Box Lacrosse: is it good or bad for field lacrosse?

[Dulax31]

In Minnesota we only have a pro box lacrosse team and many people in the area think that is what lacrosse is. Personally I do not like box lacrosse, I think it's the arena football of lacrosse. I was just wondering what other people's opinion is on box.

[sohotrightnow]

Dude, you're trippin. Box helps your stick skills so much and teaches you how to operate in tight spaces. In addition, it is a killer workout.

[Brent Burns]

Unless I'm mistaken, I know that there are some high school teams in the Rochester, NY area that play indoor lacrosse in the winter time. I am not sure if the games do count, but I guess they want their players to be ready for their field lacrosse games.

[Jolly Roger]

Not so good for team defense concepts. The slides are compressed.

Moving picks and cross checks detract as well, although I believe the NLL is attempting to address these this year.

[onpoint]

I think any lacrosse is good lacrosse, especially in the public eye. Though Minnesota would be a good spot for the MLL, in my opinion. Lots of growing youth and high school lacrosse.

[MF]

You have to think that if for nothing else, you get to stay in shape and keep the stick skills up. The more you have your stick in your hand the better. Being that we have so much cold whether here in Denver the indoor game is getting bigger and bigger every year. It still has nothing on the popularity of the outdoor game though.

[Madlax16]

box....its good and bad. Its good that you develop a sick strong hand. But like ALL of the canadians i played with last year.....you have NO off hand. It definitely develops sick shots....but if field lax had the leeway with stick rules that are common in box, wed all be able to shoot more accurately. Also, i HATE box goalies, tho they are necessary when the average shot distance is 8-10 yards from the goal. I just don't like it cuz its hockey on grass. Box is just as different as field lax, as girls lacrosse is to guys field lax.

[Troy Hood]

Sorry, Madlax. I can't agree with you on the comment about boxla being hockey on grass. The goalie equipment looks similar on the outside but is very different. Also, the skill set required for the position is very different.

As far as the flow of the game, I find more similarities to basketball than hockey. The shot clock, help defense, and fast break transitions are common to both.

Is box beneficial to the field game? I believe it is. Having witnessed Team Canada's win in the World Games this summer, I can see how their combination of the best skills from box can translate well to the field game.
Field and box will remain distinct, as they should. However, they can benefit each other.

[BigheadTodd]

I just don't like the thuggery(if that is not a word, please replace with goonery). Too many cheap shots, just ask jay jalbert. It does have it's moments, though. What I personally like about it is less distance to run. Which reminds me, I need to get in shape, my team is going to Denver in 4 weeks to play some games. Alex, will you show up and give us a pep talk? And sign my helmet? On another note, sohotrightnow wasn't always a Fla State guy, was he?

[PNWLaxer]

The NLL is not traditional box lacrosse. It is a hybrid of box and field (not 50/50 mind you.) After watching 1 year of the NLL I was totally turned off and have not watched a game since. Junior and youth box lacrosse are much better games. Both have speed, skill, and very limited "thuggery." In the youth games you do not have the slashing, fighting or other activities that detract from the game but demonstrate the positive skills listed above.

That being said any type of lacrosse will help develop skill sets. Some will be directly transferable while others are for the memory bank to be pulled out at the perfect time. Quicker decision making is big a advantage to the box game, smaller surface, shot clock, bigger goalies, smaller nets etc. Transition and breakouts are other skills you quickly pick up or you are left behind (literally.)

[onpoint]

Due to increased exposure and commitments, I now have to charge a minimum appearance fee in addition to a per signature autograph fee. For more details, please contact my agent.

[Jolly Roger]

For more details, please contact my agent.

Can you provide your mom's email then?

[BigheadTodd]

Who is your agent? Phil? Reggie? Shavonda(I forgot her real name). Just kidding, everyone who is a faithful reader of your blog knows your mom handles your negotiations. Alex, did you ever consider trying out for the mammoth? I know the goalie position is two different animals in the two(I heard Trevor Tierney and Jim Beardsmore played D when they played indoor, but that canuck Chris Sanderson played goal in both). Also, are you going to play in the MLL this season too?

[bullhighutewoozgriffclam]

i dig it. game winner. maybe someone saw it.

[PigPen]

I think any lacrosse is good lacrosse, especially in the public eye.

Word-box is lacrosse. Field is just the American version of it. We played box in the Hudson Valley back in the early 90's as part of getting ready for the season. It's a different game. But it's lacrosse. My dad used to take me to NJ Saints games before they moved to the Island (I was actually at the first ever Eagle League Game) and he hated boxla. Though he passed away over a decade ago-I would have to call him a lacrosse "purist" before we even started using this term. With that being said-I think he would have loved MLL with two way middies. That's how he felt the game should be played.

Some people don't like the indoor game and that's okay. But we should recognize that it is still lacrosse. Just a shame that until recently-Americans failed miserably in the pro ranks. But this generation is showing that they can learn it (as it's become an accepted part of the American lacrosse landscape). Guys like Boyle, Sims, Jalbert, and Ryan really were trailblazers for Americans playing the game (too bad the last three seem to have glass jaws-just kiddin').

As for exposing the American public to lacrosse through box. I think those goobers over at VS. are more of a problem than the game itself. If Americans are going to take the league seriously let's get some guys that know the game calling it-did anyone see the Colorado/Buffalo match? Man those guys are clowns. Don't talk to the audience like they don't know what they are watching-the only ones watching the games are the ones that know the sport (and much better than the commentators).

Come on NLL-I know they want the air time, but productions like that will probably get the casual viewer thinking the NLL is the equivalent of that Indoor Roller Hockey League that they had a couple of years back.