Lacrosse vs. Shinty — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 3, 2024
Lacrosse is a fast-paced team sport played with a lacrosse stick and ball, primarily in North America, whereas Shinty is a traditional Scottish game resembling field hockey but played with curved sticks and a small ball.
Difference Between Lacrosse and Shinty
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Lacrosse involves teams using netted sticks to catch, carry, and pass a rubber ball, aiming to score by shooting it into the opponent's goal. Whereas Shinty, also a field game, focuses on hitting a small ball into a goal using a caman, or curved stick, often requiring the ball to be played on the ground.
In Lacrosse, players wear protective gear including helmets, gloves, and shoulder pads due to the physical nature and speed of the game. On the other hand, Shinty players traditionally wear less protective gear, emphasizing skill and agility with fewer body contact rules.
Lacrosse fields are 110 yards long with goals 6 feet wide and 6 feet high placed at each end. Conversely, Shinty is played on a larger field, up to 170 yards long, with goals that are 10 feet wide and the crossbars sitting at 10 feet high.
The duration of a lacrosse game is generally 60 minutes, divided into four quarters. Shinty matches last 90 minutes, divided into two halves, reflecting its roots in ancient Celtic society where games were community events.
Lacrosse is predominantly played in the United States and Canada, enjoying popularity at the collegiate and professional levels. Shinty remains mainly confined to the Scottish Highlands, with deep cultural significance and local club participation.
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Comparison Chart
Equipment
Lacrosse stick with a netted pouch
Caman (wooden stick without a net)
Protective Gear
Helmets, gloves, shoulder pads
Less protective gear, mainly helmets and shin guards
Field Size
110 yards long, goals 6x6 ft
Up to 170 yards long, goals 10x10 ft
Game Duration
60 minutes, four quarters
90 minutes, two halves
Regional Popularity
United States, Canada
Scottish Highlands
Compare with Definitions
Lacrosse
A team sport played with a stick and ball where players score by shooting the ball into an opponent’s goal.
He joined the university's lacrosse team to improve his agility and teamwork skills.
Shinty
Players use a caman to hit a small ball towards the opposing team's goal.
He skillfully maneuvered his caman to keep control of the ball.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse sticks are distinctive with their netted pouch used to catch and hold the ball.
She bought a new lacrosse stick to replace her old, worn-out one.
Shinty
A traditional Scottish team sport resembling field hockey but played with curved sticks.
Shinty is an integral part of cultural celebrations in the Scottish Highlands.
Lacrosse
Collegiate lacrosse competitions are significant, especially in North America.
The national collegiate lacrosse championship draws a large crowd every year.
Shinty
The sport has ancient origins and is played mainly in the Scottish Highlands.
Shinty has been a part of Scottish Highland culture for centuries.
Lacrosse
The sport is recognized for its fast pace and physical demands.
Lacrosse requires excellent physical conditioning and coordination.
Shinty
Shinty games are longer, lasting 90 minutes.
The players prepared for the demanding physical exertion of the ninety-minute shinty match.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse games are divided into four quarters.
The team regrouped during the break between the second and third quarters of the lacrosse game.
Shinty
Shinty clubs are deeply embedded in local communities in Scotland.
Every village has its own shinty club, which is a source of local pride.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport played with a lacrosse stick and a lacrosse ball. It is the oldest organized sport in North America, with its origins in indigenous Canada as early as the 17th century.
Shinty
Shinty (Scottish Gaelic: camanachd, iomain) is a team game played with sticks and a ball. Shinty is now played mainly in the Scottish Highlands and amongst Highland migrants to the big cities of Scotland, but it was formerly more widespread in Scotland, and was even played in northern England into the second half of the 20th century and other areas in the world where Scottish Highlanders migrated.While comparisons are often made with field hockey the two games have several important differences.
Lacrosse
A game played on a rectangular field by two teams of ten players each, in which participants use a long-handled stick that has a webbed pouch on one end to try to propel a ball into the opposing team's goal.
Shinty
A game derived from hurling, and resembling hockey, played in Scotland.
Lacrosse
(sports) A sport played on a field between two opposing teams using sticks (crosses) and a ball, whereby one team defeats the other by scoring more goals within the allotted time.
Shinty
The stick used to strike the ball in this game, similar to a hockey stick.
Lacrosse
A game of ball, originating among the North American Indians, now the popular field sport of Canada, and played also in England and the United States. Each player carries a long-handled racket, called a "crosse". The ball is not handled but caught with the crosse and carried on it, or tossed from it, the object being to carry it or throw it through one of the goals placed at opposite ends of the field.
Shinty
A Scotch game resembling hockey; also, the club used in the game.
Lacrosse
A game invented by American indians; now played by two teams who use long-handled rackets to catch and carry and throw the ball toward the opponents' goal
Common Curiosities
How is scoring achieved in shinty?
Scoring in shinty is achieved by hitting a small ball into a goal using a curved stick called a caman.
Where is lacrosse predominantly played?
Lacrosse is predominantly played in the United States and Canada.
What is the main equipment used in lacrosse?
The main equipment includes a lacrosse stick with a netted pouch and a rubber ball.
What are the typical protective gears in lacrosse?
Lacrosse players typically wear helmets, gloves, and shoulder pads.
How many players are on a lacrosse team during a game?
A lacrosse team has ten players on the field during a game.
Are shinty games longer than lacrosse games?
Yes, shinty games typically last 90 minutes, whereas lacrosse games last 60 minutes.
How many players are on a shinty team during a game?
A shinty team can have up to twelve players on the field.
How are lacrosse goals structured?
Lacrosse goals are 6 feet wide and 6 feet high.
What is the size of a shinty field compared to a lacrosse field?
A shinty field can be up to 170 yards long, which is larger than a 110-yard lacrosse field.
What is the cultural significance of shinty in Scotland?
Shinty is a sport with deep cultural significance, particularly in the Scottish Highlands.
How is play initiated in shinty?
Play in shinty is initiated with a throw-up at the center of the field.
Can lacrosse be played by both men and women?
Yes, lacrosse is played by both men and women, with slight variations in rules.
What is the height of shinty goals?
Shinty goals have a crossbar at 10 feet high.
Is shinty a professional sport?
Shinty is not widely professional; it is more of a community-based sport.
How is play initiated in lacrosse?
Play in lacrosse is initiated with a face-off.
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Written by
Maham LiaqatEdited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.