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LACROSSE:  THE LITTLE BROTHER OF WAR

There are many reasons why lacrosse is such an appealing game to players and spectators alike. But chief among its many assets is a bold and colorful history.

No one knows when the first lacrosse games were played. Archeologists have unearthed artifacts and remnants of stickball games from nearly every native tribe in the eastern portion of North America. We do know that it was a substantial part of the Indian culture long before the first European settlers invaded their woodland homes.

Before lacrosse was a sport, it was a religious rite, practiced to honor the pantheon of Indian spirits. 'The Game of the Creator" required speed, strength, hand-eye skills and stamina; all of the traits necessary for survival. These ceremonies of athletic process, coordination and endurance also perfectly simulated the hand-to-hand techniques of close combat. And so the game evolved; the little brother of war.

The Indians of the Iroquois Nation called their festival "baggataway". The entire countryside was their venue and goals were set in villages miles apart. Whole nations were divided into teams with thousands of warriors on each side. Contestants were armed with one or two wooden sticks, each containing a woven pocket at one end, with which a leather ball, stuffed with stones, could be caught, carried or thrown. There were few rules. How combatants got the ball to their objective mirrored the strategies of tribal warfare. The sticks, when not used to carry or throw the ball could club an adversary into submission.

Indian shaman would serve as referees, and it was not uncommon for squaws to follow skirmishes, whipping their husbands with reeds to inspire more enthusiastic performances. Lacrosse festivals might last for days and it was not uncommon for braves to be maimed or killed.

French Missionaries who first witnessed the sport were struck by the resemblance of the curved wooden sticks and the 'crossier' or what we would call the shepherd's crossier, and renamed it La Crossier or Lacrosse as we call it today.

Over the next two hundred years, several civilizing aspects replaced the outright tribal mayhem of lacrosse. Limits were imposed on the size of the field and the number of participants. White settlers continued to be intrigued by the game and gradually the sport developed a broader following. Several lacrosse clubs emerged in the larger cities on the Eastern Shore. The players adapted a wider, longer stick which placed more emphasis on catching and passing, and less on the physical aspects of the game.

In 1867, on the same day the Dominion of Canada was created, lacrosse was named Canada's National Sport. That year a Montreal dentist, Dr. W. George Beers, drafted the first set of written rules for lacrosse. In 1877, New York University defeated Manhattan College in what was believed to be the first Intercollegiate Lacrosse Game.

HEY, NEW FANS?  NO WORRIES!!  HERE'S SOME GENERAL HELP!

MEN'S lacrosse, is a true Native American sport played by 10 players on each team. This includes 1 goalie, 3 defensemen, 3 midfielders, and 3 attackmen. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal, while preventing your opponent from scoring in your goal. The goals 6 feet by 6 feet and are set 80 yards apart. The team scoring the most goals wins.

Each team must keep at least 4 players, including the goalie, in its defensive half of the field and 3 players in the offensive half at all times. The 3 midfielders may roam the entire field.

Collegiate games are 60 minutes long, divided in 4, 15 minute quarters. Teams change ends at the beginning of each quarter. The teams are permitted 3 regular timeouts and 1, 20 second timeout per game. They cannot use more than 2 in per half.

For the start of each quarter and generally after every goal, players take their positions with 4 players in the defensive clearing area, 1 player at the center, 1 player in each wing area, and 3 players in the attack goal area.

The game begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of the 2 face-off men at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to start play. Each face-off player tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can move, the other players can maneuver around in their respective areas, but must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball or the ball crosses into either goal area.

Players can run with the ball in their crosse [stick] for as long as they want, or pass the ball to a teammate. The ball movement is similar to basketball.

A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from the opponent's stick with a stick check, which includes the controlled poking and slapping of the stick and gloved hands of the player in possession of the ball.

Body checking is permitted if the opponent has the ball or is within 5 yards of the ball. However, all contact must occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An opponent's crosse may also be stick checked if it is within 5 yards of a loose ball or a ball in the air.

Unlike any other sport, after a unsuccessful shot, if the ball goes out of bounds, the ball is awarded to the player closest to the ball when and where the ball goes out of bounds. Attacking players may not enter the crease [circle] around the goal, but can reach in with their crosse to scoop up a loose ball.

PENALTIES

There are personal and technical fouls in lacrosse. The penalty for a personal foul is a one to three minute suspension from play and possession to the team that was fouled. Players with five personal fouls are ejected from the game. The penalty for a technical foul is a thirty-second suspension if the team is in possession of the ball when the foul is committed, or possession of the ball goes to the team that was fouled if there was no possession when the foul was committed.

PERSONAL FOULS

SLASHING: Occurs when a player's stick contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or hands.

TRIPPING: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent below the waist with his cross, feet or legs.

CROSS CHECKING: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his crosse to contact an opponent.

UNSPORTSMANLIKE Occurs when any player or coach commits an act which is considered unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, obscene language or gestures, baiting, celebrating and arguing.

UNNECESSARY Striking an opponent with his crosse or body using excessive ROUGHNESS: force.

ILLEGAL CROSSE OR Occurs when a player uses a crosse that does not conform to

EQUIPMENT required specifications or any of his other equipment.

ILLEGAL BODY Checking a player not within 5 yards of the ball, a late hit, or

CHECKING: contact from behind, above the shoulders or below the waist.

TECHNICAL FOULS

HOLDING: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent's crosse.

INTERFERENCE: When a player interferes with the free movement of an opponent.

OFFSIDES: When a team does not have 4 players on the defensive side of the midfield or 3 players on the offensive side of the midfield.

PUSHING: Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player from behind.

SCREENING: Occurs when an offensive player moves into and makes contact with a defensive player.

STALLING: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without advancing towards the goal.

WARDING OFF: Occurs when a player with the ball uses his free hand to direct an opponent.