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Click here to see the video: Lacrosse Equipment: Equipment Overview

Allen Fitzpatrick: Equipment for lacrosse is very important because allows you to play the game effectively and safely. There are a number of pieces of equipment that you need to wear, starting at the top with the shoulder pads.

Duncan is going to show the shoulder pads. They come in lots of different types, the most important thing is that they protect the top of shoulders, protect the back of the shoulders, and very important, they protect the front and the sternum. Many of them also come with pieces that will protect the upper biceps. The arm pads which are marked left and right, top and bottom, protect the elbows, especially the boney part of the elbow, the forearm where you often get hit. Duncan is putting on a pair of offensive arm pads, if you play on the defensive side of the field, you can wear a smaller defensive arm pad.

On top of the shoulder pads you put a jersey, often a mesh shirt so that is a little bit cooler, that keeps the shoulder pads down and allows the equipment to be protected.

For the head, you wear a helmet and it is specific for lacrosse; it is important that it fits snuggly, some helmets are sized, some helmets are one size fits all and they have inserts inside them.

In addition to a helmet and a good chin strap, you need to wear a protective mouthpiece which cuts down on concussions and is protection for your mouth and teeth. The gloves should fit, they shouldn't be too big, they come in youth sizes and they come in adult sizes that are different sizes. The practice jersey sometimes, it's nice to have a reversible jersey, because it allows the coach to then pick up teams based on colors.

The boys need to wear a protective cup. Now some of this equipment can be shared through hockey, the cup and the shoulder pads can often overlap with the hockey. At a very young age, you might even be able to wear your hockey gloves to a lacrosse practice and get away with it.

Once you have all this equipment, it's nice to have somewhere to put it, so I do recommend that you get a bag for the equipment. It's also very important when you get down with the practice that the equipment is aired out, it's important that air get to it and keep the equipment from getting mold and damp and smelly.

It looks like a lot of equipment but it's all very important and it is easily accessible, you can find it on-line at many websites, and at many available sports stores and even used sometimes it can be passed from one player to another.