Many people don’t know the difference between box lacrosse and field lacrosse, most don’t even know that there are two main types of lacrosse. There are many differences between box lacrosse and field lacrosse that make the gameplay of box lacrosse different than field lacrosse.

Box lacrosse is a variant of field lacrosse that has different rules and regulations. Box lacrosse became common in areas where the weather prevented field lacrosse due to poor conditions. It was originally played in Canada, where it was played indoors on covered or converted ice hockey rinks but, nowadays, it is more commonly played in the US.

Because of the smaller field and fewer regulations, box lacrosse is more physical than field lacrosse. Box lacrosse is limited in the variety of ways you can make a goal because of the size of the field. Box lacrosse uses the same field dimensions as hockey does, while field lacrosse plays on a football field. Box lacrosse also has fewer people on the field than field lacrosse does. Limited space, smaller goals, and fewer people speed up the pace and gameplay of box lacrosse.

In box lacrosse, the stick netting is different than field lacrosse. The stringing style is designed to hold the ball tight in the head. The shafts of the sticks are sturdier to make them more durable and able to withstand harder checks. Box lacrosse uses hockey mask, which is lighter than field lacrosse helmets. If it is being played indoor, they do not need to wear cleats in box lacrosse.

The goalie in a game of box lacrosse is heavily guarded. The goalie wears gloves, helmets, shoulder pads, chest protectors, and leg and thigh pads; this is more gear than a goalie in field lacrosse would wear. The goalie for field lacrosse only wears gloves, a chest protector, helmet and a throat guard. Box lacrosse also uses different sticks. In box lacrosse, the sticks are shorter because of the size of the play area.