1. Not the Same Game
Men and women's lacrosse are significantly different games. Both play on the same field and shoot on the same goal but that's about the only thing they have in common. The women's version, which is non-contact, is much more a game of finesse and skill while the men rely more on power and strength for this fast and physical contact sport. The equipment, defense, number of players on the field and even the color of the ball are physical differences you'll notice when comparing the two games.
2. Strength in Numbers
Women play lacrosse with 12 players on the field while men only have 10. They consist of three attackers, three defenders, five midfielders and a goalie. In the men's game only three midfielders are used. In both versions of the game the teams must keep three players on each end of the field at all times or they will suffer an offside penalty. These three players don't necessarily have to be the attackers or defenders as long as the numbers are right. Midfielders can run anywhere on the field.
3. Same Sport, Different Rules
In addition to women playing a non-contact version of lacrosse, there are a number of other different rules to their game. In women's lacrosse, the defender cannot be in the shooting space when an attacker approaches the goal. They can also only be in the shooting area for three seconds when not closely defending an attacker, making it much more difficult to defend the goal. Another difference is in how officials assess penalties in the women's game. The offending team loses possession of the ball when a woman commits a penalty while men suffer penalty box time for their penalties.
4. Gearing Up
Equipment is both a cause and effect of the differences in men and women's lacrosse. A woman's lacrosse stick is shorter than a man's and does not have a pocket in the net. This is why women must rely more on skill than power in throwing, catching and shooting the ball. Women don't have to wear the protective equipment worn by men since the sport is not as physical. Instead, they only wear goggles and a mouth guard though the goalie does wear more protective gear. The differences even affect the color of the ball used, with women using a yellow one and men, a white one.
5. Levels of Play
Women's lacrosse exists at most of the same levels as men. Some areas of the United States begin girls' lacrosse leagues as young as eight-years-old and run them up through high school. Many colleges also have women's lacrosse teams that compete in a spring season. While some professional men's leagues exist in both indoor and outdoor lacrosse, women don't presently have a professional league.
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