Using The Right Lacrosse Equipment Prevents Injuries

By Nikki Josephs
Lacrosse is a very popular sport in Europe though not as popular in the United States. This sport is definitely an exciting and fun leisure activity, but can also be dangerous. Sports injuries are fairly common among players and it is important to use the proper equipment while playing the game to minimize the risk of injury.

It is absolutely necessary to wear a helmet when you play because head injuries are quite common to the sport. You can imagine how serious the damage can be when the ball with an eight inch circumference, hit by the stick, lands straight on your head. The only way to protect your head is to wear the helmet with a simple chin strap that helps hold the helmet securely to the head.

The other essential piece of equipment is the face mask, which helps reduce the risk of face injuries. There is a center bar in every mask which runs from the top all the way to the bottom. This specially designed face mask is all that prevents the huge ball from seriously damaging a player's face.

Lacrosse players need to wear thick padded gloves to handle the stick which is used to strike the ball. The gloves protect the players' hands from unnecessary injury and abuse. Gloves with thicker padding may be required if you find that your hands are still bruised and sore after playing.

The clothing worn by players varies somewhat according to the position played. In general, players



wear shorts and a short-sleeved shirt during play. Elbow pads are optional but are considered to be a good idea as it is not uncommon to be struck by an opposing player’s stick during play. The goalie will wear padded pants and generally uses chest and thigh pads for protection against the ball and flying sticks.

The ball used in is as big as the softball and is usually white though you can often see yellow, lime green, or orange balls used during play. It is important to use the safety equipment and padding to prevent injuries caused by the unintentional contact with this large ball.

The stick used to hit the ball is called "crosse", though many players prefer to call the crosse a stick. The size of the stick varies according to the position you play and your personal preference. While a short stick is about 40-42 inches in length the long stick is 52-72 inches long. You need elbow pads and gloves so that you don’t hurt yourself while trying to hit the ball.

Injuries are common in as the game involves contact with fast moving balls and rather large sticks. So, it’s better to be safe than silly, and make sure that you don’t spend your time on the sidelines nursing injuries instead of playing the game you love. Don’t ever try to play the game without the recommended safety equipment.

Free Article brought to YOU by ArticlesOn.com, where you'll find Articles On Everything! Visit http://articleson.com to get more free content.

Sarah Delvera runs a very interesting website at Fast Lacrosse, it's one of the webs most up to date sites, their free newsletter is well worth signing up for too. If you want to read more articles go to: www.fastlacrosse.com/articles
This and other unique content articles are available with free reprint rights.

Here are some more lacrosse articles...