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BUF at SD - Sat. 10pm ET on ESPNews Schedule

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WK
1
Fri, Dec 2
FINAL
Philadelphia
8
Halifax
18
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Vancouver
8
Toronto
19
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
San Diego
15
New York
14
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Albany
11
Buffalo
10
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Rochester
16
Georgia
11
Sat, Dec 3
FINAL
Colorado
6
Saskatchewan
18
WK
2
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL
Las Vegas
11
Panther City
13
Fri, Dec 9
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
12
San Diego
13
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Toronto
7
Rochester
11
Sat, Dec 10
FINAL
Vancouver
9
Calgary
11
WK
3
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
5
Fri, Dec 16
FINAL
Panther City
9
Las Vegas
3
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Buffalo
11
Toronto
8
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Rochester
14
Albany
13
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Philadelphia
13
Georgia
12
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Halifax
20
New York
11
Sat, Dec 17
FINAL
Colorado
12
Panther City
9
WK
5
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
Halifax
13
Buffalo
18
Fri, Dec 30
FINAL
San Diego
17
Calgary
14
Sat, Dec 31
FINAL
Panther City
9
Saskatchewan
11
WK
6
Fri, Jan 6
FINAL
Philadelphia
14
Las Vegas
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Panther City
9
Rochester
17
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Halifax
14
Albany
11
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Buffalo
18
Georgia
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Toronto
15
New York
7
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Calgary
8
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 7
FINAL
Vancouver
11
San Diego
16
WK
7
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Albany
11
Halifax
10
Fri, Jan 13
FINAL/OT
Saskatchewan
10
Colorado
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Halifax
8
Toronto
17
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Panther City
12
Philadelphia
10
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Georgia
9
Buffalo
11
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
San Diego
10
Calgary
14
Sat, Jan 14
FINAL
Las Vegas
16
Vancouver
19
Sun, Jan 15
FINAL
Rochester
11
New York
8
WK
8
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Buffalo
12
Rochester
15
Fri, Jan 20
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
15
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
Toronto
14
Philadelphia
5
Sat, Jan 21
FINAL
New York
16
Albany
10
WK
9
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Rochester
7
Halifax
17
Fri, Jan 27
FINAL
Buffalo
13
Philadelphia
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Buffalo
16
New York
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Las Vegas
10
Saskatchewan
15
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL/OT
Toronto
11
Calgary
10
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
San Diego
13
Colorado
9
Sat, Jan 28
FINAL
Panther City
20
Vancouver
7
WK
10
Fri, Feb 3
FINAL
Georgia
10
Colorado
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL/OT
Calgary
12
Halifax
11
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
New York
14
Toronto
22
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Albany
5
Philadelphia
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Rochester
10
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Panther City
10
San Diego
12
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
14
Vancouver
8
Sat, Feb 4
FINAL
Colorado
8
Las Vegas
13
WK
11
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Toronto
11
Georgia
10
Fri, Feb 10
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
13
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Halifax
14
Rochester
16
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Albany
12
New York
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Vancouver
13
Panther City
14
Sat, Feb 11
FINAL
Colorado
9
Calgary
13
WK
12
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Calgary
14
Vancouver
9
Fri, Feb 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
16
San Diego
11
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Georgia
7
Toronto
16
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
Albany
10
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
12
Buffalo
13
Sat, Feb 18
FINAL
Colorado
7
Panther City
13
Sun, Feb 19
FINAL
New York
12
Halifax
13
WK
13
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Panther City
12
Colorado
14
Fri, Feb 24
FINAL
Calgary
9
Las Vegas
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL/OT
New York
10
Rochester
11
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Albany
4
Georgia
20
Sat, Feb 25
FINAL
Vancouver
16
Saskatchewan
12
WK
14
Fri, Mar 3
FINAL
Buffalo
10
Halifax
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
New York
12
Philadelphia
19
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Las Vegas
12
San Diego
15
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Rochester
8
Toronto
9
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL/OT
Georgia
9
Albany
8
Sat, Mar 4
FINAL
Saskatchewan
10
Panther City
16
Mon, Mar 6
FINAL
Toronto
10
Philadelphia
11
WK
15
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL/OT
Halifax
9
Buffalo
10
Fri, Mar 10
FINAL
Calgary
16
Colorado
10
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Albany
6
Toronto
12
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Philadelphia
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
San Diego
12
Saskatchewan
11
Sat, Mar 11
FINAL
Vancouver
14
Las Vegas
5
Sun, Mar 12
FINAL
Rochester
19
Georgia
18
WK
16
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
Saskatchewan
6
Calgary
11
Fri, Mar 17
FINAL
San Diego
16
Vancouver
9
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Georgia
13
Philadelphia
12
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Toronto
12
Halifax
14
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Albany
10
New York
13
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Colorado
13
Buffalo
8
Sat, Mar 18
FINAL
Las Vegas
8
Panther City
11
Sun, Mar 19
FINAL/OT
Philadelphia
9
Rochester
8
WK
17
Fri, Mar 24
20:30:00
San Diego
Panther City
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Toronto
Albany
Sat, Mar 25
19:00:00
Halifax
Philadelphia
Sat, Mar 25
19:30:00
Georgia
New York
Sat, Mar 25
21:30:00
Calgary
Saskatchewan
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Buffalo
San Diego
Sat, Mar 25
22:00:00
Colorado
Vancouver
Sat, Mar 25
22:30:00
Rochester
Las Vegas
WK
18
Fri, Mar 31
19:00:00
New York
Georgia
Fri, Mar 31
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Colorado
Fri, Mar 31
22:00:00
Calgary
San Diego
Sat, Apr 1
19:00:00
Buffalo
Toronto
Sat, Apr 1
20:00:00
Albany
Panther City
Sat, Apr 1
21:30:00
Vancouver
Saskatchewan
Sun, Apr 2
13:00:00
Georgia
Halifax
Sun, Apr 2
18:00:00
Rochester
Philadelphia
WK
19
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Albany
Rochester
Sat, Apr 8
19:00:00
Saskatchewan
Georgia
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Panther City
Calgary
Sat, Apr 8
21:00:00
Vancouver
Colorado
Sat, Apr 8
22:30:00
San Diego
Las Vegas
WK
20
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
Las Vegas
Calgary
Fri, Apr 14
21:00:00
San Diego
Colorado
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Toronto
Sat, Apr 15
19:00:00
Georgia
Albany
Sat, Apr 15
19:30:00
New York
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 15
21:30:00
Halifax
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 15
22:00:00
Panther City
Vancouver
WK
21
Fri, Apr 21
20:30:00
Calgary
Panther City
Sat, Apr 22
18:00:00
New York
Halifax
Sat, Apr 22
19:00:00
Georgia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 22
20:00:00
Toronto
Buffalo
Sat, Apr 22
21:30:00
Colorado
Saskatchewan
Sat, Apr 22
22:00:00
Las Vegas
San Diego
Sun, Apr 23
15:00:00
Philadelphia
Albany
WK
22
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Philadelphia
Rochester
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Buffalo
Albany
Sat, Apr 29
19:00:00
Halifax
Georgia
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
Colorado
San Diego
Sat, Apr 29
22:00:00
New York
Vancouver
Sat, Apr 29
22:30:00
Saskatchewan
Las Vegas
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Stories/Op-Ed

