Levels of Lacrosse Play

Now that you have learned all of the cool terminology of lacrosse, you may be asking yourself, "Where can I show off my superior lacrosse knowledge?" Well, you are in luck. There are many different levels and areas where you can go to play or enjoy the game. We will start off young and work our way up to the major league play.

Youth Lacrosse

Lacrosse participation for youth can start as young as U-9 (ages 6-8) and is considered "youth" until U-15(roughly 8th grade) for both boys and girls. Leagues typically don't become competitive until middle school, where players can participate in teams that are grouped into divisions based on abilities. Another popular way to divide up the skill and age levels of youth players is by using three levels: A, B and C.

Level C: This is the youngest level, meant for new, young players. They use seven field players, and the use of a goal keeper is optional. The recommended field size is 50 yds. x 25 yds, with an 8m arc, no 12m fan, no restraining line, and only a center line (no circle). Manufacturers have created youth sticks that may use mesh in the pockets, unlike higher levels of play. Players can use a regular crosse, however the shaft must be decently sized for the player and they typically need a modified pocket. At this level there is no checking in hopes of avoiding as much injury as possible. The games operate with 20-minute halves (maximum), using running time meaning the clock does not stop for fouls.

Level B: The next level is for slightly more experienced and older players. There are eleven field players and one goal keeper on the field for each team. The recommended field size is 90 yds. x 50 yds, and regular field markings, including the restraining line, are used. Players are now expected to use regular crosse, but can still have a modified pocket. There is still no checking. Games have 25-minute halves (maximum), and also use running time.

Level A: The highest level of youth play is reserved for the oldest and most experienced youth players. This level also uses eleven field players, and one goal keeper. The field size that is recommended is 100 yds. x 70 yds. They use regular field markings, including the restraining line. At this level of play, regular crosses must be used with regulation pockets. Modified checking only is allowed, making sure they are not too aggressive or reckless. Games also have 25-minute halves (maximum) and have running time.

High School/ College Lacrosse

Once a player enters the high school age, they typically will search out a spot on either their high school's team or, if this is not available, they can try finding a club team in their area. In order to find these clubs, you can look at the database of chapters registered with US Lacrosse. This will provide you with team and contact information by region. This can help you get in touch with local coaches or managers of teams so you can begin playing. You also don't need to worry about any teams being left off of this list, because US Lacrosse membership is a necessity for every player in the nation. The rules that are first applied in this age group will stay the same for college level and any professional levels. I have written posts on both the women's and men's game previously in this blog, so you may reference them to compare this level to the youth level.

Post-Collegiate Lacrosse

The available opportunities for playing lacrosse after college are sadly few at this moment for lacrosse, however there are a few. For both men and women, there are national teams that you can try out for. There is a U-19 developmental as well as official national team availabe for both sexes. Another possibility for male players is Major League Lacrosse. Major League Lacrosse contains 10 teams from two separate conferences. The Eastern Conference has the Boston Cannons, Long Island Lizards, New Jersey Pride, Philadephia Barrage, Rochester Rattlers and Washington Bayhawks. The Western Conference has the Chicago Machine, Denver Outlaws, L.A. Riptide, and San Francisco Dragons. The MLL was created in 2001 and has been growing and expanding ever since. There is discussion of expanding to Cincinnati, Dallas, Portland, Salt Lake, San Diego, Seattle and St. Louis.

Response to Champagne's Article

Last week, I posted a summary of Duane Champagne's article "Native Games: Alive but Transformed in Contemporary Sport". This week I will be giving my opinion about his argument and sentiments.

I believe that Champagne had very valid points about the way the sport of lacrosse has been transformed over the time that it has been played. The ties that kept the sport and spiritual and healing practices together have been severed in most contemporary venues for lacrosse. But there are some atmospheres in the lacrosse community where these links are useful and at other times are completely unattainable. Leagues that are officially representing various original Native American tribes will be more willing to accept and practice rituals of the past in comparison to a team formed by a Catholic high school.

Champagne expressed a sense of disappointment to see the sport of lacrosse being changed from something that was so symbolic of his culture to a simple spectator sport, and I can understand his sentiment. I believe it would be a good idea for the Native American communities that are still actively participating in lacrosse competition to try to bring some of these rituals back. After doing a little research, I discovered that the Iroquois Nationals still take time to say a prayer before they play a game. This simple act is a great way to ensure that the tribes’ identity is not lost from within the playing of the actual game.

I agree with Duane Champagne in respects to a definate movement away from these religious and healing rituals that were so tightly intertwined with lacrosse so many years ago. However, I don't believe that all forms of the sport should move back to this type of play. I think it would be a good idea for Native American leagues to embrace this part of their history when playing but otherwise, Native American rituals should be kept out of the contemporary sport of lacrosse.

Key Lacrosse Terms Continued...

Welcome back for the second half of the alphabet of our key lacrosse terms. We will pick up where we left off.

Playing catch with the goalie: shooting the ball right to goalie, making an easy save.

Post: the metal upright poles of the goal.

Quickstick: 1. A drill used to help improve the speed that players can pass a ball immediately after they recieve it. 2. Using this skill to take or shot or use for a pass in a game situation.

Rake: using the backside of the stick to pull the ball back, then positioning the head in front of the ball as it rolls in. This is an illegal pick-up in both the men's and women's game.

Run Out: the sprint for the endline after a missed shot. The closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds on a shot gets the ball.

Save: the official name for a goalie stopping a shot made by a field player.

Scoop: 1. the top part of the lacrosse head used to "scoop" up the ball. 2. bending the knees and lowering the stick to the ground to pick up the ball while still running forward.

