Correction:football-like gear
I went to a lacrosse camp once, and hated it. The coaches were dumbasses, I got tired of getting smacked with sticks, and the gear (that didn't stop me from getting bruises and grass burns) smelled like stuff no matter what I did.
Ok lets clarify stuff here.
Lacrosse is a contact sport, your going to get hurt, deal with it.
Gear smells and its common for that to happen
Coaches can be dumbasses though.
The gear does block you from hits, but you can get hurt since its
ment to stop you from being hurt but not protect you from all damage and trust me, without gear we would all have smashed arms and brusies.