Understanding the Positions in a Boys Lacrosse Team
In boys lacrosse, like any other team sport, understanding the function, role and importance of every position is necessary for a team to function properly. The positions in a boys lacrosse team are that of goalie, defenders, midfielders and attackers. Each position has a specific role to play in the game and requires different skills for children occupying the position.
There is one goalie in a boys lacrosse game. As in football or hockey, the goalie’s position is between the goal posts and his job is to prevent the ball from getting into the net. The goalie, who has the best view of an opposing team’s attack, is also responsible for coordinating with the defense and alerting them about picks. The goalie also initiates an offensive play whenever he blocks a shot by passing the ball to a midfielder in the right position to start an attack. The goalie must be ready to intercept shots from all directions. This requires excellent hand and eye coordination as well as quick reflexes from any player who wants to assume the position of goalie in a boys lacrosse team.
The Advantages of Lacrosse Camps for Boys Lacrosse
Boys’ lacrosse is not a sport to be learned on one’s own and lacrosse camps are important training grounds for boys who want to master the sport. There are boys’ lacrosse camps (and girls’ lacrosse camps, too) all over the United States and Canada that provide professional training for kids who want to up their performance in the sport.
Aside from the usual benefits of independence, discipline and camaraderie that a child gets from going to a training camp, lacrosse camps are focused on developing skills that a boy needs to excel in the sport. What exactly does a boy learn at lacrosse camps?
For a boy starting out in the sport, lacrosse camps begin with the fundamentals of lacrosse, something that may not have been adequately covered in school or a hometown club. The history, values, objectives and basics of lacrosse are drilled into the attendees to ensure that they have the necessary theory to back up their skills training.
The next thing that a boy learns at lacrosse camps are the fundamental skills: goalkeeping, defending, setting up plays and attacking. There are lacrosse camps that offer training programs focused on one specific role for those who choose to be goalies, attackers or one specific role or another in a team.
Coaching Tips for Boys Lacrosse
For children to excel and get the maximum benefit out of boys lacrosse, proper coaching is a must. For most kids, lacrosse may not be a very familiar game so good coaching will involve more than just teaching them techniques and plays. Coaching boys lacrosse will have to start from introducing them to the game and teaching them the value and benefit they can derive from the sport. Here are some coaching tips for boys’ lacrosse that will help them gain the proper appreciation for it.
- Put on some videos. It may not always be possible to bring the kids to an actual lacrosse game but some good videos of boys lacrosse matches will serve as a good introduction and give them an overview of the game. If watching an actual lacrosse game is possible, that would be an even better introduction.
In Kids Lacrosse, There Are Differences Between Girls’ and Boys Lacrosse
Kids lacrosse is played by both girls and boys but there are differences when it comes to rules and equipment. The hitting and checking allowed in boys lacrosse is not allowed in girls’ lacrosse. This leads to a difference in the equipment used in girls’ and boys’ lacrosse. The major differences in kids lacrosse lies in the protective gear, the helmet, stick, ball and gloves.
Crosse – For boys, the length of the crosse or stick should be 40-42 inches for attackers and midfielders, 50-72 inches for defenders and the crosse head should be 6.5-10 inches wide. For girls, it should be 35.5-43.25 inches and the crosse head should be 7-9 inches wide.
Ball – By tradition, in boys’ lacrosse, the ball can be white, yellow or orange weighing 5-5.25 ounces and 7.75-8 inches in circumference. For girls, the ball has to be yellow.
