Some female lacrosse players, like collegiate star Ali Jaeger, grew up playing the boys' version of the sport because they had no other choice -- there were no girls' leagues in their area. And some who do have a choice, like Idaho highs chooler Sara Maras, just prefer boys' lacrosse, which differs greatly from the girls' game. Historical evolution is the main reason behind the two sports' differences, and tradition is what keeps them separate.
History
Lacrosse, which has roots in Native American, French and Canadian culture, began as a men's sport. When it spread to women's colleges in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was a close adaptation of the men's game, with little protective equipment or bodily contact. The men's version of lacrosse began to evolve around the mid-1930s, while the women's game -- still mainly confined to all-female schools and therefore uninfluenced by the changes to the men's game -- remained the same.
Game Play
Proponents of girls' lacrosse say it actually requires more skill than the boys' game. Sticks for female players have shallower pockets, which makes it more difficult to catch, shoot and carry the ball than it is with the boys' sticks. Because they wear less protective equipment than the boys, female players are not allowed much bodily contact, although players still get hit with sticks. However, girls do wear protective eye and mouth guards to reduce the risk of injury.
Athleticism
The boys' game is decidedly rougher, with male players wearing helmets, gloves and other safety equipment that girls do not. The boys' sticks have deeper pockets, making the ball easier to carry. With body-checking and other physical contact allowed, game play is smoother in the men's game, with fewer interruptions for penalties. However, outright violence is still forbidden, and the amount of equipment required to play the boys' game properly can be encumbering.
Considerations
Although some girls have expressed a desire to play the boys' version of lacrosse, others defend their sport as being more graceful and skillful, while still providing a physical workout. Despite the differences, both sexes have produced highly skilled players and generated continued interest in the sport at the collegiate and professional levels.
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