Last week, World Lacrosse announced the men’s and women’s schedules for the 2024 World Box Championships to be played in Utica, N.Y. later this year.
Box Lacrosse, also known as Indoor Lacrosse, is played inside the confines of a multi-sport rink, with a distinct set of rules that differ from the field game. The playing surface is enclosed by boards, and each team has six players on the floor – five runners and one goaltender.
In short, it’s a version of lacrosse that features tight spaces, a fast pace, and quick decision making by players.
“Players learn a lot about shooting angles and timing in box lacrosse,” said Tony Resch, former coach of the U.S. Men’s Box Team and a 2021 inductee to the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame. “And it’s not just about scooping groundballs, but getting groundballs in tight spaces because there’s not a lot of room.”
The constant transition in box lacrosse from offense to defense and defense to offense forces players to develop the skills to play both ends of the field. Resch notes that those player development skills easily transfer over to field lacrosse as well.
“The transition opportunities and unsettled situations help kids learn how to contribute in a different way,” Resch said. “Decision making is incredibly important in transition. It grows their knowledge of the game.”
USA Lacrosse publishes a full rule set for box lacrosse, including suggested modification for youth play. Click here to download the rules in PDF format.
“There are so many skills in the box game that can carry over to the field game to help young players develop,” said Regy Thorpe, current head coach of the U.S. Men’s Box Team.
USA Lacrosse provides a number of additional resources for those looking to get a better understanding of box lacrosse. These include coaching tools, practice plans for youth teams, and grant opportunities to help start new programs.
Explore the available resources online at usalacrosse.com/box-lacrosse.
“Not only is box lacrosse going to develop your game, but it’s a ton of fun,” said University of Denver men’s head coach Matt Brown. “I’ve coached youth box for a long time, and I haven’t seen a kid come off the floor without a smile on his face.”
