Lacrosse Handout

 

 

Lacrosse is considered to be America's first sport. It was born of the North American Indian, christened by the French, and adapted and raised by the Canadians. For over a century, modern lacrosse has been embraced by athletes/enthusiasts from the United States. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong,
warriors.

 

Native Americans still refer to lacrosse as "The Creator's Game" (played to please the Creator), “The Medicine Game” (to heal the sick) and “Baggataway” (Little Brother of War). Ironically, lacrosse also served as a preparation for war. Legend tells of as many as 1,000 players per side, from the same or different tribes, who took turns engaging in a violent contest. The Natives played on an area ranging from one to 15 miles in length, and games sometimes lasted for days, weeks or more. Some tribes used a single pole, tree or rock for a goal, while other tribes had two goalposts through which the ball had to pass. Balls were made out of wood, deerskin, baked clay or stone.

The evolution of the Native American game into modern lacrosse began in 1636 when Jean de Breboeuf, a Jesuit missionary, documented a Huron contest in what is now southeast Ontario, Canada. At that time, some type of lacrosse was played by at least 48 Native American tribes scattered throughout what is now southern Canada and all parts of the United States. French pioneers began playing the game avidly in the 1800s. Canadian dentist W. George Beers standardized the game in 1867 with the adoption of set field dimensions, limits to the number of players per team and other basic rules.

Lacrosse is Canada’s national sport. Lacrosse is a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey.

 

Anyone can play lacrosse - big or small. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse. Men's lacrosse is a contact sport played by ten players:  a goalie, 3 defense, 3 midfielders and 3 attack.

 

The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.

 

There is also Women’s lacrosse that is not a contact sport and has 12 players (5 offense, 5 defense and a goalie).

 

“Box Lacrosse” is another form that is played in a defrosted hockey rink, played 6v6 (3 Forwards, 2 defense and a goalie).

 

(3) Attack’s the attack generally score goals and play on the offensive end of the field. A good attack demonstrates excellent stick work with both hands and has quick feet to maneuver around the goal.
(3) Midfielder’s responsibility is to cover the entire field, playing both offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense.
(3) Defense’s responsibility is to defend the goal. The defenseman generally restricts his play to the defensive end of the field.
(1) Goalie’s responsibility is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from scoring.

Lacrosse Skills:

Scooping - picking up the lacrosse ball off the ground

Cradling - rocking the stick back and forth to maintain possession of the ball (open field, protection and one handed)

Passing - the act of throwing the ball to a teammate with a lacrosse stick

Catching - the act of receiving the ball with a lacrosse stick

Shooting - the act of throwing a lacrosse ball at the goal

Dodging - Face dodge, Split and Roll - are used to fake and maneuver past defensive players

Crease: A circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter.
Ground Ball: A loose ball on the playing field.
Face-Off: (Men’s game) a technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. 2 players squat down and the ball is placed between their crosses.
Clamp: A face-off maneuver executed by quickly pushing the back of the stick on top of the ball.
Rake: A face-off move in which a player sweeps the ball to the side.
Draw: (Women’s game) a technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each half, or after a goal is scored. 2 players stand and the ball is placed between their crosses. The ball is then launch in the air and in play.

 

Head: The plastic or wood part of the stick connected to the handle.
Pocket: The strung part of the head of the stick which holds the ball.
Stick/Handle (Shaft): Aluminum, wooden or composite pole connected to the head of the stick.
Short Stick: 40 - 42 inches in length for offensive player. Advantage is the shorter stick is easier to protect.
Long Stick: 52 - 72 inches for defensive players. Advantage is the ability to check the stick of another player from a distance.
Goalie's Stick: head 10 - 12 inches wide. Advantage is the large head helps with catching/stopping the ball shot at the goal.

 

The penalty for a personal foul results in a 1 to 3 minute suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled.

 

The penalty for a technical foul is a 30-second suspension if a team is in possession of the ball when the foul is committed, or possession of the ball to the team that was fouled if there was no possession when the foul was committed.

 

Offside: Occurs when a team does not have at least four players on its defensive side of the midfield line or at least three players on its offensive side of the midfield line. This can result in a change of possession if committed by the offense or a 30 second penalty if committed by the defense.

 

Warding-Off: This occurs when a player in possession of the ball uses his or her free hand or arm to hold, push or control the direction of an opponent's stick check.

 

Man-up: The offensive team has an extra player as a result of a penalty. (6 offensive players versus 5 defense for example.)

 

Man-down: The defense is down a player or more as a result of a penalty.

 

Slashing: Occurs when a player's stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.

Cross Checking: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his stick between his hands to make contact with an opponent.

Tripping: A player obstructs his or her opponent below the waist with the lacrosse stick, hands, arms, feet or legs causing the opponent to stubble and/or fall.