SAEDNEWS: Lacrosse is a team sport with origins among the Indigenous peoples of America. This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of lacrosse.
Lacrosse is a high-contact team sport played with a small rubber ball and long sticks that have nets at one end, called crosses or lacrosse sticks. The objective of the game is to use the cross offensively to scoop, catch, carry, and pass the ball to score points by shooting it into the opponent’s goal. Defensively, players aim to block opponents from scoring and to gain possession of the ball through physical contact and stick play.
There are two main types of lacrosse games:
Field Lacrosse: Played with ten players per team on a field the size of a soccer pitch.
Box Lacrosse: Played with six players per team on an indoor rink similar to an ice hockey arena.
The key difference between the two formats is the number of players and the size of the playing area.
Lacrosse originated with the Indigenous peoples of the United States and Canada. Historically, the game was most prominent in eastern regions. Traditional names for the sport include "Dehuntshigwa’es" (men who hit a rounded object), "Dahnawaausdi" (little war), "Tewaaraton" (Mohawk term for little brother of war), and "Bagataway" (the ball game). French missionaries gave it the name "lacrosse," derived from the French word "crosse," meaning a stick. The name is thought to be a shortened version of "le jeu de la crosse" (the stick game).
The lacrosse field measures 100 meters in length and 54 meters in width. Goals are 1.8 meters by 1.8 meters, similar to ice hockey goals, and are positioned within a circular area with a diameter of 5.5 meters. Behind this area, there is a zone where attackers position themselves.
Players use different lengths of sticks depending on their roles:
Sticks range from 101.6 cm to 182.8 cm in length.
Goalkeepers may use sticks of similar dimensions.
The heads of sticks must be at least 16.5 cm wide at the broadest part and no narrower than 6.5 cm.
Modern lacrosse sticks are advanced tools featuring metal shafts (commonly aluminum, titanium, or composite materials) with hard plastic heads. The shaft ends are equipped with rubber grips for comfort. Players wear helmets, gloves, shoulder pads, elbow guards, and sometimes chest protectors.
The nets on lacrosse sticks are loose to facilitate ball handling. Similar to other ball-and-net sports, the aim is to gain possession of the opponent's ball, attack their goal, score points, and defend against rival attacks. Players may not use their hands or feet to pass or shoot; only the cross can be used.
