Lacrosse Is the Oldest Sport in North America, It Was Originally Played Be Native Americans

Lacrosse

Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America, it was originally played be Native Americans in what are now Canada and New York. It was originally played by hundreds of players in games that lasted over several days using goals that were 15 miles apart. The first lacrosse club was founded in 1842 and standard rules for play were established in 1860.

Lacrosse basics:Lacrosse is a contact sport played by 10 players; a goalkeeper, three defenders, three mid-fielders, and three attackers. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent’s goal with the team scoring the most points winning. Each team must keep at least 4 players in the defensive end including the goalie, and three in the offensive end. The three mid-fielders may roam the entire field.

Field:The field is 120 yards long and 70 yards wide with the goal being 100 yards apart in the center of the field. The goal crease is a circle that is 18’ in diameter with the goal in the center of the circle.

Length: Four quarters of 12 minutes. There is a two minute break between the first and second quarters and between the third and fourth. Half time between the second and third quarters is 10 minutes long.

Play:The game begins with a face-off. There are face-offs after each goal and at the beginning of each quarter.

Players may run with the ball in the Crosse

Only the goalkeepers are aloud to touch the ball with their hands.

If the ball or player with possession of the ball goes out of bounds the ball is awarded to the other team.

If the ball goes out of bounds after a missed shot on goal the ball is awarded to the nearest player.

An attacking player may not enter the crease around the goal.

Positions:Attacker; Main responsibility is to score goals, Play is restricted to the offensive end.

Midfield; Is responsible to cover the entire field and play both offense and defense.

Defender; Main responsibility is defend the goal, Play is restricted to the defensive end.

Goalie: The goalies job is to protect the goal and stop the other team from scoring.

Penaltiesslashing; when the stick contacts an opponent other than the stick

Tripping; when a player obstructs an opponent at or below the waist.

Cross Checking:A player uses the handle of their Crosse to make contact with an opponent.

Players that receive 5 penalties are ejected from the game.

Penalty result in possession for the fouled team and the player committing the foul is removed from the game for 1-3 minutes.