary roughness call in lacrosse if the referee deems that a player has struck "an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force."
- Loose Ball Push: This is one of the more common infractions, especially in inexperienced leagues. When the ball is on the ground (which happens a lot) any player within five yards of the ball can be hit. However, the same rules apply as when a player has the ball; the hit must be from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. If the ball is on the ground and Team A hits Team B from behind, Team A is awarded possession.
For more rules, visit either www.uslacrosse.org or www.laxrules.com.
How much will it cost? With the popularity of the internet and sites such as eBay, lacrosse equipment can now be bought at reasonable prices if you know what you're looking for. Typically, a lacrosse stick can cost anywhere from $35-$150 depending upon the type of head and shaft you get. There are some very good sticks available in the lower portion of that range, about $60 or less.
The new helmets that are out now are much safer and much less bulky than the old models. Of course, that also means they're a little pricier. They range in price from $80-$160. Last year, players were allowed to use hockey helmets but in accordance with USLacrosse guidelines we will be requiring everyone that participates in a MALA league next year wear an approved lacrosse helmet.
Arm pads and shoulder pads both run in the $20-$80 range. Hockey shoulder pads can be worn but they are bigger and bulkier than lacrosse shoulder pads. Elbow pads are the minimum requirement for arm pads but with the amount of abuse the arms take from opposing sticks it is highly recommended to wear a pair of lacrosse arm pads, which pretty much cover the length of the arm from the middle of the bicep to the middle of the forearm.
Lacrosse gloves probably run the widest price range, costing between $30-$140. Hockey gloves can be worn but the main difference between hockey and lacrosse gloves is that lacrosse gloves are a lot more mobile and allow for greater control of the stick. Again, a very good pair of gloves can be had for under $50.
Registration fees will vary from Summer League to Indoor to Spring Season. The Madison Area Lacrosse League, MALA's spring high school club season, will probably cost between $100-$200 per player next year.
What is USLacrosse? USLacrosse is the national governing body of lacrosse. "The mission of US Lacrosse is to foster men's and women's lacrosse as amateur sports through a single organization that consolidates the various lacrosse constituencies engaged in the sport; improve the quality of service provided to each constituency within the sport; provide activities through the various constituencies that will promote lacrosse nationwide; and ensure that all decisions concerning the sport are made on a fiscally sound basis."
USLacrosse is made up of regional chapters (currently 48 and growing), of which the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation is one. The Madison Area Lacrosse Association is part of the Wisconsin Lacrosse Federation. Registration fees for joining USLacrosse go to support USLacrosse initiatives Some of that money also goes back to your local chapter as part of the Chapter Rebate Program. To date, there are 239 USLacrosse members in Wisconsin (and the number is growing daily).