Lacrosse – One Of The Fastest Growing Sports in America

Lacrosse players come in all shapes and sizes, however, different body types are specialized for different positions.

The goalie is the last line of defense and protects the net. A goalie stands in net the entire game, therefore a larger and bulkier goalie would be ideal in order to take up most of the space. A defender spends time making quick cuts and turns due to putting pressure on the opposing team’s offensive. These skills attribute to a defense’s large calves and thighs.

On the other hand, a midfielder is to play both offensive and defensive and is constantly running back and forth across the field. A midfielder should acquire a slender, but fit body and be able to run at a fast speed due to many quick transitions. The attack’s goal is to put the ball in the net. An attacker has strong, muscular arms that are powerful when releasing the ball. Height also plays a role in lacrosse, as the majority of players are 5’7” to 6’1”.

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“The average height of lacrosse players has remained unchanged over the past several years, which gives evidence to the fact that it is still an important factor in the sport”.

The top 10 schools who had the best defensive efficiency consisted of players who were 6 feet tall or more. However, schools who did not have tall defenders were still able to have a successful season. Small defenders focus on their speed and skills, which makes up for their lack of height. Lacrosse is an upper-middle class sport, which has not included students of a diverse background both historically and currently.

This is despite that the game of lacrosse originated from the Native Americans. As Bauer-Wolf (2018) states, “National Collegiate Athletic Association data reveal that lacrosse remains one of the whitest sports in Division I.”

The development of talent comes from a source of wealth. Parents sink in a great amount of money to find the most competitive teams, hire the most intense trainers and buy the best equipment for their children. Lacrosse is also in the “genes” of white players. The love for the game has been passed down from generation to generation, as most family members play the sport. On the other hand, players from a low-income background are not able to acquire the same benefits as white players. Students of color usually attend schools in major cities, which lack facilities and the land needed for lacrosse.

Students of color also do not have a role model to look up to, therefore, the role model effect is not in place. The role model effect is when an individual looks up to someone who has achieved a similar goal of theirs. An example of a role model is Se Ri Pak, who was the first Korean women to win the 1998 US Women’s Open. The “talent hotbeds” of lacrosse lie Canada, Upstate New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Baltimore. However, the original “goldmine” of lacrosse began in Long Island. ““Goldmines” are small, geographically defined locations that produce a disproportionate number of top athletes in specific sports”.

Long Island is said to have the perfect climate, economics and professional inclinations in order to be the hotbed of lacrosse. European immigrants began to arrive in the country, who found the American Indians playing the game of lacrosse. The game then spread from North America to Europe and back, as it landed in the hub of Long Island. Majority of the hotbeds have been in the northeast region of the country. However, there has been a recent shift in these hotbeds towards the southern and western regions, such as Texas and California. “California led the way in 2014 with a 43% increase in the number of players hailing from this region and an 89% increase in the amount of points scored”. The reason for this shift is due to some of the best lacrosse players in the country moving to California and spreading their love and knowledge of the game with young, eager players. Another reason for the shift is because of the recruitment of players from different geographical areas. Canadian players learn how to play box lacrosse, which translates well with field lacrosse. The Canadian players bring their skills to underdeveloped teams, which in turn leads lacrosse programs to success.

Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports across the nation with a 208% increase rate for girls and a 175% increase rate for boys all within the past 10 years. Due to the growth of lacrosse, the stakes are high to be recruited for a college team. It is a goal for most high school lacrosse players to receive an athletic scholarship to compete at a National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Division I school. The NCAA consists of 90 championships, 24 sports, one of them being lacrosse, and 3 divisions. Division I schools only give out 12 athletic scholarships per school, therefore the competition is extremely high. The expectations for men lacrosse players to play for Division I schools are to have a membership on the US Lacrosse Regional Team, obtain high school, US Lacrosse or Under Armour All-American Honors, obtain high school All-State Honors and compete in a variety of events, such as Top 205 Camp, Top Star, Top 105 and NE Elite 180.

Long Island helps athletes gain access to these high performance sports programs, by putting a lacrosse stick in children’s hands at a young age. Instruction can begin at kindergarten; however competitive games do not begin until third grade. If a child is exposed to a sport at a young age, they will acquire over “10,000 hours of quality practice needed to reach the highest level of skill”. Although this rule is only a myth, it is still true that an athlete needs to dedicate a lot of their time and consistently practice in order to excel in their preferred sport.