Soccer Vs. Lacrosse – Full Comparison

Soccer and lacrosse are popular worldwide sports with unique characteristics and history.

Both sports involve a ball and a goal; however, the similarities between the two sports end there.

Soccer is also known as football in some countries. It is a team sport played with eleven players on each side.

In contrast, Lacrosse is a team sport originating from North American indigenous peoples. It is played with ten players on each side.

This article will compare soccer and lacrosse, including cleats, field, gameplay, physical demands, equipment, and popularity.

So you will comprehensively understand the similarities and differences between soccer and lacrosse.

Also, to help you determine which sport suits your interests and abilities better.

Soccer and Lacrosse – Comparison

Soccer and Lacrosse are popular sports with a few similarities but differ significantly in gameplay, physical demands, equipment, and popularity.

Here are some of the differences between soccer and lacrosse:

Cleats

The cleat types used in soccer and lacrosse differ based on the field’s surface. Soccer cleats are designed to provide better traction on natural grass surfaces.

In contrast, lacrosse cleats are designed to provide more support and stability on artificial turf surfaces.

Soccer cleats have fewer studs and are flatter than lacrosse cleats. The studs on soccer cleats are conical or bladed.

It is positioned in a specific pattern to provide stability and grip on grass surfaces.

The flatter design of soccer cleats can prevent them from getting stuck in the grass, which can cause potential injuries.

Lacrosse cleats, on the other hand, have more studs and are usually thicker than soccer cleats.

The studs on lacrosse cleats are oval or rectangular. It is positioned in a specific pattern to provide maximum traction and stability on turf surfaces.

The higher ankle cut of lacrosse cleats will provide additional support and protection. It is essential in a sport involving lateral movement, sprinting, and body checks.

Field

Soccer and lacrosse fields differ in dimensions and markings. A soccer field has a rectangular shape with a length of 100-130 yards and a width of 50-100 yards.

The soccer and lacrosse playing fields have some similarities but significant differences.

Soccer is played on a natural grass surface. However, some professional soccer stadiums use artificial turf surfaces.

A soccer field is marked with lines indicating boundaries and penalty areas. It also has a center circle and other markings indicating where the ball can be played and restarted.

A lacrosse field is larger, having 110 yards and a width of 60 lengths. Lacrosse fields have a midfield line that separates the field into two halves.

It also has a circular crease around the goal. Lacrosse fields can be either natural grass or artificial turf surfaces.

Soccer and lacrosse fields differ in the way they are lined. Soccer fields have more lines. The lines include the penalty areas, goal box, and corner arc.

It can affect how the ball bounces, and players move around the field. Lacrosse fields have fewer lines.

It creates an open playing area, allowing faster movement and more fluid gameplay.

Gameplay

Soccer and lacrosse have different rules and objectives.

In soccer, the objective is to score more goals by kicking the ball into the opposing team’s net.

Soccer consists of two teams of eleven players each, including a goalkeeper. Players will use their feet, legs, head, or torso to control and move the ball around the field.

The soccer gameplay runs for 45 minutes with a half-time break in between. Soccer rules are simpler.

It fouls in various types of physical contact, while players can be penalized for offside or unsportsmanlike behavior.

In lacrosse gameplay, the objective is to score more goals by throwing the ball using a stick to the opposing team’s net.

Lacrosse has a stop-clock format, with a game divided into four quarters. It is played with two teams of ten players, each with a goalkeeper.

The lacrosse rules are more complicated than the soccer. Fouls are called for various contacts, and players can be penalized for holding offsides and illegal screens.

Physical Demands

Both soccer and lacrosse are physically demanding sports requiring athletes to have high cardiovascular endurance, speed, agility, strength, and coordination.

In soccer, players must run long distances at a high intensity throughout the game.

The average soccer player can run up to 7 miles per game, sprinting, cutting, and jumping bursts.

Soccer also requires lower body strength and explosive power to kick the ball and change direction quickly.

Additionally, soccer players need good balance and coordination to control the ball with their feet while running and dribbling.

In lacrosse, players also need to have high levels of cardiovascular endurance to keep up with the game’s fast pace.

However, lacrosse requires significant upper-body strength and endurance to handle the stick and deliver body checks.

Lacrosse players should have good hand-eye coordination to catch and pass the ball accurately while moving.

Players must also have quick reflexes to avoid defenders and make quick decisions.

The physicality of the sport indicates that lacrosse players are at a higher risk of injury than soccer players, particularly to the head and upper body.

Equipment

Both soccer and lacrosse have specific equipment. Soccer players wear shin guards, a uniform (jersey, shorts, and socks), and cleats in soccer.

At the same time, lacrosse players wear helmets, gloves, shoulder pads, elbow pads, uniforms, and cleats.

Lacrosse equipment is heavier and bulkier than soccer equipment.

The equipment of both sports is different due to its game nature.

The ball used in soccer is made from leather or synthetic materials and inflated on a specific pressure range.

The goalkeeper will wear gloves to protect their hands while making waves.

While lacrosse players wear gloves, helmets, shoulder pads, arm pads, mouthguards, and chest protectors.

The helmet will protect the head from any potential impacts, and the face mask covers the player’s eyes and nose.

The gloves are padded to protect the hands from handling the stick and catching the ball.

Popularity

Soccer is a more popular sport worldwide, with an estimated billions of fans. Lacrosse, on the other hand, is mainly popular in North America, where it originated.

It has recently gained popularity in other parts of the world. But still needs to catch up to soccer’s global reach.

Is Lacrosse Harder Than Soccer?

Determining whether lacrosse is harder compares to soccer is difficult as both sports require different physical and mental skills.

Soccer involves a lot of running, endurance, agility, and quick movements. In contrast, lacrosse involves sprinting, dodging, body checks, hand-eye coordination, and stick skills.

Regarding physical demands, soccer players will run an average of 7 miles per game. In contrast, lacrosse players run an average of 3-4 miles per game.

However, lacrosse players will engage more in high-intensity bursts of activity. These are sprints, dodges, and checking, which require a lot of explosive power and agility.

Both sports need mental toughness, strategic thinking, and teamwork.

Soccer players must have good communication skills, spatial awareness, and quick decision-making abilities.

On the other hand, lacrosse players need to have excellent hand-eye coordination.

Also, situational awareness on reading and responding to their opponent’s movements.

Both soccer and lacrosse are challenging sports requiring different physical and mental skills. The difficulty of each sport depends on individual preferences, abilities, and training.

Conclusion

Soccer and lacrosse are popular sports requiring different skill sets and physical demands. Soccer is known for its focus on speed, agility, and endurance.

In contrast, lacrosse requires upper and lower body strength, hand-eye coordination, and quick reflexes. The equipment used in each sport is also quite different.

Soccer equipment is designed for traction and ball control and lacrosse equipment is designed to protect players from physical contact.

While both sports have unique characteristics, they share similarities, such as teamwork, strategy, and mental toughness.

Ultimately, the choice between soccer and lacrosse comes from personal preference and individual goals.