Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a full contact team sport, similar to the game of soccer, but played with sticks and a small rubber ball instead. Lacrosse is played with ten players on the field at a time (unless there is a penalty); one Goalie, three Defensemen, three Midfielders, and three Attackmen. The object of lacrosse is to throw the ball into the opponent's goal.

Fast Facts

1. The two largest professional lacrosse leagues are the National Lacrosse League and Major League Lacrosse
2. Attackmen and Midfielders use sticks that are 40 inches long and Defenders use sticks 72 inches long
3. A lacrosse goal is six feet high by six feet wide
4. Midfielders are commonly referred to as middies
5. When the ball is shot, the team which is closest to the ball when it goes out of bounds is given possession

History

Lacrosse originated among the Native Americans along the eastern coast of North America. The first games had potential to last a few days and were played on fields that were over a mile long. It was not uncommon for players to be killed in the course of the game, and was essentially a method of conflict resolution as well as spiritual development. Over time the game progressed and evolved to have more rules and become less violent. In 1856 the first organized lacrosse league was founded in Montreal, Canada, and by the 1900's the sport had grown in popularity so much that it began to become offered on the high school and collegiate levels.

Popularity

In the United States the game of lacrosse has traditionally only been popular in the Northeast and Mid-atlantic. However, in the recent years the popularity of the sport has exploded and kids around the country have begun playing. Lacrosse is currently the fastest growing sport in the United States, with youth participation rates up over 500% since 1999, and equally as impressive growth on the high school and college levels.

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