Lax101: Box v Field Lacrosse

One of the most beautiful things about sports is how one sport can have so many different variations, yet the objective remains the same. This is seen in a variety of different sports throughout the world. There is the National Football League and the Canadian Football League. Both of these leagues play football at its core, but each has minor differences in the size of the field as well as the rules of the game. There are many different basketball leagues throughout the world, with the National Basketball Association being the largest. American basketball and European basketball have leagues that play basketball, they just have different sets of rules applied. Then you add in 3v3 basketball which alters the game even more.

Lacrosse is no different, as the two most common forms of lacrosse are box lacrosse and field lacrosse and now the addition of Sixes, as the sport continues its journey to make it to the Olympic stage in 2028.

Field Lacrosse: 

Field lacrosse is most likely what American’s think of when you hear the word lacrosse. This beautiful sport dates back to 1100 AD, when it was first played and invented by the Haudenosaunee. Although there are still many similarities to how the sport is played now, much has changed as it has become a more organized sport.

Field lacrosse is played on a large field that can vary in size depending on the level you are participating but is traditionally 110 yards in length and 60 yards in width. Each game is composed of two teams, each with 10 players on the field at any given time. These 10 players consist of a goalie, three defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers. Each goal is occupied by a goalie, and surrounded by a crease (only defenders and the goalie can enter this crease). Goals are both six feet high and wide, surrounded by a crease that is 18 feet in diameter. The goals are located 15 yards at each end of the field.

Each game is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes in length each. The winner is decided by who has scored the most goals at the end of regulation, if the score results in a tie, then there is a 5-minute window of overtime. The overtime winner is determined by whichever team scores first. Every game is started with a faceoff, these are repeated throughout the game after each score and at the beginning of each quarter.

Box Lacrosse:

Box lacrosse originated in the 1930s in Canada. Many Canadians are first exposed to the sport through this discipline, as it is their national summer sport, and play during the summers when the hockey rinks are not in use. Much like the name infers, box lacrosse is played entirely in the confines of  an ice hockey rink (as the ice is covered with turf or on the concrete of the melted ice) with the dasherboards intact. This is where the term “box” comes from.

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is a box lacrosse league. The field or “floor” is 200 feet in length and 85 feet in width. Each game consists of two teams of 19 rostered players, with six players on the surface at any one time. These six players consist of one goalie and five runners. Each goal in the NLL is 4 feet 9 inches wide and 4 feet high, with the surrounding crease being 9 feet 3 inches radius. Offensive players are not allowed to step or make contact with the crease at any given time when trying to score.

