Many people are unsure about the differences between lacrosse and field hockey. This guide will clear up any confusion and help you decide which sport is right for you.

Lacrosse and field hockey are both team sports that involve using a stick to hit a ball. However, there are several key differences between the two sports. Lacrosse is a faster-paced game that involves more running, while field hockey is slower-paced and has more strategic play. Lacrosse is also played on a larger field with more players, while field hockey is typically played on a smaller pitch with fewer players.

What is Lacrosse?

Lacrosse is a team sport that originated with Native Americans. It is played with 10 players on each side, using sticks with nets on the end to catch, carry, and pass a small rubber ball. The game is played on a field measuring 100 yards long by 60 yards wide. The objective of the game is to score goals by shooting the ball into the opponent’s goal.

Lacrosse is a physically demanding sport that requires players to have good stamina and agility. The game is fast-paced and often chaotic, with players running up and down the field trying to score goals. Because of the physical nature of the sport, lacrosse is considered a contact sport and players are required to wear protective gear, including helmets, gloves, shoulder pads, and mouthguards.

What is Field Hockey?

Field hockey is a team sport that is played with 11 players on each side. The game is played on a field measuring 100 yards long by 60 yards wide. Players use sticks to hit a small hard ball into the opponent’s goal. The objective of the game is to score more goals than the other team.

Field hockey is a slower-paced game than lacrosse and requires more strategic play. Because of the smaller number of players on the field, there is less running and more passing in field hockey. The game is considered a contact sport and players are required to wear protective gear, including helmets, shin guards, and mouthguards.

10 Benefits/Pros of Playing Lacrosse:

1. Lacrosse is a great way to stay active and get exercise. The fast-paced nature of the game means that players are constantly running, jumping, and sprinting up and down the field. This high level of activity means that lacrosse is an excellent way to stay in shape and improve your cardiovascular health.

2. Lacrosse is a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination. The game requires players to use their sticks to catch, carry, and pass the ball. This repeated motion helps to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

3. Lacrosse is a great team sport that promotes teamwork and sportsmanship. Working together as a team is essential to success in lacrosse. The game also teaches players the importance of good sportsmanship and how to win and lose gracefully.

4. Lacrosse is a great way to relieve stress and have fun. The fast-paced nature of the game and the feeling of scoring a goal can help to release endorphins and improve your mood.

5. Lacrosse is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. The social nature of the sport means that players often form close bonds with their teammates. This can lead to lasting friendships both on and off the field.

6. Lacrosse can help improve your decision-making skills. The game requires players to make split-second decisions on the field. This helps to improve decision-making skills and can be beneficial in other areas of life.

7. Lacrosse is a great way to develop leadership skills. The game often requires players to take on leadership roles within their team. This can help to develop important leadership skills that can be beneficial in other areas of life.

8. Lacrosse can help improve your memory and concentration. The game requires players to remember plays and strategies. This helps to improve memory and concentration skills.

9. Lacrosse can help improve your problem-solving skills. The game often presents players with challenging situations that require quick thinking and creative solutions. This helps to develop important problem-solving skills.

10. Lacrosse is a great way to prepare for other sports. The fast-paced nature of the game and the need for quick decision-making means that lacrosse can be a great way to prepare for other sports such as hockey, basketball, or football.

5 Disadvantages/Cons of Playing Lacrosse:

1. Lacrosse can be a dangerous sport and injuries are common. The physical nature of the game means that players are at risk for sustaining injuries such as concussions, fractured bones, and sprained joints.

2. Lacrosse can be an expensive sport to play. The cost of equipment and registration fees can add up quickly.

3. Lacrosse requires a significant time commitment. The game is often played on weekends and during the summer months. This can make it difficult to balance lacrosse with other activities such as school or work.

4. Lacrosse can be a competitive sport and players may feel pressure to perform well. The competitive nature of the game can often lead to players feeling anxious or stressed.

5. Lacrosse may not be available in all areas. The sport is not as widely played as other sports such as football or basketball. This can make it difficult to find teams or leagues to join if you do not live in a lacrosse-friendly area.

Benefits/advantages of Playing Field Hockey:

1. Field hockey is a great way to stay in shape and improve your cardiovascular health. The game requires players to run, jump, and sprint up and down the field. This high level of activity means that field hockey is an excellent way to stay in shape and improve your cardiovascular health.

2. Field hockey is a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and motor skills. The game requires players to stickhandle the ball and hit it with a stick. This repeated motion helps to improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills.

3. Field hockey promotes teamwork and sportsmanship. Working together as a team is essential to success in field hockey. This can help to promote teamwork and sportsmanship.

4. Field hockey relieves stress and is a way to have fun. The fast-paced nature of the game and the feeling of scoring a goal can help to release endorphins and improve your mood.

5. Field hockey is a great way to meet new people and make new friends. The game is often played in teams which provides an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

Disadvantages/Cons of Playing Field Hockey:

1. Field hockey can be a dangerous sport and injuries are common. The physical nature of the game means that players are at risk for sustaining injuries such as concussions, fractured bones, and sprained joints.

2. Field hockey can be an expensive sport to play. The cost of equipment and registration fees can add up quickly.

3. Field hockey requires a significant time commitment. The game is often played on weekends and during the summer months. This can make it difficult to balance field hockey with other activities such as school or work.

