Meshing the worlds of Canadian and American Lacrosse

[WHEELAX2]

It seems that Americans and Canadians have taken the sport of lacrosse in two seperate directions.. for the most part, Americans have little to no exposure to the Box game, and Canadians have limited field experience.. Is it possible that we have created two seemingly different sports with the same base???

I believe that if you look at the vast differences between the rules, playing "surfaces", and strategies of play between the NLL and the MLL you can almost call them two different sports..

But, how is it possible that canadians play NCAA and MLL lacrosse and some americans play box lacrosse? I believe this is due to the fact that more and more canadians are being exposed to the field game, and more americans are being exposed to the box game..

however, If you look at the results of the major contests where both Canada and America are represented, you will, for the most part, see americans winning when playing the field game, and generally losing when playing the box game..

and so this brings us to our questions.. How can the two styles of lacrosse be shared between countries?? Will the level of organization achieved over the years in both box lacrosse and field lacrosse be achieved in each country respectively? Can the box game survive in the states? can the field game survive in Canada??

there's no doubt that lacrosse as a whole is spreading throughout the states and the rest of the world like wild fire, but is this national and international expansion primarily the field style??? Will box lacrosse make the same trek that field lacrosse is making?? or will the style remain alone a predominantly canadian tradition??

[KnightsLAXDad]

Maybe no answers, but some opinion on the situation.

Field is gaining ground in Canada. One of it's biggest challenges is the traditional spring season, for a few reasons. Our climate, in general does not permit an early start to any outdoor field sports and most facility managers will not allow play on natural turf fields before at least late April in order for them to dry out and establish themselves or else they get torn to shreds and nver recover. The second is that it overlaps with the start of box season, as well as the end of hockey season (playoff time). The "official" spring field season is very short.

Spring/summer is box season. It's the traditional season and is also dictated by the availability of arenas without ice. The season probably will not change any time soon.

So most (minor) field seasons start after box in mid-August. With the competitive nature of hockey, a lot of kids are already gearing up for the season with pre-season camps. As soon as September rolls around, for the most part it's all hockey.

There are senior field leagues that run all summer since there are few senior rec-level full-on box leagues. There is masters lacrosse but it is non-contact and different rules of play to emphasize passing and teamwork, not brute force and individual effort.

I think tradition runs deep, and you won't see one fade out in favour of the other in either country. From an exposure level, I see box (i.e. NLL) as having the advantage in that it is more entertaining than field (flame-suit on). It is fast, close-quarters, hard hitting, high-scoring. All the things that make for great sports entertainment. Field is a great game but doesn't have the same raw impact as box. I think that box has a bigger potential to draw people in, and as a result could increase in the US as the NLL gets more exposure, especially in the stronger hockey markets, perhaps not as much in the warmer climates where arenas are fewer. Field on the other hand, will be the one that continues to flourish and expand at the school-level, which will eventually spill over into the club level (keeping in mind that in Canada most organized sport is centered around clubs, where it appears that Americans place more emphasis on school sports). I really can't see school box programs ever getting going (mostly due to facility availability during the school year) but field has already starting and is growing since there is a progression from HS to University/College ball now, and it will work it's way down to middle schools grades. Elementary schools sports are non-existent here so we will never see it in Gr6 and under so kids first exposure will be playing box for a club.

Bottom line, based on tradition, box will still dominate in Canada, Field in the US. Both styles will enjoy modest growth in their non-traditional as exposure increases. I think box has a bigger potential to grow in the US than field in Canada. There's too many road blocks (speed bumps?) to overcome for a strong field program here.

[#15Roadies]

Well first of all, Americans didn't create lacrosse, the Natives did. Then the modern game was invented in Montreal and exported to the States in the mid-19th century with Canadian migration to the US. Americans have only dominated field lacrosse since the field game was neglected in favour of the box game in Canada, more or less the last half of the 20th century. Canadians have been playing field lacrosse for a very long time, much longer than Americans, but the numbers of field players declined since the 30's when box came on the scene and more or less took over.

Now field lacrosse is a fast growing sport in Canada. There are rumours that Ontario is looking to move the field season to the autumn and I believe this will help the game grow immensely. Plus there is the prospect of Canadian players picking up a good American college education at the same time. (Canadian universities do not offer sports scholarships the same way American colleges do) So field lacrosse, at least in Ontario, is indeed on the rise.