Each game in the NLL is divided into four quarters of 15 minutes in length each, starting with a faceoff. Faceoffs are recurring as they happen after every goal is scored and at the beginning of each quarter similar to field lacrosse. The winner of the game is decided by whichever team has scored the most goals at the end of regulation. If regulation ends in a tie, there is a 5-minute overtime period. The winner of overtime is decided by whichever team scores first.

Differences: 

One of the largest differences between these two versions of lacrosse is the size of the playing surface. Field lacrosse is played on a much larger field, as many times these fields are football/ soccer fields, whereas box lacrosse is primarily played in ice hockey rinks. This can cause box lacrosse to be played at a faster pace, much more like hockey or basketball, with more physicality as due to there being less space to move around.

Another difference between the two is that in field lacrosse there must be at least four players (including the goalie) in the defensive half of the field at all times. There must also be three players in the attacking half at all times which is why at times, you may see players stop running at the midfield line to not cross it. This differs from box lacrosse where substitutions are made for offensive and defensive possessions and players can be on both ends of the floor. The game has evolved to encourage specialization where with each change of possession, the full roster on the floor changes from offensive to defensive players. This also allows for the exciting transition or breakaway goals in box lacrosse when players can use the whole playing surface.

In field lacrosse, up to four players can use a long lacrosse stick, whereas in box everyone must use a short stick, with the goalie as the exception. Fighting is allowed to happen in box lacrosse, similar to hockey (with a major penalty or game misconduct called) but are not allowed in the majority of field lacrosse leagues, with the Premier Lacrosse League as the exception. Although this is allowed, it results in a penalty and could potentially lead to additional punishments by the way of fines or suspensions.

Both box and field lacrosse have penalties in place for when athletes disobey the rules, but the type of penalties differ between the two. In box lacrosse, there are three types of penalties: minor penalties, which result in two minutes in the penalty box, major penalties which result in five minutes in the penalty box, and misconduct, which results in an automatic ejection from the game (two majors = misconduct). For minor penalties, the offending team will be down a player for the two minutes and if the other team scores in that time, the player is released from the penalty box. For major penalties, it is non-releasable meaning that player will serve the full five minutes. If the opposing team scores twice during those five minutes though, the offending team will be back at full strength (with the offending player still serving the penalty).

Field lacrosse also has three types of penalties: technical foul which results in 30 seconds in the penalty box, personal foul which results in one minute in the penalty box, and a major foul which results in three minutes in the penalty box. Similar to box, field has both releasable and non-releasable penalties.

Both box and field also have a shot clock, box has a 30 second shot clock, whereas field has a clock that varies between 52-90 second shot clock.

The goaltender’s equipment/style is probably the last major difference between the two disciplines. Box lacrosse goalies look much more like hockey goalies with the pads they wear because they tend to save more shots with their body from closer ranges with the smaller net. Field goalies primarily use their stick to make saves and wear less protection. In addition to the same protection the runners wear (elbow pads, gloves, cup, helmet), they also wear a throat guard (and helmet in women’s field lacrosse) to their helmet and a chest protector at the professional level.

Sixes

This past year, World Lacrosse developed a new discipline of play similar to that of box lacrosse in speed, roster size but with the outdoor setting and goal sizes of field. It is called Sixes. Sixes is essentially a condensed version of both field and box version. This game is played on a 70 x 36 meter open field (no boards). It consists of four, 8-minute quarters, with a 30 second shot clock. This fast pace, high tempo game, has all six players on the field playing both offense and defense, with substitutions happening on the fly like hockey. Unlike both field and box lacrosse, the ball is brought back into the field of play by the goalie after each goal (like taking the ball out of bounds after a made basket in basketball) rather than by a faceoff. This style of play is played much faster than that of normal field lacrosse, thus hoping that it can become popular quickly due to the speed of the game.

The first major Sixes tournament happened at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama with the Canadian’s winning gold for both men’s and women’s tournaments. International lacrosse competitions have traditionally been dominated by Canada, United States, and the Haudenosaunee Nationals for both men and women. In a pleasant surprise for many, Japan won bronze at the World Games last summer in the men’s tournament, showing the growth of the game and ability for all nations to compete.

As lacrosse continues its push into the Olympic games, Sixes allows the other nations of World Lacrosse to build more competitive rosters and start programs when they do not need the size of a field/box roster, nor the amount of equipment needed for either. Similar to Rugby sevens, it levels the playing field across the nations in attempt to grow the game at the highest level.

There is not really a competition between these forms of lacrosse as to see which is better. In fact, many professional lacrosse players play both box and field lacrosse through the year with many of the pros playing Sixes last summer. The style of one discipline helps compliment your skills in the other, making for more dynamic players across every position. It is simply a unique way in which the sport has grown and adapted to different styles and variations as we continue to develop the sport to be a game for everyone and on the largest stages.

At the end of the day, it does not matter which discipline you play, as long as you go out and play or watch and have fun doing it!

NLL