Lacrosse
Lacrosse
BRIEF HISTORY
Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts. It 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. Contestants played on a field from one to 15 miles in length, and games sometimes lasted for days.
Canadian 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.
PLAYING THE GAME
Men's lacrosse is a contact game played by ten players. Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 12-minute quarters.
The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.
Field players may pass, catch or run with the ball in their crosse. A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a check.
The goalie has special padding and a crosse with an extra-large head. The goal measures 6’ high by 6’ wide.
PERSONAL FOULS
Slashing- Occurs when a player's stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.
Tripping- Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the crosse, hands, arms, feet or legs.
Cross Checking- Occurs when a player uses the handle of his crosse between his hands to make contact with an opponent.
Illegal Body Checking: Occurs when any of the following actions takes place:
--Body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within five yards of ---Loose ball.
--Avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball.
--Body checking an opponent from the rear or at or below the waist.
--Body checking an opponent above the shoulders. A body check must be below the shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of the player applying the body check must remain in contact with his crosse.
LACROSSE TERMS
Body Check-
Contact with an opponent from the front - between the shoulders and waist when
the opponent has the ball or is within five yards of a loose ball.
Clearing- Running or passing the ball from the defensive half of the field to the attack goal area.
Crease- A circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter.
Crosse (Stick): The equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball.
Face-Off- A technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. The players squat down and the ball is placed between their crosses.
Stand- In women’s lacrosse all players, except the goalkeeper in her goal circle, must remain stationary following the sound of any whistle.
Sphere- An imaginary area, approximately 18 cm (seven inches) which surrounds a player's head. No stick checks toward the head are allowed to break the sphere.
Cradle- A hitch movement that creates centripetal force to keep the ball in the crosse.
Scooping the Ball- The technique used to lift a ground ball into the crosse.