Goaltender (box lacrosse)

Box lacrosse goaltenders are known for their massive upper body gear, large shin guards known as "irons", and ice hockey-style helmets.

Traditional wooden sticks that are made from the bending of long strips of wood and pockets woven with leather and string.

[4] This variation goes back to the roots of the game and is still popular with goaltenders at the amateur levels (senior, junior, and minor) but is cost-inhibitive with new sticks ranging in price from $250–400 CAD.

Also, despite cutting down the range of vision of the user, actively protects the throat area from straight on shots.

[citation needed] Like cricket, the irons covered high above the knee, while having an exoskeleton of molded plastic caps and shin plates to deflect shots and leave less or no bruising like in baseball.

Irons grew in width until it was arguable that they were no longer designed to protect the shin, but largely to cover more net.

Eventually there was a push back, the Canadian Lacrosse Association and its partners set limitations on shin guard wideness.

Because of the price, the team or the minor lacrosse organization often flips the bill for this costly piece of equipment.

At minor levels and some junior leagues this includes the crease's vertical plane, but at the Junior A, Major, and professional levels it is not uncommon for the player to be allowed to enter the vertical plane while shooting or retrieving a rebound as long as his feet or body do not touch the crease paint on the floor.

Goaltenders in box lacrosse are known to sometimes score goals for their team, in power play or slow whistle situations.

Also, due to the unique lack of offside rules in box lacrosse, it is not unheard of to see a goaltender lead his team in scoring on game sheets through multiple assists, usually through long passes to teammates that are attempting to breakaway on unsuspecting defenders.

[3] At the National Lacrosse League, Major, and Junior A levels a net four feet tall and four foot nine inches wide is used.

Heels shoulder-width apart, toes generally pointed on an outward angle to allow for stepping into the shot.

When the player shoots, the goalie quickly steps across and covers the other side of the net and blocks the shot.