There are several similarities between the sports of lacrosse and ice hockey. Many of the similarities take shape in the form and function of the game while others can be seen in the aggressiveness and attitude of the players. Both games require a certain level of fearlessness that requires a player to put his body at risk to make the play.
Length and Start of Game
Both lacrosse and ice hockey games last 60 minutes. While a hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods, a lacrosse game is divided into four 15-minute periods. Both games begin with a face-off. The referee will call the two centers or attackers to the face-off circle in the middle of the playing area to begin play. The referee will drop the puck in a neutral way to begin play fairly in hockey, and will do the same by placing the ball between the two lacrosse players before blowing his whistle to begin play.
Power Play
Both hockey and lacrosse present opportunities to play with an advantage in the number of players when the other side commits a penalty. While contact is permitted in both sports, you cannot use your hockey stick or lacrosse stick to slash at your opponent. This is a penalty, and if the referee blows his whistle to indicate the slashing penalty, the offending player must sit out and his team must play shorthanded. In hockey, a typical minor penalty lasts two minutes, while most lacrosse penalties last one minute. If the team scores while the opponent is short-handed, the penalty ends and the team gets to bring the player back on the ice or field.
Scoring
Teams score goals in similar manners in both sports. In hockey, the idea is to shoot a puck into a 4-by-6-foot goal that is guarded by a goaltender. In lacrosse, the players try to hurl the lacrosse ball into a goal that measures 6-by-6 feet and that is guarded by a goaltender. Both sports have areas behind the net where offensive players can move with the puck or ball to make plays to set up goals. Sports like football, soccer and basketball do not allow players to move behind the goal to set up scoring plays.
Protective Equipment
All men's lacrosse players wear gloves to protect their hands and helmets to protect their heads. All hockey players wear helmets and protective gloves. Hockey players also wear various protective pads to protect themselves from getting injured by opponents or the hard rubber puck. Lacrosse players may also wear pads under their uniform jerseys to absorb contact and avoid injury. Women's lacrosse players wear eye guards but do not always wear protective helmets.
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