4. Field hockey can be a competitive sport and players may feel pressure to perform well. The competitive nature of the game can often lead to players feeling anxious or stressed.

5. Field hockey may not be available in all areas. The sport is not as widely played as other sports such as football or basketball. This can make it difficult to find teams or leagues to join if you do not live in a field hockey-friendly area.

Reasons Lacrosse is better than Field Hockey:

1. Lacrosse is a more physically demanding sport than field hockey. The constant running, jumping, and sprinting required in lacrosse means that players will get a better workout than they would playing field hockey.

2. Lacrosse requires more hand-eye coordination than field hockey. Players must stickhandle the ball and hit it with a lacrosse stick. This repeated motion helps to improve hand-eye coordination.

3. Lacrosse is a more strategic sport than field hockey. The game of lacrosse is played on a larger field with more players. This means that there is more strategy involved in the game and players must think about their next move carefully.

4. Lacrosse is a more exciting sport to watch than field hockey. The fast-paced nature of the game and the feeling of scoring a goal make lacrosse more exciting to watch than field hockey.

3 Reasons to pick Field Hockey over Lacrosse:

1. Field hockey is a less physically demanding sport than lacrosse. The shorter playing field and lack of contact means that players will not get as tired playing field hockey.

2. Field hockey is a less expensive sport to play than lacrosse. The cost of equipment and registration fees are often cheaper for field hockey than they are for lacrosse.

3. Field hockey is a more widely played sport than lacrosse. This means that it is easier to find teams or leagues to join if you live in a field hockey-friendly area.

Lacrosse vs Field Hockey Ball:

Both games are played with a ball that is used in a goaltending system. While lacrosse balls have smaller circumferences between 7.75 and 8 inches, field hockey balls range in size starting at 8.8 inches with a maximum size of 9.25 inches.

Because lacrosse balls are passed through the air, players typically wear eye protection. They also don pads to protect their teeth from getting hit by sticks during cross-checking. In field hockey, however, most of the action occurs on the ground, so players usually just wear mouthguards and shin guards instead of eyewear. The strategy used in each game is different as well.

Each sport has different strategy based on how the ball moves in that particular game. Field hockey players hit the ball with sticks on the ground, so passes are made through stick play by utilizing certain players accordingly. Lacrosse is a tad more aggressive- players exchange sticky balls between them by hitting it in the air. The game is also faster-paced, so quick decisions have to be made in order to keep up with the other team.

Field Hockey vs Lacrosse Equipment:

The type of equipment used in both sports is different as well. Field hockey players use a long stick that is curved at the end, while lacrosse players use a shorter stick with a net at the end. This is because field hockey is mostly played on the ground, so the curved end of the stick helps to hit the ball. Lacrosse is mostly played in the air, so the net at the end of the stick helps to catch and throw the ball.

Field hockey players also wear a mouthguard, shin guards, and cleats. Lacrosse players wear pads, a helmet, gloves, and cleats. The different equipment is due to the different playing styles of each game.

Field Hockey vs Lacrosse Playing Style:

The playing style of field hockey is more technical than lacrosse. This is because the game is mostly played on the ground, so players have to be very precise when they hit the ball. Lacrosse is mostly played in the air, so players can be more aggressive and just try to get the ball into the net.

The playing style of each game is also different because of the different equipment used. Field hockey players use a stick to hit the ball, so they have to be very precise when they swing. Lacrosse players use a net at the end of their stick, so they can just try to catch and throw the ball.

There are eleven members on a field hockey team and usually fifteen people per team. Lacrosse teams have ten players each. There are three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders, and one goalie on each lacrosse team. Field hockey teams also have four forwards, three midfielders,three defense players, and one goalie. Both lacrosse and field hockey games move quickly; they require a lot of running from the player as well as endurance to last the entire game.

Gender in Field Hockey vs Lacrosse:

The biggest distinction between men and women’s lacrosse is the physical contact allowed; checking is legal in men’s play, but not for women. Since there is no body contact, women players do not need as much protective gear. An extra two players are on the field for each team in a women’s game. In women’s field hockey, eleven players are on each team.

The women’s game of lacrosse is different from the men’s in a few key ways. One such way is that the pockets on women’s sticks have strung nets instead of mesh nets, which makes it more difficult to shoot and handle the ball.

The dimensions of a men’s lacrosse field are 110 yards long and 60 yards wide, while a women’s lacrosse field is 120 yards long by 70 yards wide. For Field Hockey, there aren’t many differences between the Men’s and Women’s game because it is widely considered to be primarily female sport in America. Unfortunately, this means that males don’t have the opportunity to play field hockey for their college team but they can try out for USA International competitions. Nevertheless, Field Hockey does offer opportunities for both genders as it satisfies Title IX requirements in terms of equal participation from male and female athletes.

Lacrosse vs Field Hockey goggles:

You will need to wear wire field hockey goggles that have front bars over the eyes. Most lacrosse goggles do not have these. In Field Hockey, the wire on the goggles is important because it protects your eyes from the hard, plastic ball being hit at high speeds. In lacrosse, the balls are softer and not hit as hard, so the wire isn’t as necessary. However, you may still want to wear lacrosse goggles to protect your eyes from errant sticks or balls.

See the attached image for a visual representation of the difference between legal models and illegal goggles such as deBeer and Bangerz goggles which were recently deemed illegal to wear;