An embodiment of the present invention provides a lacrosse glove having a rigid protective element extending over and secured to the padding disposed on the back side of the thumb receiving portion of the glove. The protective element comprises a protective thumb portion that extends from proximate to a tip of the thumb receiving portion to a base region of the thumb receiving portion, and a protective transverse portion that extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the protective thumb portion from the base region of the thumb receiving portion toward a center portion of the glove.