There is no better sport than Lacrosse!

The history
 

Few sports have the history that Lacrosse does.  Most team sports were invented in a gym class such as basketball or on the playground such as the case with Rugby when a boy picked the ball and started running with it. The history of lacrosse traces back to the Native Americans who played this game to honor the creator. The history is a fascinating one. What makes the history of lacrosse unique is that it is still honored and represented in the game today. Playing a sport with this kind of rich history that is taught to its players matters. This appreciation can lead them to a more general respect of history and a desire to learn the origins of things that they participate in moving forward. 

The stick

The stick is cherished by a lacrosse player and there is no sport on the planet that has a piece of equipment so unique to each player on a team. When somebody who is not familiar with the sport sees an entire team's sticks laid out on the sideline they wonder how each player knows which stick belongs to them. But the reality is, even if they are all the exact same color, each player knows which stick is theirs within moments of seeing it. The relationship between a player and his stick is special.  As a child plays they will start to learn what works from them.  Everything from the weight of the stick, to the color, to the shape of the head and most importantly how the pocket is strung. The obsession a player can have over his stick can result in a side hobby unto itself that goes well beyond the field. This is where the player learns to take special care of his things.  They will have to clean it, maintain it and replace it when needed. Any lacrosse player will tell you that you can not just go to the store and purchase the perfect stick to replace a previous one.  The point of purchase is an exciting one, but it is just the beginning.

Fitness

When you think the ideal shape a person should be in, there is a good chance a lacrosse player fits that profile. Strong, flexible with good cardio, not an over emphasis on one aspect of health.  A well rounded athlete is the goal. A lacrosse player needs to be well balanced unlike some other sports where the goal is incredible strength or just to be able to run for days.  For example, if you look at an offensive lineman in football who plays at the highest level, when they stop playing their routine to stay healthy becomes drastically different.  The body they built as an active player would be harmful for them to try and continue. This is not the case for a lacrosse player, if they maintain the exercise habits they learned while playing lacrosse they will live a long and healthy quality life.  \

Team work

No player can do anything on their own.  The player must be on the same page as his coach and be willing to elevate the level of play from his peers in order to be successful. This will call for the player to build some amazing relationships and learn to manage some that are not so smooth.  This is life as lacrosse, we all need to get along to achieve a better community.  This concept is taught in spades on the lacrosse field.

The Physicality

Lacrosse is a physical game and considered a contact sport, but the amount of head on dangerous collisions is few and far between. Lacrosse provides the perfect balance of enough physicality where a player can have at it without having to worry about a whistle being blown every time he tries to make an aggressive play. The warrior spirit of the game is maintained while equipment technology and rules are constantly modified to keep players safe. The balanced of physicality and safety that is achieved through lacrosse is second to none. It is one sport where you can truly just "let them play" without jeopardizing their health.

Creativity

Few sports rival the creativity that exists on the field in a lacrosse game.  Everything from the strategies that coaches can implement to the way a player can move on the field, pass the ball and carry the ball in their stick.  This game has been played for a very long time and still to this day it seems like something new is being done on the field every year.
 

Subbing on the fly 

Few sports allow for as many meaningful participants in a game as lacrosse does.  It is very realistic to have 20 players participating in a competitive game.  All 20 players can make quality contributions because play does not need to stop in order to work them in.  It is easier to work them in at strategic moments which best fits their talents and abilities. Whereas in other sports play needs to stop and therefore it is more difficult to work players in as an integral part of the game.

A role for everybody

As I mentioned when I was talking about subbing on the fly It is easier to work them in at strategic moments which best fits their talents and abilities.  There are positions for players who are fast, players who are tough, players who are skilled and players with a high lacrosse IQ. Each position emphasizes one quality a little more than the other.  A player who works hard will find a role on the field.