CyFair Iron Maidens: LAX FAX
1. What Is Lacrosse?
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 violent 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 first women's lacrosse game was played in 1890 at the St. Leonard's School in Scotland. Although an attempt was made to start women's lacrosse at Sweet Briar College in Virginia in 1914, it was not until 1926 that Miss Rosabelle Sinclair established the first women's lacrosse team in the United States at the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland. Men's and women's lacrosse were played under virtually the same rules, with no protective equipment, until the mid-1930s. At that time, men's lacrosse began evolving dramatically, while women's lacrosse continued to remain true to the game's original rules. Men's and women's lacrosse remain derivations of the same game today, but are played under different rules. Women's rules limit stick contact, prohibit body contact and, therefore, require little protective equipment. Men's lacrosse rules allow some degree of stick and body contact, although violence is neither condoned nor allowed. Field lacrosse is sometimes perceived to be a violent and dangerous game, however, injury statistics prove otherwise. While serious injuries can and do occur in lacrosse, the game has evolved with an emphasis on safety, and the rate of injury is comparatively low.
2. What Equipment Does My Player Need?
Girls require a lacrosse stick, eye guards (goggles), mouthpiece and cleats (soccer). Gloves are optional.
- The Stick: Similar to other sports' equipment, there is a wide variety of styles & prices for lacrosse sticks, the differrence is, with lacrosse, you don't have to spend a lot of money to get a good stick. The most popular brands for Women's lacrosse sticks are DeBeers, STX, and Brine. All offer sticks starting around $30 - $40.
- The Goggles: As of Jan.1,2005, protective eyeware is mandatory for all levels of play. The cost will run from $30 - $60 and are manufactured by many of the big names in lacrosse, (again - Brine, STX,etc.). Many of the Maidens players use the "STX 4Sight"($45) for comfort and visability.
- Mouthgard & Cleats: Whatever type mouthgard your player is comfortable with will work. We don't spend more that $1.50 on them because they tend to get lost! While there are manufacturers who offer an actual lacrosse cleat, any soccer-type cleat that is comfortable will do.
3. What are the Positions and Rules?
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4. What Are The Field Dimensions, & How Is The Field Lined?
A ouple of years back, US Lacrosse instituted "Hard Boundaries" for the women's game and therefore, we now have definite outer dimensions in addition to the usual inner dimensions of the field. Click here to view dimensions for lining the field
Other guidelines for setting up the field
Monday, September 14
THE "OFFICIAL" LACROSSE DICTIONARY
Don't know the lingo? Want to? Click the link above to check it out and sound like a pro in no time!
