Lacrosse is a game which is becoming more popular each season because of the way it is played and the frenzy that comes about by playing the game as each team seek the glory of the game amidst the challenges posed by opponents and the jeers and cheers of cheerleaders and fans who grace the gaming occasion.
Outplay! Outwork! Outlast!
Lacrosse is an outdoor sporting activity which is popular in North America where it originated. It is played using a small lacrosse ball made from rubber using a lacrosse stick. On the lacrosse stick at the tip of the head, there is a mesh which is attached to it and it’s used to catch and grip the ball. The ball is then carried by the stick while on the mesh and can be passed among team players.
vital as the players seek to shoot it in the opponent’s goal with the aim of scoring. The opponents are tasked with the role of ensuring that there is no goal scored and should try as possible to gain the ball which can be achieved through stick checking, and also through physical body contact usually referred to as positioning.
This website is about a popular sport in New Brunswick called Lacrosse, and letting people know what it is all about. For instance, it mentioned that Lacrosse is recognized as a sport that is unparalleled in developing — such as speed, skill, endurance, and athletic dexterity.Anyways, click the links below to know more about it.
My Life as a Lacrosse Player
Lacrosse is a sport which is played in the field, where the ball is thrown, caught and carried with a long stick which at the end has a shallow net attached to it. It was originally played in North America by American Indians. The name ‘lacrosse’ means game of hooked stick in French. The game is played by two teams each consisting of ten members. The game is played for sixty minutes with four quarters lasting fifteen minutes.
Though there are variations on the length of the game according to the type of players. Team made up of women they are given two halves instead of quarters. The team that scores many goals is the one that wins.
When I started playing
I started playing lacrosse due to the influence of my parents. My mother played for lacrosse female team and she was a goalie. My dad happened to be the coach of the team my mother was playing. To them having their son playing lacrosse is what they always wanted and needed. I started playing in high school and there was a lot of competition in order for one to get into the team.
Since my father was a well known coach, it was easy for my high school coach to take me in. I really hate the game but since am the only son my parents have and I do not want to disappoint them then I had to start the game. When I was young my father used to take me with him to go and watch some of the games and in the process I got to learn a lot and when I started playing in high school I was not that much of a newbie.
Why I dislike the game
I personally hate the game since it does not have a good reputation. Many are times I have been accused of things just because am a lacrosse player. Most people think us lacrosse players are dumb which is not cool at all. Some of the insults and accusation are because of the Duke Incident and UVA incident.
This negative stereotype is experienced mainly in male teams in the female teams it is not that much. Another thing that makes me hate the game is because the equipments are too expensive especially now am in the university. I spend too much of my saving to buy and replace some of the playing equipments.
What keeps me going on?
One thing that gives me motivation to continue playing lacrosse despite me disliking the game it is because through the game I have made a lot of friends. Am very social and when am out playing I take advantage of the chance to know other people and network with them. As you all know your network is your net worth. Since lacrosse is the only sport that am involved in it helps me keep fit during work outs and when actually playing the game.
It is very hard to accumulate weight when playing because there is the metabolizing of the excess fat and energy. After I started playing the game I have really improved when it comes to my level of tolerance and patience, as you all know when playing a team can either lose or win. When we lose we train even harder and endure through that period in order to ensure we improve on the next game.
Mentally this game has helped me to deal with my depression, when am training and playing a lot of tension is released. Through our team we have been able to take part in a lot of charity projects, which help us to give back to the society. Some of the games where we emerge as winners as a team we get sponsors who nurture our talents and we are able to get extra money which helps in catering of some of my bills.
Through playing lacrosse it has helped strengthen the family bond. Most are the times me and my parents go out and they couch me, this has really helped for them to pass some important values to me.
I will continue playing lacrosse for as long as I can. Even if I hate the game the feeling I get when I see my parents happy because our team won is priceless. Hey I will not have my parents forever a little bit of sacrifice does not hurt.
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How Lacrosse Help Boost My Confidence and Improve My Physical Fitness
When I joined high school, I thought that I would find schoolmates who would emotionally torture me because I was really slim and appeared weak as was my case during my elementary studies. My fears that I couldn’t partake in any physical event or game always made me feel that I couldn’t make any good friends like other boys in my neighborhood did. I was not also that good in class work.
But the first day I joined, I was surprised that one boy took interest in making friends with me and by evening he had invited me to the schools lacrosse team which was then practicing. I felt shy accompanying him to the training sessions but on insisting, I decided to give it a try.
