A lacrosse goalie is unlike any other player on the field. He must endure the punishing hits of solid-rubber lacrosse balls flying at speeds that can exceed 100 mph. He must be able to react quickly and with full range of motion, so the gear used by a goalie must provide a lot of protection without limiting his movements as he defends the goal.
Stick
The stick--or crosse, as it is called in lacrosse--is a required piece of equipment for the goaltender. It measures up to 72 inches long, and goalie sticks have wider heads than other sticks for other positions.
Gloves
Padded gloves are required for all players in men's lacrosse and for goalies in women's lacrosse. Goalie gloves have extra padding or plates to protect the thumbs and fingers.
Helmet and Face Mask
Goalies must wear helmets with protective face masks. All helmets and face masks must be approved by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.
Mouth Guard
Each player, including the goalie, is required to wear a mouth guard. It must cover all the upper teeth and be a highly visible color.
Chest Protector
Only the goalie must wear a chest protector. It can be a stand-alone piece of equipment, or it can be integrated with shoulder pads.
Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads are not required for goalies, but they are recommended. Lacrosse shoulder pads are available, but football shoulder pads can be worn if the pads do not exceed 1 inch in thickness.
Arm Guards
Arm guards, although required for other positions, are optional for lacrosse goalies. Goalies are encouraged to wear them if they want extra protection and don't think their range of motion will be limited.
Throat Guard
A throat guard must be worn by goalies in men's and women's lacrosse. It must be specifically designed for lacrosse.
Pants
Goalies can choose to wear protective pants, which include pads for the thighs, the hips and the pelvic area. Padding for the legs are required at some levels of play.
Other Equipment
Other pieces of equipment that goalies can wear include rib guards, knee pads, elbow pads and shin guards.
Cleats
All lacrosse players, including goalies, must wear athletic footwear. Men can wear cleats up to half an inch long. Women are limited to stud cleats.
Athletic Supporter
An athletic supporter and protective cup is required for male goalies and optional for female goalies. This protection can be found in goalie pants.
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