Boys Game
Beach Cities Lacrosse
Boys Game
Beginner's guide to Boys Lacrosse:
The fastest game on two feet. The strategy of basketball, speed of soccer and contact of football. A game in which a scoring opportunity on one end of the field can be transformed into a goal at the other end in a matter of seconds. Eight to 15 goals per team means lots of scoring opportunities. A game of skill, power, speed, endurance and intelligence.
About Lacrosse
Lacrosse is touted as "the fastest game on foot.” The game is played on a field similar to soccer. Ten players for each team are on the field at any time (except in penalty situations); a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen.
The idea of the game is to score goals, worth one point. The methodology is a blend of basketball strategy (picks, back door cuts, etc.) and soccer (lots of running, speed, field movement). Players can 'stick check' or hit players who have the ball in their stick. Midfielders change on the fly (similar to ice hockey). Defensemen usually come from football teams (big guys, aggressive), attackmen are finesse players (great stick skills, quick feet, field sense) and midfielders are fleet of foot.
Originally called baggataway, lacrosse was played by Native Americans for a variety of purposes: religious rituals, training of warriors, or to settle inter-tribal disputes. The game acquired its present name because the sticks originally resembled the staffs, or croziers, carried by the French Jesuit missionaries who first observed the game. Thus, we have lacrosse.
The Game
- The field. Lacrosse is played on a field approximately the size of a football field: 110 yards long by 60 yards wide. The goals are 6 feet square and are placed in a crease, which is a circle with a 9-foot radius. Offensive players are not allowed in the crease at any time during the game. The sticks used today are generally made of molded plastic with either a nylon mesh or a leather and nylon woven pocket, with either an aluminum, titanium or alloy handle. The sticks vary in length from 40 to 72 inches, depending upon the position played.
- Players. There are 10 players in action at one time on a lacrosse team: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders, and three attackmen. At all times, a team must have three men on its offensive half of the field and four men on its defensive half. (Girls Rules see your coach - or ask your daughter) Girls Primer coming soon
- Goalie. The goalie uses a wider stick and wears a chest protector, as his job is to stop the opponents' shots, which may come flying at him at over 100 mph. The best goalies are either brave or crazy ... or a little of both. After making a save and gaining possession of the ball, the goalie is allowed to stay in the crease for only four seconds. During that time, no one is allowed to touch him.
- Defensemen. Defensemen use a longer stick (72 in.) and generally stay on the defensive half of the field. Their job is to guard the opponent's attackmen and take the ball away from them. Defensemen need to be quick, aggressive and tough.
- Midfielders. Middies, as they are also called, play both offense and defense, thus, they must run the length of the field. They are usually substituted frequently in units so as to keep them fresh. Speed and endurance are essential for middies. In recent years coaches have begun using "long-stick middies" or LSMs - middies with defense sticks - as defensive specialists.
- Attackmen. Attackmen use the shortest stick to limit the chance of losing the ball. They generally stay on the offensive half of the field and coordinate the offense. They are usually the best stick handlers and must be quick and agile.
- Gear. All players must wear helmets, shoulder pads, gloves and mouthpieces. Arm pads are usually worn, especially by middies and attackmen, and rib pads have also become popular in more recent times. In addition, goalies wear a chest protector and a throat protector.minology.
- Face-off. The game begins with the ball placed at the middle of the field between the sticks of two opposing midfielders. At the sound of the official's whistle, the two players try to clamp the ball under their sticks and gain control of it. Face-offs also occur after each goal. Attack and defensemen must stay in their "restraining area" until someone has possession of the ball.
- Clearing. Trying to get the ball from your defensive end of the field to the offensive end.
- Riding. Trying to stop an opponent's effort to clear.
- Slide. When a defender moves from his offensive man to another to help a teammate double-team an opponent threatening to score.
- Checking. Using your stick to hit the stick of an opponent in possession of the ball.
- Body checking. Using your body to hit an opponent in possession of the ball or within five yards of a loose ball.
