As anyone who plays lacrosse can tell you, it is a physical sport. You need protection in order to play on the field or as a goalie. The protective gear will make sure you are in the same shape at the end of the game as you were when it started.
What equipment do you need to play goalie?
Let's start with the goalie stick. A head of a goalie's stick is usually larger than the other players' stick heads. This helps the goalie block other players' shots easier. The shaft of a goalie' stick is usually longer to give the goalie a longer reach. Goalies also wear a special type of glove that provides protection from flying balls and sticks, while still maintaining grip and flexibility.
The Head and the Upper Body
Goalies also need to wear helmets in order to prevent the ball from doing damage to the head. Most helmets come with attached face shields. Many of these helmets also come with throat protectors in place to keep the ball from striking the front of the neck. Mouth guards are standard equipment most players need to wear to prevent mouth damage.
The next layer of protection is the chest protector. A high-speed ball can do some damage to the chest unless there is some protection in the area. The protector provides a padded surface that wraps around the front of the body with straps going around the back to secure it.
The Lower Body
Most goalies also need to wear special goalie pants. These pants offer padding to the hips and upper thigh area. Some of the pants come with different layers of removable padding to allow for a comfortable fit while providing the most amount of protection.
Some goalies choose to wear kneepads to protect their knees from flying balls as well as giving them the ability to drop down to the knees to block a shot.
On the bottom of the legs, shin guards keep the lacrosse ball from leaving deep bruises. Shin guards usually come in hard plastic with a soft interior padding. They go from just below the knees down to around the ankle area.
Some lacrosse leagues may require other equipment for goalies. When you join a league, make sure you understand all of the equipment requirements. That will allow you to play and stay protected at the same time.
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