What in the World is Lacrosse?
What in the World is Lacrosse?
If you are asking "What is the World is Lacrosse?" don't feel bad. There are many people who have never heard of this aggressive, brutal, demanding, strategic, exhilarating, and most of all, fun sport. But, that's all right. The point of this page is to explain and educate people about this exciting game that is growing in popularity everywhere from Canada to Japan! Nicknamed "The Fastest Game on Two Feet," you know that every game is bound to be full action! So, read this page to find out more about "The Oldest Game in North America!" You'll be glad you did! You never know, you may even start playing Lacrosse yourself!
Lacrosse is a game that was originally played by the Native Americans of North America. However, this activity was much more than just a game. Lacrosse was actually used as a grueling and brutal training technique for close combat in battle and as endurance for hunting.
To prove just how grueling and brutal the origins of this sport were, consider the following:
Lacrosse is like many other popular sports that we know and love. In the end the object of most sports is to score and Lacrosse is no different. At each end of the field there is a goal that is six feet wide and six feet high. The object is to use a Lacrosse stick to fire the ball past the goalie and into the goal. A Lacrosse stick consists of a handle made out of wood, aluminum, or graphite and varies in length depending on position and whether the athlete is playing men's or women's Lacrosse. The top of the stick is called the head, which is netted and used to catch the ball made out of solid rubber and eight inches in circumference. The ball is kept in the Lacrosse stick by cradling and is thrown by thrusting the head towards the target. It is illegal to touch the ball! If the ball is dropped, the player must pick it up with the stick.
Men's and women's Lacrosse are similar and different at the same time. For example, in men's Lacrosse there are ten players on the field at any given time, there are boundaries, and helmets and pads are worn because there is a great deal of contact. In women's Lacrosse there are twelve players at any given time, there are no boundaries, and only the goalie wears pads since contact is illegal (although it does occur). However, despite their differences both are fun to play and exciting to watch once you get the hang of it!!!
Lacrosse has come a long way from its origins. For example, new industrial materials have allowed the equipment to improve, allowing players to improve their ability in games and making the game even more exciting to watch and play. It is a NCAA sport for Divisions I, II and III, and the game has spread to other countries like England, Australia, and Japan. There are leagues and clubs around the country and it is loved by millions. Where will Lacrosse will go in the future? Who knows! But one thing is for sure, Lacrosse was the first sport in North America and it is not going to leave anytime soon.
