Why Lacrosse:

  1. Most fun – you can play with others or alone, on grass or at the beach. In someways like Frisbee you can always play catch and enjoy the sport the rest of your life…while you might not go kick a soccer ball around by yourself.
  2. Its cool – No wonder it’s the fastest growing sport in the US.
  3. Conditioning - Only soccer compares to the amount of running, and conditioning. Note that in lacrosse the ball has to pass over mid-field in 10 seconds….so I would say that you run more, longer-runs, and faster.
  4. Prepares you for other sports – a) eye hand coordination help with baseball; b) moves on offense and defense help with soccer and basketball; c) aggressiveness/physical play help with football; d) and conditioning not only help you with all sports, but if you find something later you want to play..you will have a head jump on others.
  5. Small or large you can play lacrosse now and throughout college. Note that small is sometimes an advantage (can get lower to the ball on the ground and beat a big guy that can not bend down as far).
  6. More kids play – because of the high level of running and being able to substitute during play, a fresh kid on the bench is often better than the best kid on the field who is tired.
  7. As high schools often have 3-4 towns attending, and each sends their travel kids to the school….each kid statistically has a 25-33% chance of making a high school team. Currently, lacrosse is new enough that you have a greater chance of playing a high school sport.

Comments directly from the 4/05 Sports Illustrated Article:

  • Participation for kids 15 years and younger has doubled in the last 4 years
  • In high school no sport is growing faster
  • Sports experts believe that this will be the next pro sport
  • One reason for the decline in baseball is lacrosse
  • Lacrosse preferred to field hockey for girls becomes of the higher energy and adrenaline level in lax.
  • More exciting than soccer, cheaper than hockey, and not as dangerous as football
  • Lacrosse coaches tend to encourage the playing of all sports
  • Lax offers an interesting mix of qualities at a time when people are more fed up with sports
  • In Colorado, the PepsiCenter sold out to lacrosse before the national hockey team could sell out the same venue
  • Lacrosse players are more likely to rock climb, surf, or snowboard..thus lacrosse is gaining a reputation as a lifestyle sport
  • Out west a kid with a stick is considered cool.