Shaft: the pole or handle part of a lacrosse stick. The plastic head fits over the end of the shaft and a screw holds it in place. An end cap or tape usually covers the butt end of the shaft.

Step In: knocking down the shot with one's body intentionally. This can be very dangerous and is not recommended, even for goalies that have more pads.

Stick Save: a save made by the goalkeeper with the stick.

Stuff: a close range stick to stick save by a goalkeeper.

Tewaaraton Award: National college player of the Year awards for men and women. Ceremony is held in Washington, DC.

Transition: when a team goes from offense to defense or from defense to offense.

US Lacrosse: the governing body of the United States' mens' and womens' games. Also publisher of Lacrosse Magazine.

X: the area on the field behind the goal or the player at that point who usually starts the play on offense.

Article Summary

In the article from the magazine Native Peoples, "Native Games: Alive but Transformed in Contemporary Sport", Duane Champagne takes time to compare the sport of lacrosse and other similar sports back when it was created by the Native Americans to how it is viewed and played now. He provides information on native traditions such as lacrosse, shinney, double ball, and winter sports and how they have evolved into sports we now enjoy.

Most of these sports, while a few rules and regulations have been put in for safety reasons, are the same. However, the reasons for the sports being played has changed. The teams involved used to be from two different tribes and were refereed by spiritual elders. This kept from any of the typical arguing and such with the officials that occurs quite regularly these days, because it would be rude to challenge their elders. They would also say prayers and speeches as a way to honor and support their team before the game. The games were not played merely for entertainment purposes. Players would participate in these games to honor or help heal a sick person of their tribe, almost taking on a religious significance. They believed that the outcome of games would be by the will of the spirits.

Champagne believes that, "Native sports are taken out of their communities and cultural surroundings in ways that make them unrecognizable to Native communities and make their ancestral links seem tenuous for those who enjoy the contemporary versions of the sports"(12). While the sports are being carried on through the years, there a definate void of understanding of the sport and its role in life. Champagne leaves contemporary players with some advice: "Contemporary Western sports could have a more significant meaning if they were again tied to community well-being, the purpose of healing and the philosophies of place within the cosmic order"(12).

Key Lacrosse Terms

If you have ever overheard some lacrosse players talking about the game, you may think they are speaking a new language. Words like "check", "cradle", and "quick-sticks" can be confusing to new comers, so I thought I would give you a quick background on what exactly these words mean.

Assist: The pass that to the shooter that sets up a goal.

Bait ("Bait the Shooter"): A technique used by the goalie, leaving part of the goal to look unprotected, tricking the shooter to shoot for that area they are anticipating, making an easy save.

Big Stick: Slang for a defensive player in the men's game, referring to the longer stick they play with.

Body Check: Using your shoulder to hit the upper body of the ball carrier in hopes to dislodge the ball.

Bounce Shot: A shot on goal that is taken that bounces before it crosses the goal line.

Cage: Slang for the goal.

Check: a try to knock the ball from another player's stick by poking or slapping their stick or with either end of your stick, or more often the head.

Clear: an attempt to move the ball from the defensive half of the field to the offensive half after a save or a turnover.

Cradle: the fluid side to side motion of the stick in order to keep the ball in the stick using its own momentum while running at full speed.

Crank: a hard shot with an extended wind up.

Crease: the 9 foot (men's) or 8.5 foot (women's) radius circle that surrounds each goal. Offensive players are not allowed in the crease.

Crosse: the proper name for a stick.

Cross Check: with both hands on the shaft, hitting a player with the section of the shaft between the hands. This move is illegal.

Dodge: Any move that helps the ball carrier get past a defender.

Face-off: Name for the beginning of a game after a goal is scored in the men's game.

Fake: Pretending to take a shot on goal. This may be done to move the goalie or to get a foul called on the other team.

Fast Break: an extra man situation temporarily cause by a quick steal or great outlet pass from the defensive end. The offense uses the extra man to split the defense so that the ball coming quickly down the field, normally resulting in a good chance at scoring a goal.

Feed: A pass to an open team player, sometimes as they are cutting across the field.

Flag: Yellow flag that is held up by the referee to show a penalty occured but does not stop the play.

Ground Ball: A loose ball that is picked up from the ground by using a scooping motion with the crosse.

Hang: Leaving the head or the bottom end hanging when the player is runing down the field, leaving them vulnerable to being checked.

Head: The plastic head of the stick, where the pocket is located to hold the ball.

Head on a swivel: A term for defensive players as a way to tell them to always be looking in all directions.

Hug the Pipe: a goalkeeper allows no space between his body and the goal post closest to the shooter.

Ice Pick: a check where the defender goes over the head of the offensive player in an attempt to put the butt end into the ball carrier's pocket and cause them to drop the ball.

Lax: A slang term for lacrosse.

Legal: A stick that complies with the rules and regulations.

Little Brother of War: The literal translation of the Mohawk word for lacrosse.

NLL: Acronym for the Men's Lacrosse League, the outdoor professional league in the US. Started in 2000.

Number Up: A call from the goal keeper in order to make sure that the defense is picking up their player. It often is followed by the defensive players calling out the numbers of the offensive player they are supposed to be covering.

Phantom Check: the mysterious loss of ball control in the midst of a shot or pass.

Pick: a player stands in a stationery position in the path of a teammate driving with the ball allowing the ball carrier to get loose as he runs by very closely scraping his defender off on the set player's body.

Make sure that you tune in next week to find out the second half of the key lacrosse term alphabet!