Athletics
Lacrosse Fundamentals
Lacrosse
was played by native Indian tribes throughout most of North America, for
nearly a thousand years. The sport originated as a tribal ritual, conducted
for days over miles of wilderness. It eventually evolved into a form of
recreation, as a way to settle tribal disputes and a means to toughen
warriors for combat. From these early beginnings, lacrosse has developed
into the 'fastest game on two feet'.
Current men's lacrosse teams consist of ten players: a goalie, three defensemen, three mid-fielders, and three attackmen. The object of the game is to put a five-oz. hard-rubber ball (about the size of a baseball) into the opponent's goal using a long-handled stick with a triangular pocket at the end. A regulation men's lacrosse field is 110 yards long & 60 yards wide, with the goals 80 yards apart. This allows for a lot of play 'behind the net'. Like in hockey, substitutions can be made 'on the fly', and penalized players must sit out while their team plays 'man-down'. Lacrosse also combines the play-making strategy of basketball, the stamina of soccer, the hand-eye coordination of baseball, and the physical contact of football. Lacrosse is gaining in popularity across the U.S.. It is estimated there are more than 250,000 active lacrosse players in the U.S. today.
The physical characteristics of the sport are compelling to a wide range of potential participants. Size is not as critical a factor in lacrosse as are speed, agility, and stamina. In lacrosse, smaller athletes with power & skill can easily out-perform their larger opponents. Hand-eye coordination and mental 'vision' are key aspects of lacrosse, requiring the lacrosse player to be (or become) a multi-dimensional athlete. Lacrosse rules have a unique emphasis on sportsmanship. Coaches and players are held to high standards on the field of play. For example, the slightest type of unsportsmanlike fighting is an automatic rejection from the game (and from the next scheduled game as well). It's a true challenge - for both coaches and players - to maintain the patience, discipline and intelligence necessary to master lacrosse fundamentals.
