In many cities and schools, lacrosse tends to be overshadowed by more popular national sports, such as baseball and football. However, despite its lesser-celebrated status, lacrosse offers many of the same benefits as other team sports, including keeping kids active and teaching them to work well with others. However, unless you played lacrosse growing up, you might be in the dark about what this sport entails. To shed some light, read this parents’ guide from Sears Imported Autos before getting your kids involved in lacrosse.

Accepting the challenge
Lacrosse is a challenging sport that requires a unique set of skills, which take some time and practice to master. Talented athletes may pick up on these skills more quickly, but parents of lacrosse players caution that it takes about a month to really learn to play the game. This is no reason to deter your kids from getting involved in lacrosse, but be prepared for some frustration and the chance that they may want to give up and quit a time or two. Of course, from a parenting standpoint, the challenging nature of the game makes it all the more rewarding, allowing your child to learn the value of hard work and dedication.

Lacrosse is fun…for everyone
As a supportive parent, your kids’ activities become your activities. Often, you’re the one who has to cart them to and from practice and games, and it’s your evenings and/or weekend afternoons that are spent in the stands. Fortunately for you, lacrosse isn’t just fun and challenging for your kids to play, it’s also really fun and exciting for parents to watch. Unlike baseball, lacrosse is a very high-action sport. The ball--along with everyone on the team--never stops moving. It’s this team play and fast action that gets kids hooked, but it also keeps parents entertained. Watching a lacrosse game is much more engaging than waiting for your child to get up to bat or watching him stand in the outfield.

Getting the gear
Like most team sports, lacrosse requires special gear, for which you’re going to have to shell out some cash. A helmet is essential for a lacrosse player, and it’s probably the most expensive piece of equipment you can buy. Your little lacrosse player will need some other protective gear as well, including shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, and a mouth guard. If your child is just learning the game, you could make do with last season’s hockey pads and gloves.

However, if your child does take to the sport, you’ll want to get them some lighter, less-restrictive gear designed specifically for lacrosse. Finally, you’ll need to buy a lacrosse stick (often just called a crosse), which is bound to become a fixture at your kitchen table and on the living room couch. Yes, balls will be bouncing incessantly off the walls and sticks will be flying, but at least you’ll know you didn’t waste your money on gear for a sport that your child can’t get excited about.