Girls' Lacrosse: A completely different game

Girls' lacrosse differs significantly from boys' lacrosse. In fact, they're almost two completely different sports. There are only a few similarities between the two games, as even the lacrosse stick used in girls' lacrosse is different than it is for boys' lacrosse. Girls' lacrosse also has different rules, is less physical, and requires less padding.

Girls' lacrosse sticks are different primarily in that the pockets of their sticks are, by rule, significantly shallower. The shallow design makes it more difficult to catch, cradle, and shoot the ball powerfully.

12 players are allowed on the field during girls' lacrosse games, as opposed to 10 players during boys' lacrosse games. To account for the difference between the number of players, girls' lacrosse involves 5 midfielders as compared to 3 during boys' games. The rest of the positions have the same number of players in both the girls' and boys' games: 3 attackers, 3 defenders, and a goalie.

Girls' lacrosse games are divided into 2 halves rather than 4 quarters like a boys' game. At the collegiate level, each game is 60 minutes long with each half being 30 minutes. At the high school level, each game is 50 minutes long with each half being 25 minutes.

Because the girls' lacrosse game is significantly less physical than the boys', a mouth-guard and cage goggles (also called a mask) are the only required equipment for girls' lacrosse. Girls are also allowed to wear soft lacrosse gloves to protect their hands, although these gloves are not mandatory. Players aren't allowed to check their opponents and there is no hitting or physical contact. Occasionally, girls will become bruised from inadvertent stick checks, but for the most part, there isn't much contact. Coming from a men's lacrosse perspective, I wonder: how do you take the ball away from your opponent? Do you have to just wait for them to drop the ball or make a bad pass as they run around?

Girls' lacrosse also requires different field markings than boys'. Girls' lacrosse has an 8 meter (not 8 yard) arc around the goal and a 12 meter fan; boys' has neither. When fouls are committed inside either area, play is stopped and the player who was fouled gets "free position". The player who fouls is then placed four meters behind her opponent and play is resumed. The player who was fouled then has the advantage of shooting, passing, or dodging when play is resumed.