Lacrosse as off season alternative?

[TexAg]

TexAg Jr has been nothing but baseball for a 1-1/2 yrs straight (LL plus TB) and I'm looking for another outlet. He attended a lacrosse camp a couple weeks ago and really seemed to enjoy it, but the main season is Spring, which is in direct conflict with LL. Anybody have experience with their kids playing baseball and lacrosse? How does it help/hurt any baseball skills? Thanks!

[raptor]

Its an awesome sport..baseball skills will help tremendously for receiving and throwing. I played for a men's league right out of college because of a friend who convinced me..he said baseball and soccer skills (ability to get into space) translate well. Quickness and toughness are required..be prepared to get lit up a bunch! Problem is its a spring sport...now if there are kids indoor leagues in the winter..cant think of a better sport to enhance baseball skills.

[real green]

Don't be surprised if he never looks back. He wouldn't be the first baseball player lost to lacrosse.

[tg643]

It's hard to play a contact sport and baseball at the same time. My son decided not to play high school football after the banging he took on Friday's in 8th grade football then playing weekend fall ball. He was also afraid he would get hurt and miss baseball. Can't play football afraid to get hurt. My son had a lot of friends on the lacrosse team. He went to a lot of the games. He said he would have played if lacrosse was a fall sport even though he was an all-conference soccer goalie. The coaching staff pursued him. He was tall, fast and physically aggressive.

[tg643]

Don't be surprised if he never looks back. He wouldn't be the first baseball player lost to lacrosse.

In 7th grade the middle school principal declared no cuts and equal playing time for sports. 27 kids went out for baseball. The best players, who were also playing travel baseball decided to screw 7th grade baseball and play lacrosse. It took the high school varsity baseball coach one day to fix the problem. He was afraid he would lose them permanently.

[dominik]

is lacrosse a big sport in the US?

[tg643]

is lacrosse a big sport in the US?

Rec, travel and high school lacrosse is huge from Virginia up through New York.

Here are the 2012 NCAA D1 rankings. Almost all the schools are from this region or recruit from the region. University of Denver plays in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference to paticipate in lacrosse. http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/lacrosse-men/d1

[dominik]

Rec, travel and high school lacrosse is huge from Virginia up through New York.

Here are the 2012 NCAA D1 rankings. Almost all the school are from this region or recruit from this region. http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/lacrosse-men/d1

I didn't know that. I always thought lacrosse was some "outsider sport" (like soccer in the US). Is there some form of pro lacrosse or just up to college?

I don't know, I'm from europe we play soccer and hand ball.

[tg643]

I didn't know that. I always thought lacrosse was some "outsider sport" (like soccer in the US). Is there some form of pro lacrosse or just up to college?

I don't know, I'm from europe we play soccer and hand ball.

Professional lacrosse has never caught on. Professional indoor lacrosse, played on a field the size of a hockey rink is wild.

[CircleChange11]

[QUOTE=dominik;2051349]
... or at the very least, it was the "triathlon" of sports.

Too slow of swimmer? Too slow of a runner? Too slow of a cyclist? But likes endurance sports? You're a triathlete.

Too small/slow for football? Not enough skill for baseball? Not athletic/tall enough for basketball? You're a Lacrosse player.

That was always my impression anyway, I could be way off.

They didn't play Lacrosse when I was a kid, and when it came out it seemed like a sport that rich white parents could provide for their kids without those mean black kids dominating them.

Lacrosse also seems to me to be "summer hockey" or "soccer with your hands". There always seems to be some new sport for kids that don;t excel at the traditional sports. I say that knowing that it may not be a totally accurate statement.

[Jake Patterson]

TexAg Jr has been nothing but baseball for a 1-1/2 yrs straight (LL plus TB) and I'm looking for another outlet. He attended a lacrosse camp a couple weeks ago and really seemed to enjoy it, but the main season is Spring, which is in direct conflict with LL. Anybody have experience with their kids playing baseball and lacrosse? How does it help/hurt any baseball skills? Thanks!

Perfect! Running, swinging, eye-hand coordination, bi-lateral movement, strategy, etc., etc.,
Most experts I have encountered suggest different sports in order to maximize development. I suggest the S word and basketball, but Lacrosse is fine.

[CircleChange11]

I suggest the S word and basketball, but Lacrosse is fine.

I agree.

Steroids and basketball are the way to go!

[dominik]

I always thought Lacrosse was the rich white kid's alternative to football.

... or at the very least, it was the "triathlon" of sports.

Too slow of swimmer? Too slow of a runner? Too slow of a cyclist? But likes endurance sports? You're a triathlete.

Too small/slow for football? Not enough skill for baseball? Not athletic/tall enough for basketball? You're a Lacrosse player.

That was always my impression anyway, I could be way off.

They didn't play Lacrosse when I was a kid, and when it came out it seemed like a sport that rich white parents could provide for their kids without those mean black kids dominating them.

Lacrosse also seems to me to be "summer hockey" or "soccer with your hands". There always seems to be some new sport for kids that don;t excel at the traditional sports. I say that knowing that it may not be a totally accurate statement.

you mean like ultimate frisbee?

[TonyK]

Our high school is located in the hotbed of lacrosse territory and sends more lacrosse players to play college ball than any other sport does. We have 6" 3" lacrosse defenders, speedy attackmen, college-bound goalkeepers, and we're not even the best team in our league. Drive up and down Route 81 in Central NY and you can watch NCAA Div 1, 2 and 3 Champions in Men's Lacrosse.

I'd say our lacrosse kids were equal in ability and talent to our baseball players. Some had been little league all stars. Several of them have excelled in college lacrosse with a few becoming high school lacrosse coaches or college coaches.

[raptor]

At colleges like Hopkins..G'town...Maryland...Duke etc...the lacrosse players are treated with more reverence than the baseball team. Not sure why that sport isn't more popular..or even in Olympic play. I guess dominik' response answers the question...the world doesn't play it.