The Secret Language of Lacrosse Players: Middle School vs. High School Edition
For anyone who doesn’t play lacrosse, you might be thinking, “Wow, this looks like chaos with sticks.” You’re not entirely wrong. But to those of us who’ve played the game, lacrosse is more than just running around and whacking each other with metal poles. It’s a culture, a lifestyle, and a secret society with its own quirks and inside jokes. Whether you’re a middle school newbie or a high school veteran, there are some tells that only lacrosse players will understand. Here’s a breakdown of the unspoken truths of lacrosse life.
1. The Glove Stench
If you’ve ever been within 10 feet of a lacrosse player’s gear bag, you know the smell. It’s a unique blend of sweat, grass, and despair that could knock out a small animal. Middle schoolers are still in denial about it, spraying their gloves with Febreze and hoping for the best. High schoolers? They’ve fully embraced the stench. It’s a badge of honor. If your gloves don’t smell like they’ve been buried in a swamp for a month, are you even a lacrosse player?
2. The Pocket Obsession
Lax players are obsessed with their stick pockets. Middle schoolers spend hours watching YouTube tutorials on how to string the perfect pocket, only to end up with something that looks like a bird’s nest. High schoolers, on the other hand, have mastered the art of the “legal but illegal” pocket—deep enough to cradle a watermelon but just shallow enough to pass a ref’s inspection. And don’t even get us started on the ritual of “breaking in” a new pocket. It’s like watching someone perform a sacred ceremony.
3. The Sideline Chants
Lacrosse sideline chants are a language unto themselves. Middle school teams are still figuring out how to synchronize their claps and shouts, often resulting in a chaotic mix of voices yelling, “WE WANT CAKE!” (no one knows why). High school teams, though? They’ve got it down to a science. From the classic “Clear the ball, clear the ball, YEAH!” to the more creative (and borderline inappropriate) chants, the sideline is where the real entertainment happens.
4. The Helmet Hair Struggle
Lacrosse helmets are both a blessing and a curse. Middle schoolers haven’t quite figured out how to deal with the inevitable helmet hair, often rocking the “just rolled out of bed” look post-game. High schoolers, however, have turned it into an art form. They’ve perfected the messy bun, the headband trick, and the “I don’t care but I actually care” vibe. Bonus points if you can pull off the post-game sweat-and-helmet-hair combo without looking like a wet mop.
5. The Lax Bro Stereotype
Ah, the infamous “lax bro.” Middle schoolers are just dipping their toes into the world of neon shorts, tank tops, and backwards hats. They’re still figuring out how to say “sick flow” without sounding like they’re trying too hard. High schoolers, though? They’ve fully embraced the stereotype. They’ve got the swagger, the slang, and the ability to turn any conversation into a debate about why lacrosse is the hardest sport on the planet. (Spoiler: it is.)
6. The Pregame Rituals
Every lacrosse player has their own superstitious routine. Whether it’s putting equipment on in the exact same order, listening to the same pump-up playlist, or wearing those lucky socks that haven’t been washed since that big win (gross, but true).
7. The Mysterious Tan Lines
Come summer, lacrosse players sport some truly unique tan lines. There’s the classic arm guard line that makes it look like we’re wearing permanent white bracelets, and don’t forget the unmistakable sock tan from those knee-high game socks. And let’s not even get started on the helmet line that makes us look like we’re wearing invisible headbands.
8. The Wall Ball Addiction
True lacrosse players can turn any vertical surface into a practice opportunity. We’ve all been yelled at for throwing balls against the garage door, the side of the house, or even bedroom walls. That rhythmic “thump-catch, thump-catch” sound is music to our ears but probably drives our parents crazy.
9. The Gear Obsession
We can spot a new head or shaft from fifty yards away and can talk endlessly about the merits of different mesh types. While our non-lax friends’ eyes glaze over, we can spend hours debating hard mesh versus soft mesh or why that particular head warped after one season.
10. The Field Vision
Even off the field, lacrosse players are constantly scanning their surroundings like they’re looking for the open cut. We instinctively think in terms of angles and spaces, whether we’re walking through a crowded mall or trying to navigate a packed school hallway.
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