Newcastle upon Tyne Lacrosse Club

In terms of equipment, women's field lacrosse is the most similar to that originally played by the Native American Tribes.  Two teams, each consisting of 12 players - one goalie and eleven outfield players - compete against each other, with the ultimate aim of shooting the ball into the opponents' goal. Each player is equipped with a netted stick, or crosse, with which they can pick up, carry, pass and shoot the ball. The goalie is padded out with a helmet, throat guard, chest pad and padded shorts. The ball itself is made of solid rubber, and is slightly smaller in diameter than a field hockey ball. The defending team can dispose the attacking team by either checking the other players' stick with their own, or by strategic body positioning, interceptions or capitalising on missed passes, inaccurate shots or dropped balls.

While women's lacrosse is closer to the original game in terms of equipment, men's lacrosse takes on the other aspects of the Native American game - the use of body contact and stick checks to dislodge the ball from the other team. Due to the more aggressive nature of men's lacrosse, each player dons a helmet, padded gloves, arm pads, and some choose to wear shoulder pads, rib pads and a box on top of this. Men's lacrosse is played between teams of 10 - one goalie and 9 outfield players. The game is fast paced and hard hitting, and has been likened to full-contact basketball-with-sticks due to the intricate team play and flair aspect, or ice hockey at head height due to the speed, padding and full contact.