So you would like to play lacrosse, eh? Well, perhaps just watching the Mammoth is too hard to follow and pick up on the rules. Here is a basic history of the game and some rules to remember when playing lacrosse.
Lacrosse began in early America when Native Americans had up to a thousand players on each team in a game that sometimes stretched over 500 yards. It was given the name “lacrosse”, which translates to “hooked stick”, by French missionaries who observed this unique game. After evolving over 200 years, the game is much different today than in the past.
Today, lacrosse is played with an eight ounce rubber ball on a 110 yard field with the goals spaced 15 yards from the out of bounds line, unlike soccer. Each team has ten players, one goalie, three defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers. Each player has a stick, with the attacker’s sticks being the shortest and the defensemen’s sticks the longest.
Lacrosse began in early America when Native Americans had up to a thousand players on each team in a game that sometimes stretched over 500 yards. It was given the name “lacrosse”, which translates to “hooked stick”, by French missionaries who observed this unique game. After evolving over 200 years, the game is much different today than in the past.
Today, lacrosse is played with an eight ounce rubber ball on a 110 yard field with the goals spaced 15 yards from the out of bounds line, unlike soccer. Each team has ten players, one goalie, three defenders, three midfielders, and three attackers. Each player has a stick, with the attacker’s sticks being the shortest and the defensemen’s sticks the longest.
Each game starts with a face off, where the referee drops the ball into the starting circle and players from opposing teams try and capture it in their sticks. Players run with the ball in their sticks, constantly “juggling” to prevent defenders from knocking the ball loose. There are four 15 minute quarters, and the clock runs continuously unless a player is injured or if it is the last three minutes of the fourth quarter.
Attackers must stay behind what is called a “restraining line” when the other team has the ball to prevent “cherry picking” or offsides infractions.
The goal is to score more goals than the opponent. If tied, there is one overtime period, followed by a shootout if there is still a tie, much like hockey.
Attackers must stay behind what is called a “restraining line” when the other team has the ball to prevent “cherry picking” or offsides infractions.
The goal is to score more goals than the opponent. If tied, there is one overtime period, followed by a shootout if there is still a tie, much like hockey.
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