Work out calories and kilojoules burned playing lacrosse — running, sprinting, stick-handling and physical contact rolled into one figure — based on your body weight and how long you were on the field.
Lacrosse calorie burn is estimated with calories = MET × body weight (kg) × session length (hours), using a single MET value of 8.0 that covers the running, sprinting, cutting, stick-handling and physical contact involved in general play. A 75 kg player in a typical 60-minute (1-hour) game or training session burns roughly 600 kcal, about 2,510 kJ. That MET of 8.0 sits well above many other Australian team sports, reflecting how much of a lacrosse game is spent actually running rather than standing around.
| Session Length | Calories | Kilojoules |
|---|
The calculation combines three inputs: a MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) value for lacrosse, your body weight, and the time you actually spent playing. Lacrosse carries a single MET value of 8.0 in the Compendium of Physical Activities, covering the running, sprinting, stick-handling and physical contact of general play as one code rather than splitting it by position or format. That means the same MET applies whether you spent the session mostly attacking, defending, or rotating through midfield — the calculator simply multiplies that figure by your weight and your time on the field to estimate total energy burned.
Lacrosse's MET of 8.0 sits well above many other Australian team sports, and the reasons come down to how the game is actually played. Unlike sports with long pauses between plays, lacrosse keeps players moving across a large field for most of the game clock — chasing possession, repositioning on transition, and covering ground in both attacking and defensive directions. On top of that constant running load, players are also cradling and handling a stick one-handed while under pressure, sprinting hard for loose balls on the ground, and absorbing or delivering legal body checks and stick checks as part of normal contested play. That combination of sustained aerobic running, repeated short sprints, and the extra muscular effort of one-handed stick control and physical contact is what pushes lacrosse's calorie burn noticeably higher than more stop-start field sports.
Lacrosse is not a mainstream sport in Australia, and it would be misleading to suggest otherwise. It's played through state associations in most states, with an active but comparatively small base of clubs, and it has been gaining a foothold in some university and school sport programs in recent years. Compared to codes like AFL, rugby league, rugby union, netball or cricket, the overall playing population is modest — but the people who do play tend to be genuinely enthusiastic about the sport's combination of running, skill and physical contact, and participation numbers have been trending upward rather than shrinking. If you're using this calculator, there's a reasonable chance you're either new to the sport through a school or uni program, or part of one of these smaller but committed club communities.
This table holds session length constant at 60 minutes (1 hour) of lacrosse, so you can see how much body weight alone changes the total.
| Body Weight | MET | Calories (1 hour) | Kilojoules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kg | 8.0 | 480 kcal | 2,008 kJ |
| 70 kg | 8.0 | 560 kcal | 2,343 kJ |
| 75 kg | 8.0 | 600 kcal | 2,510 kJ |
| 80 kg | 8.0 | 640 kcal | 2,678 kJ |
| 90 kg | 8.0 | 720 kcal | 3,012 kJ |
| 100 kg | 8.0 | 800 kcal | 3,347 kJ |
Because body weight is a straight multiplier in the formula, a 100 kg player burns roughly two-thirds more than a 60 kg player over the identical 60-minute session, even though both are on the same field for the same game.
Here body weight is fixed at 75 kg while session length changes, since lacrosse sessions vary — a short training run, a full club or school match, and a tournament day with multiple back-to-back games all take very different amounts of time on the field.
| Session Length | Hours | Calories | Kilojoules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 0.5 | 300 kcal | 1,255 kJ |
| 60 minutes | 1.0 | 600 kcal | 2,510 kJ |
| 90 minutes | 1.5 | 900 kcal | 3,766 kJ |
Australian nutrition panels list energy in kilojoules, not calories, so it helps to see your session in the same unit your food packaging uses. Multiply your calorie figure by 4.184 to get kilojoules. A 75 kg player in a 60-minute session burns about 600 kcal, which is roughly 2,510 kJ — worth keeping in mind against the energy value printed on a post-training recovery snack or sports drink.
How many calories does lacrosse burn?
For a 75 kg player in a typical 60-minute (1-hour) game or training session, lacrosse burns roughly 600 kcal, about 2,510 kJ. This uses a single MET value of 8.0 that covers the running, sprinting, stick-handling and physical contact involved in lacrosse, and scales directly with your own body weight and session length — use the calculator above for a number based on your details.
Is lacrosse a popular sport in Australia?
Not yet in a mainstream sense. Lacrosse is played across Australia through state associations and a growing number of school and university leagues, but it remains a small community compared to codes like AFL, rugby league, netball or cricket. It's a fast-growing sport in some pockets, particularly around university clubs, but it would be overstating things to call it mainstream.
How does lacrosse compare to other running sports for calorie burn?
Lacrosse's MET of 8.0 sits at the higher end of team sport MET values, similar to vigorous running or a fast-paced game of field hockey or soccer. This reflects lacrosse's largely continuous running demands across a large field, combined with sprinting for ground balls and loose possession, on top of the physical contact of checking and defending — all of which push the average intensity higher than more stop-start sports like cricket or golf.
Does box lacrosse burn calories differently to field lacrosse?
The Compendium of Physical Activities lists one general MET value for lacrosse rather than separate figures for field and box (indoor) lacrosse, so this calculator applies 8.0 to both. In practice, box lacrosse is played on a smaller indoor surface with fewer players and continuous line changes, which may shift its intensity profile compared to the larger, longer-duration field game, but the published research doesn't split the two, so treat the result as a general estimate for either format.
Does playing attack, midfield or defence change how many calories I burn?
Almost certainly, but the single published MET value doesn't distinguish between positions. Midfielders who cover the most ground for both attacking and defensive transitions likely burn more than a settled attacker or a defender holding a set zone, in the same way a fast bowler burns more than a fielder at deep fine leg in cricket. The 8.0 MET figure is a game-wide average across all positions, not a position-specific number.
How accurate is a MET-based estimate for a contact sport like lacrosse?
It's a solid planning estimate rather than a precise personal measurement. MET values are population averages drawn from studies of typical play, so they don't account for your own fitness level, how physical a particular game was, how much time you spent in stoppages, or extras like ground-ball scrambles and post-whistle contact. Treat the result as a reasonable estimate for a general lacrosse session rather than an exact figure for any one game.
Does lacrosse burn more calories than netball or basketball?
Generally, yes, based on published MET values. Lacrosse's MET of 8.0 is noticeably higher than netball (around MET 7.0) and comparable to or above many basketball MET values, largely because lacrosse involves more continuous full-field running combined with physical contact. Actual calorie burn in any of these sports still depends heavily on individual effort, playing time and position, so use these MET-based figures as a general guide rather than an exact comparison.
What are the limitations of this calorie estimate?
This calculator applies a single population-average MET value to your body weight and session length, which gives a useful planning figure rather than a personalised measurement. It can't account for your position on the field, how physical a particular game was, your fitness level, or conditions like heat and ground surface. It also doesn't distinguish between field and box lacrosse. Treat the result as a reasonable estimate for a general lacrosse session, not an exact figure.