How does womens lacrosse differ from mens?
Women’s and men’s lacrosse differs in several aspects of the game, particularly in the level of contact permitted. Men’s lacrosse allows for a large amount of heavy physical contact, while women’s restricts contact to only striking the stick (striking is called a ‘check’ in lacrosse). Men are permitted to strike anywhere between the shoulder and waist of their opponent, including the opponent’s stick and arms/hands. Women are allowed only to strike the stick of an opposing player, and even that is severely limited to avoid any injury. This is the fundemental difference between the two genders’ respective versions of lacrosse, and it is the varied restrictions on physical contact which drives amost all other differences in the sports.
