Equipment
Gear Up for the Box.
Box is a contact game played in a tight space, so the gear list is a little different from field lacrosse. Box gear is nearly identical for boys and girls — everyone wears the same helmet, pads, and gloves. The only difference is the cup.
Not sure what your player has or needs? Email us at shadowcatsboxla@gmail.com before you buy anything — and if it is your player's first time out, ask about loaner gear.
Required
A player cannot take the floor without every item on this list.
Helmet
A lacrosse helmet with a full facemask, NOCSAE approved and SEI certified. A hockey helmet with a cage is not a substitute unless a coach clears it.
Mouthguard
Required at every session, no exceptions. Bring a spare — they go missing.
Gloves
Lacrosse gloves. Box gloves have more padding across the back of the hand, which matters when checks are constant.
Shoulder pads
Standard lacrosse shoulder pads. Box-specific sets include bicep protection.
Arm pads
Arm or elbow pads. In box, look for pads that cover the bicep as well as the elbow.
Athletic cup
Boys onlyBoys wear a protective cup. Girls do not — this is the one item on the list that is not for everybody.
Stick
A legal lacrosse stick. Box players usually run a shorter shaft — roughly 28 to 30 inches — for quicker handling in traffic.
Indoor shoes
Turf shoes are recommended; indoor court shoes work too. Look for good ankle support, and no metal cleats on the box floor.
Rib & kidney pads
Mandatory in box, and the biggest addition to a field kit. Box rib pads are larger and stiffer than field pads, and they protect against exactly the kind of contact box produces.
Bicep pads
Mandatory in box. If your arm pads stop at the elbow, add bicep protection separately.
Goalies
Goalie gear is different, and we would rather talk it through than have you guess. Contact us before buying anything.
First time out? We have loaners.
We keep a limited set of loaner gear for first-time attendees, so a player can try box before you buy a full kit. Ask us when you register.
Coming From Field Lacrosse?
Most of your gear carries straight over. What you add to a field kit is rib and kidney pads, bicep pads, and indoor shoes — all three are mandatory here, not optional extras. A shorter shaft helps too, but start with what you have and see how it feels.
If your player is a girl coming from the field game, note that box gear is the full setup — helmet, pads, and gloves. Goggles and a field women's stick are not what's worn here.
Not Sure What to Buy?
Ask us first. We would rather help you get it right than have you buy the wrong thing twice.
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