LACROSSE FOR DUMMIES - Blog No 2.

Getting in Gear: Lacrosse Equipment

The physical nature of lacrosse requires players to wear a wide assortment of protective gear. To do its job, the equipment must be in good condition, meet appropriate safety standards, and fit the youngsters properly. The following sections examine the different types of equipment used in boys' and girls' lacrosse.

What players use in Men's Lacrosse

Players typically use the following equipment when they take the field:

• Stick: Sticks come in a variety of lengths and styles. Check with your league director to determine whether any specific styles are required.

• Mouth guard: This guard protects valuable teeth (and helps save parents from taking their children on unwanted trips to the dentist for repairs).

• Shoes: Check with the league director regarding the types of cleats that are allowed, and let parents know so can purchase the correct shoes for their child.

• Gloves: Gloves help players hold on to the stick and also protect their fingers and hands from the ball they or other sticks. Some girls' leagues don't require players to wear gloves.

• Lacrosse helmet with face guard: The helmet and guard protect a player's head and eyes. All helmets and face masks should be approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).

• Shoulder pads: As the name implies, these pads protect the shoulders.

• Elbow Pads: These pads protect the elbows when players fall or get knocked down.

• Rib pads: Rib pads usually are optional at the younger levels of play but are recommended to help protect kids' ribs from being whacked.

• Cup and holder: These pieces are appropriate for older players and cost about $10.

What Goalies wear

Because goalies have to face a ball that's being shot at them, they wear some different protective equipment, in addition to some of the pieces detailed above, to help them play their positions safely:

• Chest protector: This garment protects the player's upper body.

• Shin guards: These items are worn to protect the shins.

• Knee pads: Knee pads come in handy, because goalies often must drop to the ground to block shots.

• Goalie stick: These sticks are larger than the other players' sticks, which helps the goalie block the opposition's shots.

• Helmet: In both boys' and girls' lacrosse, goalies wear helmets with a throat protector.

Below is a picture of a Warrior, Men's Lacrosse starters pack.

This information was sourced from Dummies.com