Lacrosse is undoubtedly one of the popular games played throughout the USA and Canada. The origins of the sport tie into Upstate and Central New York, and Syracuse has one of the deepest heritages in the country. It is described as the “fastest-pace ball sport” and played across all the colleges and schools. It is just an hour-long, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes. Due to this, it gets very intense and frantic.¬†
When debating about box lacrosse vs field lacrosse, remember that both games have the same value for a lacrosse game enthusiast. While field lacrosse is popular in the states, box lacrosse is played mainly in Canada. However, box lacrosse is also creating a buzz in the USA in recent years due to the crossovers between the two countries.
Many field lacrosse players play box lacrosse in the off-season to sharpen their skills. But there are few differences to note in both the games, such as:
Box Lacrosse Vs. Field Lacrosse: The Differences
Field Or Area
Played on soccer, outdoor football, or turf field, field lacrosse requires a bigger area. The standard size of the field is 110 x 60 yards. On the other hand, box lacrosse is played indoors in ice hockey or indoor soccer space.
Number of Players
The field lacrosse has three players each for defense, attack, and midfield, and one goalie at any given time. On the other hand, box lacrosse has five players and one goalie on the field, excluding penalties. Usually, two players are for defense while three players are dedicated to the attack. But it can vary upon the team’s strategy.
Equipment
The goalie in field lacrosse is equipped with a helmet, athletic cup, gloves, and a lacrosse goalie stick. But as the goalie area is smaller in box lacrosse, the goalie is protected with heavy gear, including a helmet, shin guards, gloves, shoulder pads, and protective shoes.
For the players, there is a difference between the length of the sticks in field lacrosse. Defending players have longer lacrosse sticks compared to offensive and mid-field players. While in the box lacrosse, there is no difference in the size of the lacrosse sticks.
Flexibility
Box lacrosse is a more accessible option as it can be played year-round, but this is not possible in field lacrosse.
How Can Players Benefit from Playing Box Lacrosse?
Due to the flexibility, more players in their off-season are switching to play box lacrosse. It helps develop many skills in the lacrosse players.
- Speed: As box lacrosse is played in a limited area, the speed is way faster than you would see outdoors.
- Stick Handling: While playing in a closer area, players must be very careful about holding the stick tighter. Playing in a box helps them improve their stick handling skills.
- Ball Transition Speed: The ball has to move quickly at a faster speed from defense to offense before 10 seconds as there is a 30-second shot clock that starts after getting the ball’s possession.
- Body Position and Control: The players have to maintain a good position as there are no D-poles. Also, as the stick is smaller in field lacrosse, they need better footwork and a good body position.
- Off-Ball Movement: Playing in a box means there is hardly any extra space to move around. This way, it helps the players learn how to cut, pick and stay in constant motion.
- Reaction time: As the ball moves much quicker, the goalies and the players have a shorter time to react. Their hands should be in sync with their eyes.
Box lacrosse’s fast-paced, tight environment is the ultimate teacher for the players and helps them develop scoring skills in tight confines.
Due to a smaller space, the speed of the game increases, and the player has to be quick, intelligent, and perform with accuracy.
The debate on box lacrosse vs. field lacrosse is never-ending. But, in either format, high repetitions are essential for developing everything from stick skills to game awareness.