Box lacrosse in the States is a die-hard sport right now, not for the timid. But it too is growing especially where there is exposure to the pro indoor game. However, because of the nature of the American amateur sporting tradition, box lacrosse needs some help from the pros to make decent inroads with American youth. (I have belaboured this point elsewhere.)

I think the way lacrosse overall is going is awesome! The two games compliment each other, and the two nations compliment each other as well. I think you will start to see many more Canadians heading south for college ball and hopefully one day see those American kids come up here for the high calibre box play in preparation for the pros. I believe that any field player can play box if they so desire and visa versa. There are some differences to overcome (most notably goaltending of course) but not so much to make the games so completely different as the purists like to point out.

Speaking of which - sometimes those purists hurt the game they love so much. We all know about some of the prejudices of field & box purists and I see those attitudes starting to come down now. A smart American coach knows the good attackman, even if he has only been exposed to playing the crease in a box in Canada. Conversely, a smart Canadian coach knows a good player no matter where he comes from – even if he was a defender in HS. Smarts should overrule tradition at this point in time. We have already seen this by some of the recent CLA rule changes in the box game.

So yeah, I see both games coming together to mutually benefit each other. The Americans in the south, the Canadians in the North and the Iroquois smack dab in the middle taking the best of both worlds.

:thumbsup:

[WHEELAX2]

I guess from my perspective, I am frustrated that I hadn't really been exposed to real box, until I sought it out.. and like you said, the purist mentality.. I think this mentality might keep both sets of players from fully integrating.. I just wish Box could somehow flourish here in the states in its true, traditional form.. not the pansy crap we are forced to play..

[KnightsLAXDad]

Well, even the thread title sums it up pretty well. In line with what #15Roadies said, a lot has to do with that association American-Field and Canada-Box. You've read all of the field vs. box threads and the attitudes and opinions even though most here have at least been exposed to both games. It's hard to break those associations, and it always take a determined effort by an individual or group to make change happen, sometimes it a slow grind.

How about starting up a box program in your town? That's where it begins. This is the second year (my first) of a minor field program here. Already it's doubled in size and is poised to do it again next year, to the point where we can start running a house league.

[WHEELAX2]

That brings up another issue for me.. my area consistently produces some of the best lacrosse players in the nation.. every year, my high school sends at minimum 5 guys to solid D1 programs.. We have a huge scope of talent represented all over the lacrosse world...
here's the problem::: most of them do not play in our summer leagues and do not stay in the area after they have graduated from college.. so, it is very hard to start and maintain any form of a league..

we have tons of youth programs, camps, leagues etc, but only one field league with 4 teams and one box league with 6 teams.. and this "box" league, is simply field lax played in a rink with field rules.. I'm afraid that at a minimum, we would probably have to just form one team to compete in the can am league or something, and that's about as far as I think it would go..

[KnightsLAXDad]

It may be a tough sell in your area, especially being in proximity to such strong D1 schools. Kids see the progression from youth to HS to university lacrosse (kind of like youth hockey here). The indoor program is a means to enhance their outdoor skills.

It would take a lot or marketing and some grassroots efforts to generate enough interest. One could start with travelling or rep teams for one or two age groups to enter into tournaments. Fortunately there are a number not too far away and exhibition games with Onondaga. Bus trips to Buffalo or Knighthawks games as a way to introduce them, true box camps are all possibilities.

[WHEELAX2]

any more thoughts on this..??

[WHEELAX2]

ok.. so I've been thinking a bit.. (scary huh?) anyway, I was wondering if anyone thinks that box skills and field skills will ever meld..

generally in box, you are taught to cradle two handed, play with your dominant hand, shoot when goalies are screened, etc...

in field, you are taught to switch hands, cradle one handed, etc, etc....

will the sets of "required" skills every become one???

[Canadian Lax]

i dont think the skills will ever meld b/c it two totally diff styles of play pretty much 2 diff games. Theres no point to cradle one handed in box ur gunna get killed, the have the ball taken away.

[tomahawks11]

lots of canadians are actually starting to play field lacrosse.... since it is very cheap and kids always make the teama.... people are starting to see how good it is now and its also a way to get a scholarship