The men's and women's games are essentially similar in the sense that a ball is carried and passed from stick to stick toward a goal six feet high and six feet wide. The on-field personas of the women, on the other hand, are more evident. Therefore, the men's game progresses through tightly prescribed zones of action, while the women's game is more free-flowing. In lacrosse, possession of the ball is of paramount importance. Unlike many other sports, in which the ball changes hands after a score, lacrosse initiates and resumes play with a face-off in the center of the field.
Men face off crouched on the ground like wrestlers.
Midfielders, on the other hand, roam the entire field, playing offense or defense depending on which team has the ball. Consequently, midfielders are substituted frequently. A good deal of coaching strategy involves sending in different combinations of midfielders to exploit a given situation. Defenders are distinguished by their long sticks, which they use to fend off attackers' forays and attempt to prod loose possession of the ball. Offensive and defensive positions have obscure names, such as First Home, Cover Point and Third Man, although one suspects these are vestiges of a kinder, gentler sport.