Lacrosse is a stick and ball game that has its origins in the traditions of Native American Indians. The main bodies that administer the sport today in the United States are the National Lacrosse League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NLL and NCAA respectively. These two associations provide rules for the professional and amateur formats of the game.
History
According to Thomas Vennum Jr., author of "American Indian Lacrosse: Little Brother of War," lacrosse was played by Native American tribes as both a form of recreation and a way to settle disputes. Though there are accounts of the game that date back to the 1630s, specifics on the rules and penalties from that time are scarce. Most tribes are believed to have had their own rules for the game with very few penalties being issued.
Historian Larry B. Massie states that popularization of the game is largely attributable to Montreal physician W. George Beers, who spread it in Canada in the 1850s. The rules that Beers promoted were later adopted in 1867 by Canada's newly formed National Lacrosse Association.
Geography
Vennum notes three distinct versions of the game played by Native Americans. Tribes from the southeast, such as the Cherokee and Chickasaw, used two sticks when they played and clasped the ball between them. Tribes from the Great Lakes area, such as the Potawatomi and Sauk, used a 3-foot stick with a pocket that was barely larger than the ball. Vennum also describes the stick used by northeast tribes, such as the Iroquois, as being longer than 3 feet and having a triangular head. The Iroquoian sticks are believed to be the basis of the modern stick.
General Rules
Lacrosse teams are comprised of a goalie, three defenders, three midfielders and three offensive players. The goal of the game is to move the ball forward toward the opposing goal by carrying it and passing to teammates downfield. Once the goal is reached, a player attempts to shoot the ball into it to score a point. The team with the most goals scored at the end of game wins.
A team must keep four players behind their defensive line at all times, though any player may advance into the offensive side of the field. When defending the ball, players may use their sticks and bodies to check their opponents and block shots.
Time Frame
A lacrosse game is divided into four 15 minute periods. To keep the pace of the game moving, the NLL dictates that once a player touches the ball in his defensive area, he has 10 seconds to get the ball forward across the centerline. After obtaining possession offensively, a team has 30 seconds to take a shot at the goal.
Penalties
Penalties play an important part in the game of lacrosse because of its physical nature. Players are penalized for using their sticks to trip, stab or hook an opponent. Checking a player above the neckline or below the waste is also forbidden.
In lacrosse, it is illegal to touch the ball with your hand if you are not the goalie, grab another player's stick, fight or make any attempt to deliberately hurt another player. The punishments for penalties are divided into four categories: minor, major, misconduct and match penalties. A player may be removed from the field of play for as little as two minutes on a minor penalty or entirely on a match penalty, depending on the severity of the incident.
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