In May 2021, the sport of lacrosse changed forever. Seeking eventual representation in the Olympics, World Lacrosse approved a new format of the game: Sixes. In the ensuing years, the format has helped lacrosse return to the Olympics and become a fabric of the sport.

But perhaps just as important as its impact on the game at the international level, Sixes is helping to change the way it’s played at the grassroots level of lacrosse.

“Teaching wise, it's a better opportunity, because you get a lot more touches on the ball,” said Colin Fagan, who runs the Maryland Lacrosse League, one of the largest youth and adult lacrosse programs in the country.

For veteran lacrosse coach Rich Maconochie, Sixes was a natural addition to his youth programs.

Maconochie has long advocated for smaller-sided versions of lacrosse, especially at the earliest age groups. He noticed the changes to youth programs in other sports, namely soccer and hockey. In those sports, many youth leagues shifted to smaller-sided games to emphasize skill and opportunity.

As he took those lessons to the lacrosse field, he fully embraced small-sided drills and games for development. Once he moved from the hotbed of Massachusetts to a growing area in North Carolina, the value of these smaller sided games became even clearer.

“The biggest thing for us is in a non-traditional lacrosse area like ours, where we don't have a huge amount of numbers, we're able to field teams,” Maconochie said.

The recent implementation of Sixes of has helped bridge the gap between a small-side drill like the West Genesee drill and the structure of field lacrosse. There are still rules about offsides and different positions on a team, but Sixes’ free-flowing nature allows young players to get more reps.

To Maconochie, he’s seen Sixes massively improve young players’ decision-making and instincts, especially in transition moments.

“That transition from offense to defense comes very hard for a younger player,” Maconochie said. “Those transitional thoughts come so much quicker to those younger players in sixes, it is incredible.”

For more established entities, the Sixes game has been a useful additive to long-standing programs.

The Maryland Lacrosse League, for example, has embraced Sixes to run alongside its established boys and girls field lacrosse offerings.

“I think it's nice to have a mix of field and Sixes, just to mix it up and offer something a little different, versus playing just the same full field every single time,” said Fagan.

With the Premier Lacrosse League’s embrace of Sixes – best highlighted by the Lexus Championship Series – that’s only further grown the new format’s viability and popularity.

Pro players have embraced Sixes for its speed and return to roots.

“It’s like youth lacrosse again,” Archers midfielder Grant Ament said before the 2023 Championship Series.

Some players have been even more impressed with the format. Former Maryland Whipsnakes All-Pro defensive midfielder Ty Warner tweeted, “sixes is better than field,” during the 2023 tournament.

Sixes has been contentious among some traditional lacrosse fans. Like with any change, its introduction prompted pushback from all corners of the lacrosse world. But for the players and coaches on the ground floor, the new format has been nothing but a success.

The sport of lacrosse continues to evolve as it grows across the country, from the youth level to the expanding professional game. But whether it’s traditional field, Sixes or any other format, the game remains the same at its core.

“You want to talk about pure lacrosse; backyard lacrosse, bucket lacrosse,” Maconochie said. “There are skills that need to be honed with coaching, but the game will teach itself.”