Many people often confuse themselves between Lacrosse and Field Hockey- both are played on the field and have similar uniforms for players. Despite these similarities, there are a lot of differences between these two major sports.

The Stick 

The Lacrosse stick can be differentiated by having a roughly triangular shape and is strung with loose netting that allows the ball to be caught, carried passed, or shot. In Field Hockey, the stick has a hooked head and has a flat end so the ball can be pushed along the ground.

Other Equipment 

Lacrosse players usually wear eye protection because the ball is passed through the air, and they also wear mouth guards to protect their teeth from cross checking with lacrosse sticks. Field hockey players also wear mouth guards but instead of eyewear they usually have shin guards since most action happens one the ground.

Game Format 

In field hockey, the ball is moved on the ground with sticks; so the ball is passed through stick play utilizing players accordingly. In lacrosse the players swirl the ball in a net and jet it through the air, since the game is advanced using passing, players are used differently. Lacrosse is played during the spring and summer, and field hockey is played during the fall. Gameplay is divided differently. Lacrosse has quarters and field hockey uses halves.

Players on the field

Field hockey has eleven members on the field at one time and usually 15 people per team. Lacrosse has ten players on each team. There are three attackers, three midfielders, three defenders, and a goalie. In field hockey, there are four members on the forward line, three midfield members, three defense players, and a goalie. They require a great deal of running and endurance. Lacrosse and Field Hockey players are typically physically fit and athletic individuals. Both sports feature a scoring netted goal that is protected by a goalie.

Men’s vs Women’s

Women and Men’s lacrosse are very different in the rules of play. Body checking is legal in the men’s game, and it is not in the women’s game. Because the women lacrosse players do not have physical contact in their sport, they do not need the amount of protective gear worn in men’s play. Women have two extra players in their game. Shooting and stickhandling in women’s lacrosse is more difficult than in men’s lacrosse due to the strung net design in women’s sticks. In men’s lacrosse, the field is 110 yards long by 60 yards wide. The women’s field is a little bit larger at 120 yards long by 70 yards wide. Field Hockey has very few differences between the two genders.