Lax and basketball

Now that you know a little bit more about my interests in lacrosse, I will try my best to explain the basics of the game. Although it is similar to both hockey and soccer and even water polo, I usually explain it in terms of basketball.

I know this seems sort of odd as basketball is neither a stick sport nor a field sport, but I actually believe the basketball comparison makes lacrosse easier to understand. Pretend that instead of a basketball hoop, there is a lacrosse goal on the ground and a goalie standing in front of it. The goal looks sort of like an ice hockey goal, but instead of being rectangular, the back ends meet at a point, creating more of a conical shape.  A lacrosse field has a half-field line and a center circle, just like a basketball court has its own half-court line and center circle, However, the lacrosse circle is much larger. There are then two semi-circles that are drawn around each lacrosse goal- one with an 8 meter radius, and one with a 12 meter radius. Think of the 8-meter as the lacrosse version of a key and think of the 12-meter as the 3 point line. One significant difference is that players can go behind the goal, as long as they do not violate the crease (or “the goalie’s circle” as I liked to call it when I first started lacrosse), like in ice hockey.

Comparisons to basketball can be drawn with the actual play as well. Although the players’ positions are more like those of soccer, such as goalie, defense, midfield, and attack (the lacrosse version of forwards/strikers), the plays are set up much like those of basketball and hockey. Just like two centers would face off for a jump ball in the center circle of a basketball court, two lacrosse centers face off for the ball in the center circle. Men begin play with a face off similar to that of ice hockey and women begin their game with what is called a draw, which involves the two centers using each other’s sticks to toss the ball into the air; a sort of self-serve jump ball if you will. Just like basketball players will typically set up plays with players stationed in the area outside of the key, lacrosse players typically set up outside of the 8-meter. From there, the plays that are run are very similar. Like in basketball, offensive plays in lacrosse usually involve passing back and forth in motion offense, pick and rolls/screens, catch and shoots, and isolations. On the defensive side, players box out in a way that basketball players would, except with a stick. Lacrosse defenses are more typically man-to-man, but players defend plays the same way basketball players would. As you can see, most of the footwork is actually pretty similar.

What about the lacrosse stick; how is the stick related to basketball? Well, as many lacrosse coaches, hockey coaches, and even drummers might say, the stick is an extension of the body. Players catch, throw, and feel the weight of the lacrosse ball using their sticks as an extension of their arms. While young basketball players learn to dribble, young lacrosse players learn to cradle. The concepts behind both are similar. They are both required elements of their respective sports for players to run up and down the playing area with the ball. Dribbling is rhythmic and so is cradling. Speaking from personal experience-running while doing either is not easy, although falling on your face is more likely while dribbling than while cradling.

So basically, if you know what’s going on when you’re watching the Lakers or the Knicks or even the Golden State Warriors, you should be able to understand lacrosse as a spectator. Hopefully, you will be able to put all your new knowledge of lacrosse to use soon. Make sure to casually state that “lacrosse is essentially basketball”, and you will sound like the ultimate sports guru. Next time, I’ll look at the prominence of lacrosse in national media and let you know where you can watch a game!