Outdoor Lacrosse in Canada?

[temporary1357]

I'm wondering, how big is outdoor lacrosse in Canada? I heard that indoor lacrosse has quite a following but I don't know much about outdoor lacrosse there.

[RockStar]

It's not big.

Men, Junior men, and youth play a short season in the fall. High schools play a short season in the spring.

Box is it from April to September.

[swordsman]

Well atlest you can get both there. Here we only have field and NO box season at all in my area.

[RedBird1]

The Canadian Lacrosse Association has field available for all age groups in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and possibly a couple other regions. I know here in Ontario we have an organized field league. I'm hoping to play in it this fall. But yeah, for the most part box is king in Canada. However I've heard that in Manitoba field is more popular (I could be wrong). Box lacrosse has traditionally been bigger in Canada because literally every small town across Canada has hockey rinks that aren't in use in the summer months, so why not play lacrosse on the concrete surface and stay fit for the next hockey season. Except now lacrosse is quickly becoming a major sport here on its own. I myself, only play lacrosse.

[Mr. Big]

However I've heard that in Manitoba field is more popular (I could be wrong). Box lacrosse has traditionally been bigger in Canada because literally every small town across Canada has hockey rinks that aren't in use in the summer months, so why not play lacrosse on the concrete surface and stay fit for the next hockey season. Except now lacrosse is quickly becoming a major sport here on its own. I myself, only play lacrosse.

I think that's what hurts box in America. We don't have an abundance of hockey rinks throughout the states. I wonder how difficult (translation, expensive) it would be to "convert" basketball gyms into box-ready rinks? If this could be done relatively easy and cheap, we might get more high schools interested in box and maybe rec leagues, too.

[RockStar]

I think that's what hurts box in America. We don't have an abundance of hockey rinks throughout the states. I wonder how difficult (translation, expensive) it would be to "convert" basketball gyms into box-ready rinks? If this could be done relatively easy and cheap, we might get more high schools interested in box and maybe rec leagues, too.

Basketball floors are way too short and crowded to play real box lacrosse. We played 4-on-4 and it was still a bit crowded. 3 on 3 might be a better idea.

Scores get ridiculous too because of the lack of running. For a two hour pickup game, we were looking at like 35-33.

[pantherLax]

i dont think high schools wud go into that idea cuz the damage it cud cause...

[Mr. Big]

Basketball floors are way too short and crowded to play real box lacrosse. We played 4-on-4 and it was still a bit crowded. 3 on 3 might be a better idea.

Scores get ridiculous too because of the lack of running. For a two hour pickup game, we were looking at like 35-33.

Yeah, but I was considering the WHOLE floor area. Our old high school gym had six ft on the long sides and 10 on the short ones. Not a lot of difference, but still, more playing area. Also, the bleachers were raised eight feet off the floor with walls surrounding two sides. Every setup isn't as gracious, but I just thought it would be a chance for box in American high schools. Without converting basketball gyms, the prospects are bleak.

[RockStar]

^^Mr. Big:

Still a huge difference. A basketball size gym is about 50 x 100 feet, no?

A full sized box floor is about 85 to 90 feet wide by 180 to 200 feet long.

[Mr. Big]

^^RockStar, you are correct, and even with th added footage of the non-playing (out of bounds) area, it would still be small. You can't blame a guy for wishin'! Maybe we could make it four-on-four?

[LL71]

how about indoor soccer pitches? they are ok better than nothing, there is one around my area that has boards and everything. perhaps you could look into one?

[Stonewall35]

If the indoor soccer facility has the 200 by 85 area, then you could go with it. I would still be concerned on the end boards, where the soccer nets would be placed. To cover that area up, there would still be too much give in those boards IMHO.

[MBLacrosse]

The Canadian Lacrosse Association has field available for all age groups in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and possibly a couple other regions. I know here in Ontario we have an organized field league. I'm hoping to play in it this fall. But yeah, for the most part box is king in Canada. However I've heard that in Manitoba field is more popular (I could be wrong). Box lacrosse has traditionally been bigger in Canada because literally every small town across Canada has hockey rinks that aren't in use in the summer months, so why not play lacrosse on the concrete surface and stay fit for the next hockey season. Except now lacrosse is quickly becoming a major sport here on its own. I myself, only play lacrosse.

In Manitoba, we dont play too much field. We have a highschool league that runs from the end of April till the start of June and then we have the provincial teams at the U16 and U19 level. We play alot more box here and there isnt minor field leagues like we have for box. I personally enjoy playing field but i find box to be much faster and funner to play.

[RockStar]

If the indoor soccer facility has the 200 by 85 area, then you could go with it. I would still be concerned on the end boards, where the soccer nets would be placed. To cover that area up, there would still be too much give in those boards IMHO.

I play masters at an indoor soccer place and it's fine*. I would never use a soccer floor for full contact, though for the reasons Stonewall pointed out.

(except that it is a fairly small floor.....old 80x180, low ceiling hockey arena where ice plant busted years ago. Arena is a bit of a rat-trap, so ice plant wasn't worth fixing, so it became a soccer place. Honestly, for all it's shortcomings, it's better than soccer players deserve!)