 Kyle Harrison advancing, pursued by an opponent | |
| Highest governing body | World Lacrosse |
|---|---|
| Nicknames | Lax, The Medicine Game, The Creator’s Game |
| First played | As early as the 12th century C.E., North America Codified in 1867 |
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Full contact (men's) |
| Team members | 10 per team, including goaltender |
| Equipment | Ball, stick, helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, arm pads |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | Summer Olympics in 1904 and 1908. Demonstrated in 1928, 1932, and 1948 Will be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics (sixes format) |
Field lacrosse is a full contact outdoor sport played with two opposing teams of ten players each. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867. Field lacrosse is one of three major versions of lacrosse played internationally. The rules of men's lacrosse differ significantly from women's field lacrosse (established in the 1890s). The two are often considered to be different sports with a common root.[1] An outdoor six-a-side version, lacrosse sixes, was established in 2021 and features six players per team, reduced field size, and shorter duration to be conducive for daily tournament play. Another version, indoor box lacrosse (originated in the 1930s), is also played under different rules.
The object of the game is to use a lacrosse stick, or crosse, to catch, carry, and pass a solid rubber ball in an effort to score by shooting the ball into the opponent's goal. The triangular head of the lacrosse stick has a loose net strung into it that allows the player to hold the lacrosse ball. In addition to the lacrosse stick, players are required to wear a certain amount of protective equipment. Defensively the object is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to dispossess them of the ball through the use of stick checking and body contact. The rules limit the number of players in each part of the field. It is sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet".
Lacrosse is governed internationally by the 62-member World Lacrosse, which sponsors the World Lacrosse Championships once every four years. Field lacrosse is played professionally in North America by the Premier Lacrosse League. It is also played on a high amateur level by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association and the Maritime University Field Lacrosse League in Canada, and the Australian Senior Lacrosse Championship series in Australia.
- ^ Wiser, Melissa C. (2013). Where's the Line? An Analysis of the Shifts in Governance of Women's Lacrosse, 1992-1998 (Thesis). The Ohio State University. Archived from the original on 2022-03-21. Retrieved 2020-12-07.