First time watching lacrosse? Kinda complicated, right? Well, basically you're just trying to get the white ball in the goal more often than your opponent before time runs out. With that basic knowledge, you should be okay.
But, if you're looking for more of a entry-level education, you've clicked on the right article. By the end of this article, you'll be able to gain a basic understanding of the penalties and player substitutions and even just what the lines on the field mean.
Below, we will take a look at some of the terms used in lacrosse, from the positions to the rules to the equipment used. And, of course, we'll take a look at the common slang.
What are the positions in lacrosse?
There are 10 players from each team permitted to be on the field of play during a lacrosse game. They include a goalkeeper, three defensemen, three midfield players, and three "attackers" or forwards.
- The Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper's main responsibility is to shield his area and not allow the opponents to score
- The Defensemen: The three players guard the area by preventing opposition attackers from scoring
- The Midfielders: This trio occupies the whole midfield and dictate play from there.
- The Attackers: They are there to get past opposition defenses and score goals.
What are some of the common penalties in lacrosse?
For every rule, there is a million ways to break. It is hard to find a sporting event without its rules, and lacrosse is not an exception. The reason why there are penalties is that there had been laws in the first place.
In lacrosse, players commit both technical and personal fouls. Technical fouls attract a 30-second penalty, and the personal fouls result in a one-minute penalty.
Examples of technical fouls are holding, interference, warding, pushing, and stalling. The personal fouls include slashing, crosschecking, illegal body checks, tripping, and illegal stick.
What is some of the equipment used in lacrosse?
Quite a lot of equipment is used during the game of lacrosse. Players can decide to wear armbands, shooting sleeves, pants, headbands, or compression shorts.
Here is some of the equipment used during the lacrosse game.
- Cleats - unlike other sports, lacrosse cleats have specific peg arrangements and are very light-weighted
- Crosse - the crosse can also be referred to as the lacrosse stick, and the term is not limited to one particular gender in the sports. It applies to both women's and men's lacrosse.
- Eye Blacks - used to minimize the effect of big stadium lights or bright sunlight.
Other equipment used in the game include defense sticks, lacrosse cups, lacrosse face masks, goalie sticks, goalie helmets, balls, bags, chin straps and pads, arm guards, and chest protectors.
What are some of the common terms used in lacrosse?
- Body Check - involves hitting the opponent with the body. There are rules guiding body checking. They include no head starts and no checking from the back.
- Ball Hog - lacrosse coaches and players use this term for any player who refuses to pass the ball. They may not be so interesting to play with.
- Around the World - a situation when a player shoots or passes the ball by moving the lacrosse stick across the opponent's body and around his back. It is a difficult move to execute.
- Back Door Cut - involves making a cut towards the goal against a teammate.
- Cage – this is an alternative name for the lacrosse goal.
- Box – could indicate two things: (1) A portion of the field where a penalized lacrosse player must sit for committing a penalty. (2) Short form of the "Box Lacrosse," which is a type of lacrosse played in an ice rink with turf.
- Bouncer/Bounce Shot – this happens when a player shoots the ball into the lacrosse field before it eventually gets in the goal. A bounce shot is always very difficult for many goalkeepers to catch.
- Alligator Arms – coaches use this slang when the player's arms are close after shooting or passing. The correct form is for the player's arms to be extended.
