Field lacrosse
A full-contact outdoor sport with Native American origins.
Field lacrosse is a full-contact outdoor sport where two teams of ten players each compete. The game traces its origins to Native American traditions, and the modern written rules were first set down by Canadian William George Beers in 1867. It stands as one of the three main versions of lacrosse played around the world. Men’s field lacrosse and women’s field lacrosse—the latter first played in North America in 1926, with modern rules developed later—are so different in their rules that they are often regarded as separate sports sharing a common origin. Two other notable variants exist: lacrosse sixes, introduced by World Lacrosse in 2020, which uses six players per side on a smaller field with shorter games designed for daily tournament play; and indoor box lacrosse, which emerged in the 1930s and follows its own distinct set of rules.
The aim of the game is to use a lacrosse stick—called a crosse—to catch, carry, and pass a solid rubber ball, ultimately shooting it into the opponent’s goal to score. The stick’s triangular head is strung with a loose net that allows the player to hold the ball. Players must also wear protective equipment. On defense, the goal is to prevent the other team from scoring and to take the ball away through stick checks and body contact. Rules limit how many players can be in each section of the field at any time. The sport is sometimes called the “fastest sport on two feet.”
Internationally, lacrosse is governed by World Lacrosse, which has 62 member nations and organizes the World Lacrosse Championships every four years. In North America, field lacrosse is played professionally by the Premier Lacrosse League. High-level amateur competition includes the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association and the Maritime University Field Lacrosse League in Canada, and the Australian Senior Lacrosse Championship series in Australia.
**History**
Lacrosse has its roots as a traditional Native American game. In Native American belief, playing lacrosse is a spiritual act used for healing and giving thanks to the Creator. It was also played to settle minor conflicts between tribes that did not warrant war, earning it the name “little brother of war.” These early games could last several days and involve 100 to 1,000 men from opposing villages or tribes, played on open pl
- origin
- Native American
- codified
- 1867 by William George Beers
- players_per_team
- 10
- field_dimensions
- 110 yards by 60 yards
- governing_body
- World Lacrosse
- professional_league
- Premier Lacrosse League
Lore & Background
Lacrosse is a traditional Native American game, believed to be a spiritual act for healing and giving thanks, and used to resolve minor conflicts between tribes, earning the name 'little brother of war.' Games could last several days with 100 to 1,000 men on open plains. The first Europeans to observe it were French Jesuit missionaries in the St. Lawrence Valley in the 1630s, who named it 'lacrosse' after the stick's resemblance to a bishop's crosier. Native American tribes used various names, including dehuntshigwa'es, da-nah-wah'uwsdi, tewaarathon, and baggataway.
Reader's Guide
Field lacrosse has evolved significantly since Beers' codification, with the number of players reduced from twelve to ten in the 1930s, and rules established for protective equipment and field size. It is governed internationally by World Lacrosse, which sponsors the World Lacrosse Championships every four years. The sport is played professionally in North America by the Premier Lacrosse League, and at a high amateur level by the NCAA in the United States, Canadian university leagues, and the Australian Senior Lacrosse Championship series. The object of the game is to use a lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass a solid rubber ball to score in the opponent's goal, with defensive play involving stick checking and body contact. It is sometimes called the 'fastest sport on two feet.'
Did You Know?
- The name 'lacrosse' comes from French Jesuit missionaries who described the sticks as like a bishop's crosier—la crosse in French.
- In the 1930s, the number of players per team was reduced from twelve to ten.
- A lacrosse ball is made of solid rubber, measuring 7.75 to 8 inches in circumference and weighing 5 to 5.25 ounces.
- The Premier Lacrosse League has adopted an 'optic yellow' ball for easier visibility on television broadcasts.
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