- EMO. EMO means extra-man offense. When the opposing team has a player in the penalty box, the offensive team goes to its EMO.
- Man-down. When a team has a player in the penalty box then it is in a man-down situation.
Playing The Game
The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.
There are 10 players on each lacrosse team. Four of the players (a goalkeeper and 3 defensemen) must stay on the defensive half of the field, three (attackmen) must stay on the offensive half, and three (midfielders) can go anywhere on the field.
Offensively. On offense, the attacking team will run set plays and formations just as a basketball team would, with cutters, picks (no movingpicks allowed), and feeders. They will usually go one-on-one, or free-lance. Naturally, there are numerous opportunities for fast breaks, or unsettled situations.
Defensively. On defense, teams usually play man-to-man with a team concept of backups and slides to assist a teammate. When a person has the ball, a defensive player may check (hit) his stick or his hands in order to try to dislodge the ball. He may also deliver a body check to the player from the front between the waist and the shoulders. In addition, in a loose-ball situation, a player may hit any opponent within 5 yards of the ball in the same manner.
The game starts with a face-off between two players on each team. The ball sits on the ground between the two players and the referee blows the whistle. This signals that the players can both try to get the ball. Center face-offs are also used after a goal and at the start of each quarter.
The circular area around the goal called a crease. An opponent is not allowed to enter the crease, but they can reach in with their stick to pick up the ball.
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.
Body checking is permitted if the opponent has the ball. However, all contact must occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An opponent's crosse may also be stick checked if it is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the air.
Fouls carry timed penalties, whereby the fouling player must be removed from play for a designated period of time without substitution. Lacrosse personal fouls include tripping, unnecessary roughness, cross checking (making contact with another player with the stick between your hands), slashing (a stick check not on the opponents gloves or stick), or illegal body checking. Like basketball, at 5 personal fouls the player is removed from the game. Personal fouls may range from 1:00 to 3:00.
Technical fouls include holding, offsides (not the right number of players on each half of the field), setting screens, stalling, and pushing.
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 a missed shot on goal, the player nearest to the ball when and where it goes out of bounds is awarded possession.
Advancement Rule. Upon the start of any possession, particularly on a team's defensive end, the team must advance the ball into its offensive box area of the field within :10.
Penalties.
Penalties are classified as either technical or personal fouls.
Technical fouls either cause the offending team to lose possession of the ball, award the other team the ball, or place the offending player in the "penalty box" for 30 seconds if the opponents had possession of the ball at the time of the infraction.
Personal fouls result in a one-minute penalty. Severe abuse (fighting, etc.) may result in either a three-minute penalty or expulsion from the game. In the case of a time penalty, the offending team must play a man short, thus yielding the opponents an "extra-man" opportunity.
Personal Fouls.
Slashing. Striking an opponent's body other than his hand with your stick. (To an extent, striking the arms is allowed.)
Tripping. Obstructing the opponent below the knee with your body or stick.
Illegal body checking. Hitting an opponent from the rear, below the waist, above the shoulders, or when the opponent neither has the ball nor is within 5 yards of a loose ball.
Crosschecking. Hitting the opponent with the part of the stick between your hands.
Unsportsmanlike conduct. Official's discretion.
Technical Fouls.
Offside. Failure to have either three players on your offensive half of the field or four players on your defensive half. The normal position of these players is not significant, only the number is.
Holding. Holding an opponent or his stick with your body or stick. This does not eliminate body checks or holding your position, but you may not wrap your stick around an opponent and thus stop his movement.
Pushing. Pushing an opponent from the rear, or when he is not within five yards of the ball. All body contact must occur with both hands on your stick. You may not use your free hand to push off.
Interference. Moving picks, preventing cutters free movement, etc. Also, hitting the goalie in the crease when he has possession of the ball.
There are also technical fouls from throwing the stick, lying on a loose ball, illegal substitutions, playing without a stick, delay of game, etc.