8^th Grade Lacrosse

Study Guide

Background Info.

With a history that spans centuries, lacrosse is the oldest sport in North America. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong, virile men. To Native Americans, lacrosse is still referred to as "The Creator's Game."

Ironically, lacrosse 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 contest. Contestants played on a field from one to 15 miles in length, and games sometimes lasted for days. Some tribes used a single pole, tree or rock for a goal, while other tribes had two goalposts through which the ball had to pass. Balls were made out of wood, deerskin, baked clay or stone.

The evolution of the Native American game into modern lacrosse began in 1636 when Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary, documented a Huron contest in what is now southeast Ontario, Canada. At that time, some type of lacrosse was played by at least 48 Native American tribes scattered throughout what is now southern Canada and all parts of the United States. French pioneers began playing the game avidly in the 1800s. Canadian dentist W. 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.

New York University fielded the nation's first college team in 1877, and Philips Academy, Andover (Massachusetts), Philips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) and the Lawrenceville School (New Jersey) were the nation's first high school teams in 1882. There are 400 college and 1,200 high school men's lacrosse teams from coast to coast.

The Game

There are 10 players on a team, plus a number of substitutes for each of the four positions: goal, defense, midfield, and attacks. The goalie protects the goal and receives primary support from three defensive players. Three mid fielders cover the entire field, operating as both offensive and defensive players. One of the midfielders handles the face-offs and is called either the center or the face-off player.  Three attackers spend most of their playing time around the opponent’s goal and are referred to as the close attack.

Game play begins by having two mid-fielders face-off at center field.  Ball is tossed into the air and the two players attempt to gain possession.  The ball may not be touched by the hands except by a goalie while in the goal box.  Although it is legal to kick the ball with the foot or bat it with the stick, most of the action takes place with the ball being controlled in the pockets of the player’s sticks.

Out of bounds

When a player throws or carries the ball out-of-bounds, the opposing team gets possession.  However, when a loose ball goes out-of-bounds as a result of a shot taken at the goal it is awarded to the team whose player is closet to it at the exact time it crosses the boundary line. 

Penalties

Although spectators often think lacrosse is a wild, stick-swinging game, it is not nearly as rough as it appears.  There is physical contact in regular lacrosse (but not physical education classes!). Even though body and stick checks are part of lacrosse, there are definite limitations of them, which prevent injuries.  Body checking of an opponent is legal as long as the opponent either has possession of the ball or is within 5 yards of a loose ball and the contact is from the front or side and above the knees.  Lacrosse is similar to ice hockey in that a player who violates the rules must spend time in a penalty box.

The techniques for playing one-on-one defense in lacrosse are identical with those used in basketball, although the lacrosse player has the advantage of using a stick.  However, it is imperative the stick be handled carefully. 

Terminology

Blocking- Occurs when a player moves into the path of the ball carrier and creates contact without giving the ball carrier time to change direction.

Body Check- A deliberate bumping of an opponent from the front, above the knee and below the neck, when the opponent is in possession or with in five yards of the ball.

Checking- Attempting to dislodge the ball from your opponent’s stick.

Cradling- The arm and stick movements used to keep the ball in the stick.

Crease/Goal Circle- The circle around the goal cage where players may not shoot from with in.

Offside- A technical foul in which the offending team has either fewer than three players in its offensive half of the field or fewer than four players in its defensive half of the field.

Stick Checking- A controlled tap on an opponent’s stick designed to dislodge the ball.

Field Dimension