Lacrosse stick pocket and related method of manufacture

A method of making a pocket for a lacrosse head, the lacrosse head including a ball stop, a scoop, opposing sidewalls extending between the scoop and ball stop, a front side and a back side, the method comprising:

• providing a throat tie having a throat tie end and a plurality of cross pieces, at least one cross piece including a front surface adapted to face the lacrosse head front side and a back surface adapted to face the lacrosse head back side, the at least one cross piece including a first end, the first end including a speed loop;
• maintaining the plurality of cross pieces together in a predetermined spatial relationship with one another and with the throat tie;
• overmolding a polymeric material over the throat tie and the plurality of cross pieces while the cross pieces and the throat tie are maintained in the predetermined spatial relationship, the polymeric material encapsulating at least the throat tie end and at least one cross piece, with the polymeric material engaging and covering at least a portion of the front surface and at least a portion of the back surface of the at least one cross piece,
• wherein the overmolded polymeric material forms a single layer runner connecting the plurality of cross pieces to one another and to the throat tie,
• wherein the single layer runner is transverse to the plurality of cross pieces,
• wherein the cross piece extends laterally beyond the single layer runner so that the speed loop forms an opening through which a net lace is adapted to fit.

A method of making a pocket for a lacrosse head, the lacrosse head including opposing sidewalls extending between a scoop and a ball stop, the method comprising:

• providing a pocket base including a first runner, a second runner, and a first piece transverse to at least one of the first runner and the second runner;
• molding a material over the pocket base so that the material engages and covers at least a portion of first runner, a portion of the second runner, and a portion of the first piece;
• and
• molding the material so that it forms a connection element that spans between and connects at least two of the first runner, the second runner, and the first piece, independently of any of the first runner, the second runner and the first piece.

A method of making a pocket for a lacrosse head, the lacrosse head including opposing sidewalls extending between a scoop and a ball stop, the method comprising:

• providing a runner joined at a junction with a first piece, the first piece being transverse to the runner;
• molding a material over least a portion of runner and a portion of the first piece and the junction;
• and
• molding the material so that it forms a separate connection element that spans between and connects the runner and the first piece, the connection element being spaced away and independent from the junction.

A lacrosse head pocket comprising:

• a throat tie having a throat tie end;
• a plurality of cross pieces;
• an elongate single layer runner connecting the plurality of cross pieces to one another and to the throat tie, the elongate single layer runner constructed from a polymeric material molded over the throat tie and the plurality of cross pieces so that the polymeric material encapsulates at least a portion of the throat tie end,
• wherein the elongate single layer runner constructed from the polymeric material is transverse to the plurality of cross pieces,
• wherein at least one cross piece extends laterally beyond the single layer runner and terminates at an end.

A lacrosse head pocket comprising:

• a runner;
• a first piece joined at a junction with the runner, the first piece being transverse to the runner;
• a polymeric material molded over least a portion of runner, a portion of the first piece, and the junction;
• and
• a separate molded connection element formed by the polymeric material, the separate molded connection element spanning between and connecting the runner and the first piece, the separate molded connection element being spaced away and independent from the junction, the separate molded connection element connecting the runner and the first piece independently of the junction.