Overview of differences between field + box

[alexhawk]

Is there a list anywhere of the main rule differences between field and box.
Here in England there's gonna be a box league or tournament over the summer.
I'd imagine most people will get rib pads (no-one really uses them out of the players I've seen..)
Cheers.

[Hooligan]

http://www.lacrosseforums.com/showthread.php?t=29838&highlight=%22field+lacrosse%22+%22box
We discussed this recently. Check out the thread.

[alexhawk]

Cheers, I've read that thread.
I was wondering more about rule differences that would need to be noted.
Also, would you experienced box player reccommend things like those extra timers (30 secs to shoot etc..) are played with people new to the game?
PS, everyone will have played field at a reasonable level...

[Hooligan]

Real box doesn't use shot clocks. The NLL uses them to encourage shooting and scoring.

Box is played in a hockey rink sized field, on either concrete or turf, with offensive lines (drawn like blue lines) and the crease for each goal. Other than that you have the face-off circle at the center. No other lines are drawn on the field.

As for rule differences, its mostly in the play of the game. Field is played on a roughly football sized field, with wide-open spaces. Box is played in the rink, with 5 runners and 1 goalie per team. The runners, depending on the style of play, can be both offense and defense, or the team could go with strictly with offense and defense, that switch on and off at the bench (like a hockey line shift).

The object is to move as quick as possible, and get to the goal and slam the ball past the goalie, if possible. Goalies in box are more heavily padded than field goalies, with the nets being at 4' X 4' to 4' X 4'9" (depending on the level of play).

Its hard to actually explain from only one perspective. I know we'll have more people along soon who'll add in the things I forgot to include. Hopefully we'll be able to answer your questions...

[tomahawks11]

exactly what hooligan said

[Dr.Lacrosse]

holligan

in canada we use shot clocks
it makes it funner and faster

the golies also use leg packs

concrete is the best to play on
hint:put hairspray on the bottom of your shoes so you dont slide while the other people do

[#15Roadies]

If everyone has played field at a reasonable level, then they can divine the differences by reading this PDF file:

Simplified Box Rules (http://www.knightslacrosse.ca/other/rules.pdf)

Yes, play with a shot clock because box lacrosse uses a shot clock now so you might as well get used to it. If that isn't possible then use the over and back rule to keep the focus on offence.

[Hooligan]

it makes it funner and faster
Did you just say "funner"????

Yeah, I was trying to remember whether or not true box used shot clocks. I guess I wasn't paying attention the last time I was in Canada to that.

[RockStar]

Cheers, I've read that thread.
I was wondering more about rule differences that would need to be noted.
Also, would you experienced box player reccommend things like those extra timers (30 secs to shoot etc..) are played with people new to the game?
PS, everyone will have played field at a reasonable level...

Alex:

Use the shot clock, it really makes the game more challenging (and fun).

Roadies15 makes a good point for what to do if shot clocks are unavailable. You can use the over-and-back rule, and maybe also the 10 second rule to keep things moving.

[upstatelax]

hint:put hairspray on the bottom of your shoes so you dont slide while the other people do
is that just on concrete or are you talking about every indoor surface?

[#15Roadies]

Concrete, but its not a hard or fast rule so to speak. Sometimes the humid arenas cause a slight condensation on the cool concrete floors and you may require some agent to make your shoes tackier. You can use rosin, etc. Some players use cola.

The problem with hairspray is that, at first it will help, but when you move around the floor it can work against you because it will pick up dust from the floor and make contact points on your soles much slippier when it dries. You would have to keep applying it.

Then there is the rank factor - there is no smell like a sweaty dressing room full of stinky equipment when someone cracks out the sweet girlie hairspray. Retch!

[Rock]

Id rather play on turf even though turf burn is horrid, there is still nothing like nailing some kid and hearing his body hit the concrete. Coke is by far the best for floor grip, hairspray doesnt last. All box uses shot clocks because if they didnt you would have minutes on end of ragging when leading by 1 or 2 goals (BORING).

[WHEELAX2]

hmm.. coca cola or rc cola tend to be the best.. nah just kidding.. we used a variation of soda.. never heard of hair spray, but it kinda makes sense..

and yes there are shot clocks

some of the main rule differences are:

box: cross checking is legal, generally you play loosies with a focus on getting the ball instead of man ball.. picks can be contested, and you can essentially set moving picks.

field: no cross checking, generally a little more physical on loose balls, there are offsides penalties, at least three defenders and a keeper have to stay back on d when u have the ball, clearing times are different..etc, etc..

[RockStar]

............

box: .............generally you play loosies with a focus on getting the ball instead of man ball..

..................

Nit-picking technicality:

Under CLA box rules, you can't really hit off-ball at all (minor interference, possession award to non-offending team). I think this makes pretty well any man-ball loose ball recovery tactic illegal (although some refs are quite lazy and don't always call the minor interference, so you often do man-ball anyway!)

Under NLL rules, I think you're now allowed to hit within three yards of a loosie so you can do man-ball.

[WHEELAX2]

ah yes, but NLL isn't box eh?

[#15Roadies]

Loose ball tactics in lacrosse means playing the ball, but you can still pick off an opponent while a team mate goes after the loosie. Smart box teams will still take on a loose ball in twos (or threes if you are a Green Gael)

Moving picks? Gawd we have some refs up here that if someone so much as breathes while setting a pick they are called for moving pick. Drives me :crazy:

[slinkyspine]

Loose ball tactics in lacrosse means playing the ball, but you can still pick off an opponent while a team mate goes after the loosie. Smart box teams will still take on a loose ball in twos (or threes if you are a Green Gael)

Moving picks? Gawd we have some refs up here that if someone so much as breathes while setting a pick they are called for moving pick. Drives me :crazy:
I know the refs are insane on that. I got run over setting a pick and I got moving pick?? sholndt he get minor interference YES!!!

[BClax17]

Our coach told us that when someone sets a picks on you, put him on his ***. I never really thought that it would be interferance but I guess it would be.

[slinkyspine]

Our coach told us that when someone sets a picks on you, put him on his ***. I never really thought that it would be interferance but I guess it would be.
Yeah it's actually charging but nobody calls that anyway

[WHEELAX2]

I live for blowing people off picks..

[alexhawk]

What exactly is blowing people off picks?

[laxismynak]

http://www.bclacrosse.com/ this should help