I never knew that this would be the start of another beautiful and satisfying life as I came to be one of the most dependable team players of our school.
“You also want to join the team,” the coach asked sarcastically to the burst of the laughter of all the players who had been practicing. Of course they were all physically fit and I looked so frail to even lift a lacrosse stick as one boy commented while others laughed.
Don, my earlier friend who we had gone to the practice session together can to my rescue and argued that giving me a chance wouldn’t cost anything. I was quick to interrupt him that I was never interested but the coach seemed to have bought Don’s idea because he told me that I was welcome to join the team and I should avail myself the next day prepared with the practicing costume.
The next day I was hesitant to go, but Don seemed happy that I was joining them. When we arrived there, I was allocated to another group of four boys who were instructed to help me with training. They explained to me the importance of physical fitness and that was my start of everything.
Since then every day I would go for a workout first to improve my physical fitness and would also eat well before joining them for practice later in the evening.
Six months down the line I was amazed at how good I felt about myself and the confidence in me as I had become one of the valuable midfielders in my team and the coach was happy about my performance and had indicated that he would add me in the tournament team which would represent the school during the high school tournament at the start of fall.
I came to realize how fit my health was and my confidence was so motivated that I then could easily interact with other schoolmates, all thanks to Don.
A Memorable Lacrosse Tournament
If there is one thing which is very encouraging and motivating to players is to win a tournament as a team. I have to admit some facts that the game may be very challenging and most of the time working as a team may prove to be a hard task in a challenging game where the opponents gives you not chance to create a team rhythm.
Lacrosse is one such physical game which requires a lot of team work and spirit to win especially when playing with tough opponents.
This fall, I had ruled of my dreams of playing for my team during the inter colleges tournament because of a thigh injury just weeks prior to the tournament kick-off. I was really devastated about this injury and the fact that I wouldn’t play because this was my last year at college and I really wanted to be part of the team.
I was also one of the best point-man who was usually relied by my teammates but I must admit that I was never the favorite to my coach because of my selfishness on the pitch. Not that I didn’t love team work, but I strongly believed in my playing abilities and would often get mad when I pass a good ball to my teammate only for it to go wasted when the teammate fails to score. Thus the fact that I would be out of play didn’t seems to bother our coach although he often cared about my health status whenever I joined other during training to lift their spirits.
I must admit that they were all well equipped with the skills, physical capabilities, wisdom, and strong will to lift the tournament’s trophy and everything seemed promising. Days to the tournament were fast approaching with each training day and I seemed to recuperate faster than I thought. Anyway, I knew that I would not be allowed to the field of play since I wouldn’t be in the best physical form expected of a lacrosse player especially on a big event like the tournament which was upcoming.
Fast forward to the actual day when the two-day event kicked off; by then I had completely recovered and I was on the frontline together with the cheerleaders of our team doing all our best to cheer and encourage my mates during all the games that they played. All seemed well, but in the event, there was one team whose strength and playing tactics seemed to out-match ours and they appeared favorites to win the competition.
Actually we were second to them as our coach admitted on the evening after the end of the first tournament day, but he emphasized how important team work was if at all we envisaged beating them the following day when we would battle them for the trophy as our total points indicated that they were the most likely team to play us in the final game, unless we lost the 2 games scheduled for us in the morning, something which was literally impossible.
The next day all went well with the games that my team played in the morning and we were able to narrow the total point difference to only two with these mighty rivals.
When at last, time came for us to play them the most unfortunate thing happened. The game started all well though we were really challenged and the point difference between us widening to four points. Then during the end of the final quarter, they guy we considered our lead point-man was injured and a substitution had to be made.
The coach approached me and I was shocked that he wanted me to dress for the position. Of course we had a substitute at hand but he clarified that I could help the team if at all I was willing to play with others as one. Excited about this, I prepared in seconds and on I went to the field.
The game was really physical, but since the coach really believed in me, I knew it was ital to let my ego go and play with others as my coach had indicated.
We tried and fought hard against the powerful team who had really excellent tactics but our game play seemed to have improved as the total points tied by the end of the third quarter. As we started our fourth, I knew this was the moment and we really played well, though by the end of the game, we came second since we were defeated by one point.
I learnt a big lesson on the importance of team work and my colleges mates, coach and players were really impressed by me.
