box lacrosse: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Sports
Quick answer
What does “box lacrosse” mean?
A version of lacrosse played indoors in a hockey-style rink, with six players per team, characterized by physical contact and boards surrounding the playing surface.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A version of lacrosse played indoors in a hockey-style rink, with six players per team, characterized by physical contact and boards surrounding the playing surface.
A fast-paced, indoor team sport derived from field lacrosse, with specific rules for physical contact, shot clocks, and substitutions. It is the primary professional and major amateur form of lacrosse in Canada and is growing in other regions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in both varieties, but the sport is far more common and culturally significant in North America (especially Canada). In the UK, 'lacrosse' typically refers to the women's field version.
Connotations
In North America, connotes a fast, physical, indoor, often professional sport. In the UK and other regions, it may be an unfamiliar niche sport.
Frequency
Very high frequency in Canadian sports discourse; low to negligible frequency in British English outside specific sporting contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “box lacrosse” in a Sentence
[Team/Player] plays box lacrosse in [league/city].The [event/game] featured intense box lacrosse.[He/She] transitioned from field lacrosse to box lacrosse.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “box lacrosse” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The club decided to box lacrosse their main hall during the winter months.
- He box-lacrosses for a team in Manchester.
American English
- The university will box lacrosse the arena for the tournament.
- She box-lacrosses in the summer league.
adjective
British English
- He has a classic box-lacrosse playing style, very physical and quick.
- The box-lacrosse community in the UK is small but dedicated.
American English
- His box-lacrosse background helped his field game immensely.
- They attended a box-lacrosse showcase in Buffalo.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in sports management, marketing, or franchise discussions related to leagues like the NLL.
Academic
Used in sports science, history of sport, or comparative studies of game types.
Everyday
Used primarily by sports fans, players, and families involved in the sport, mainly in Canada and parts of the US.
Technical
Precise term in coaching, officiating, and sports journalism to distinguish from field lacrosse; involves specific terminology (e.g., 'shot clock', 'thirty-second rule', 'crease').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “box lacrosse”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “box lacrosse”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “box lacrosse”
- Misspelling as 'box lacross'.
- Using 'lacrosse' ambiguously when 'box lacrosse' is specifically meant.
- Confusing it with 'field lacrosse' rules and equipment.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Box lacrosse' is the traditional Canadian term, while 'indoor lacrosse' is often used more generically, especially in the US. The professional league is called the National Lacrosse League.
Six players per team on the floor at one time: a goaltender and five runners (forwards and defenders).
It is the dominant form of lacrosse in Canada, both professionally and at amateur levels. It has significant followings in parts of the United States and is growing in Europe and Asia.
Skills are transferable, but the games are quite different. Box lacrosse requires quicker decision-making, different shooting techniques due to less space, and involves more physical contact within the rules. The smaller goal and presence of a shot clock also change the strategy.
A version of lacrosse played indoors in a hockey-style rink, with six players per team, characterized by physical contact and boards surrounding the playing surface.
Box lacrosse is usually technical/sports in register.
Box lacrosse: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɒks ləˈkrɒs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑːks ləˈkrɔːs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's a product of the box. (Meaning: He developed his skills playing box lacrosse.)”
- “It's a different game between the boards. (Referring to the unique nature of box lacrosse.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a hockey BOX (the rink) where they play LACROSSE instead. BOX = enclosed area.
Conceptual Metaphor
SPORT IS WAR (e.g., 'battle in the corners', 'defensive fortress'); THE PLAYING AREA IS A CONTAINER ('trapped in the box', 'game between the boards').
Practice
Quiz
What primarily distinguishes box lacrosse from field lacrosse?