Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport for young people in the United States, according to U.S. Lacrosse, the game's governing body since 1998. It origins are rooted in American Indian culture. Two teams of nine players use "crosses," or sticks tipped with cups made of netting, to carry and pass a ball toward the opposing team's goal. Points are scored by getting the ball past the goalkeeper, a 10th team member and the only player allowed to touch the ball with his hands, into the goal. As a contact sport, the game might be perceived as dangerous, but injury statistics prove that it is not, reports USL, and standardized protective equipment is assessed on an ongoing basis.
Origins
According to USlacrosse.org, a Jesuit missionary living near Montreal, Canada, in the early 1600s is believed to be the first non-native to document the game. Lacrosse was taken up by non-natives but the game declined rapidly as the 19th century came to a close. As American Indians came under attack, so did the game of lacrosse. When Oklahoma Choctaw attached lead weights to their crosses to use as skull-crackers in the early 1900s, the game was banned.
Girls Game
Girls lacrosse most closely resembles the original American Indian game and uses wooden crosses, little protective equipment, non-hash-marked sidelines and a mass-attack offense rather than positional offensive strategies used in boys lacrosse. Men and women used the same rules until the mid-1930s when the two began to shift into the formats used today, according to the website Lacrosse Rules. The rules for girls, collegiate and post-collegiate women's lacrosse as covered by the U.S. Women's Lacrosse Association from 1931 to 1998, and USL from 1998 to modern day, have undergone few changes. The game prohibits body contact, limits stick contact and has been played without helmets since 1913.
Girls Helmets
Until 2004, no protective equipment was required for girls lacrosse. Soft head gear is now optional for all players, but as of 2004, the goalkeeper must wear a helmet with face mask, and separate throat protector. As of 2005, all players must wear protective eye gear. Mandatory protective equipment must meet National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, NOCSAE, standards. Hard helmets, even to protect an injury, are illegal.
Boys Game
Boys rules are governed by USL and adopted by the National Federation of State High School Associations. When the men's game diverged from girls lacrosse in the 1930s, stick and body contact of a nonviolent nature was allowed. Players can use their crosses to "check" -- poke and slap the sticks and gloves of -- opposing players to gain control of the ball. Similar to ice hockey, body-checking above the waist and below the shoulders is allowed when opponents have the ball or are within 5 yards of a loose ball.
Boys Helmets
Equipment standards for youth, collegiate and post-collegiate men's lacrosse are the same. All players must wear a protective helmet equipped with a face mask and chin pad cupped and strapped to four helmet hook ups. Goalkeepers must wear protective gear, including helmets, face masks and separate neck protectors. All protective gear must be NOCSAE approved.
Controversy
The swift growth of youth lacrosse and the recent development of its governing body in 1998 has caused the game to spread in a "Wild West" manner, according to the USL website. USL encourages youth leagues to adopt its standardized rules and eliminate modifications. In addition, because the sport has grown so quickly, a shortage of properly trained umpires and coaches exists. These problems, along with increased media coverage as the game's popularity increases, have led to safety concerns, according to USL.
USL Stand
USL released a statement in December 2010, that refers to a recent ESPN feature story on lacrosse. New York and Pennsylvania athletic associations have studied the incidence of head and facial injuries occurring in girls lacrosse games. USL stated that it wished to honor the four guiding principles of women's lacrosse, "The origins of the game, a commitment to the core values, maintain relevance of the game today and in the future and the respect of all participants. [...] The game [is] one of finesse and speed, using minimum equipment and prohibiting intentional body contact."
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