Playing Lacrosse
There are several variations in the different types of lacrosse games available for play namely the box lacrosse, the women’s field lacrosse and the men’s field lacrosse. According to each type, the number of players and there playing positions and style differ from the other.
Basically, the men’s field lacrosse and the women’s field lacrosse could be categorized into one class given the place where the game is usually held, which is outdoors, while the box lacrosse could fall into its own category because it’s usually played indoors in an arena.
Men’s Field Lacrosse and Women’s Field Lacrosse
Players.
In the men’s lacrosse, there are usually 10 players who are divided into four categories — one goalie whose task is protect the goal post from the lacrosse ball which is being shot by the opponents as they try to score, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 3 attackers. In the women’s lacrosse, there are however 12 players.
Lacrosse sticks.
Men’s game involve the use of lacrosse sticks whose head has a mesh attached to it unlike the women’s game. Instead the lacrosse sticks for ladies are supposed to be made with the pockets the way it was done traditionally.
The lengths of the lacrosse sticks also differ in both categories with the men’s stick being longer then the ladies.
Physical contact.
In the men’s game there is use of much protective gear because body-checking is allowed and it’s one of the ways of attacking the opponents while this is not allowed in the women’s lacrosse hence the ladies wear less protective gear.
Pitch size.
The playing field of men’s lacrosse is far much less than that of the ladies. This may be due to the fact that there are fewer players in the men’s game than women’s.
Game duration.
The men’s game is usually divided into for quarters of play of 15 minutes each totaling to 60 minutes of play while the ladies game is divided into two halves and the total play length can last anywhere between 50-60 minutes of play.
Box lacrosse
The box lacrosse can be seen as the latest entry in the game and instead of the game being played outdoors, it’s usually played in an enclosed arena, hence the name box, and the play filed is usually quite smaller in size. This means that it can only accommodate fewer players than in the case of filed lacrosse. As a matter of fact, box lacrosse is usually played in a hockey rink.
Since the pitch for playing is smaller, the goal posts are also quite smaller and the game is usually played by seniors and most experienced players and thus it is more physical than the field game. The positioning of the players in the box game is also quite different from the field game in a number of ways.
Preparing for a Lacrosse Game
Like many sporting events, playing lacrosse requires you to be physically endowed with qualities such as speed of movements, strength and ability to endure throughout the playing session. You will also need to be fit like an athlete and especially avoid injuries — though they happen by accidents — so that your team has equal chances of winning.
Moreover, you need to be a team player who is committed to work with other teammates to ensure that your team carries the day. Adequate training and prepared to work with other team members as well as gaining the skill required while in the field is something that you can’t do without if you really want to be the winners at the end of the playing session.
Although the training sessions are geared at improving your skills while on the pitch, it’s upon you to physically prepare your body to endure all the pounding which come by in the game especially the box lacrosse game.
So how do you adequately prepare for victory in such a physical game?
Practice fast running.
Some types of running such as sprint running helps you get better at speed running which is a major characteristic of lacrosse as the game involves short bursts of speed from time to time till the game ends.
Always minimize weariness of the body. Since you will have to run in the field from time to time, it is essential that you have regular training time so that your body adapts to the running and the use of the lacrosse stick.
Muscle fitness.
Muscle fitness is key to enabling players become physically endowed with strength which is a key ingredient which ensures success in the game. It is essential for a player to have regular fitness sessions which help one to build up muscle as well as increase the stamina.
Some lacrosse tactics such as stopping an opponent from netting the ball or going after loose balls and thus getting hit by the boards will require the player to be good physically.
Body stretching.
One of the most hurtful condition which might impede even the best player from playing successfully in almost all physical games is the muscular attacks which might happen while on the field such as body sprains, spasm attacks, strains, or muscle tear all which happen if the player’s muscle are rigid.
This means that it is essential for a player to have stretching sessions which will enable such a player to have flexible muscle and hence minimize such incidences. Lacrosse players with flexible muscle are also advantaged due the fact that the game requires a lot of running and with good stretching; a player can be able to sprint fast enough to carry one’s team to victory.
Mental Preparedness.
As any team and they will tell you that before the start of the game, they must all be in the right mood. This enables efficient team work and enables a player to deliver his/her best while on the field. It should be noted that in any contest, there must be a winner and a loser and therefore all this should be anticipated, though you should always go for glory and success while still accepting the challenge posed by the opponents.
