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History of Lacrosse

Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America with the sport documented back to the early 17th century. Originated among various Native communities, with regional variations on how the game was played, lacrosse was played throughout modern Canada, but was most popular around the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic seaboard, and American South. Traditional lacrosse games were sometimes semi-major events that could last several days. As many as 100 to 1,000 men from opposing villages or tribes would participate.

Modern day lacrosse descends from and resembles the stickball games played by these various Native American communities. The modern field game most closely resembles that played among the Haudenosaunee, or Iroquois people, who also refer to lacrosse as the Creator's Game.

An exhilarating sport, lacrosse is fast-paced and full of action. Long sprints up and down the field with abrupt starts and stops, precision passes and dodges are routine in men's and women's lacrosse. Lacrosse is played with a stick, the crosse, which must be mastered by the player to throw, catch and scoop the ball.

Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. Youth participation in the sport has grownover 500% since 1999 to nearly 250,000. No sport has grown faster at the high school level over the last 10 years and there are now an estimated 200,000 high school players. Lacrosse is also the fastest-growing sport over the last six years at the NCAA level, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. There are more than 500 college club programs, including nearly 200 women's teams that compete at the US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates level.

The sport of lacrosse is a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey. Anyone can play lacrosse--the big or the small. The game requires and rewards coordination and agility, not brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse.

The Basic Skills

CATCHING: the act of receiving a passed ball with the crosse.

CRADLING: The coordinated motion of the arms and wrists that keeps the ball secure in the pocket and ready to be passed or shot when running.

PASSING: The act of throwing the ball to a teammate with the crosse.

SCOOPING: The act of picking up a loose ball with the crosse.

SHOOTING: The act of throwing the ball with the crosse toward the goal in an attempt to score.

CHECKING: The act of attempting to dislodge the ball from an opponent’s stick.

 

POKE CHECK: A stick check in which the player pokes the head of his stick at an opponent’s stick through the top hand by pushing the bottom hand.

SLAP CHECK: A stick check in which a player slaps the head of his stick against his opponent’s stick.

WRAP CHECK: A one-handed check in which the defender swings his stick around his opponent’s body to dislodge the ball. (This check is only legal at the highest level of play.)

CUTTING: A movement by an offensive player without the ball, toward the opponent’s goal, in anticipation of a feed and shot.

FEEDING: Passing the ball to a teammate who is in position for a shot on goal.

SCREENING: An offensive tactic in which a player near the crease positions himself so as to block the goalkeeper’s view of the the ball.

Field Layouts

Youth 8U and 10U


USAL - Small-Sided Unified Field Diagram

Youth 12U and 14U+


USAL - Men's Field Diagram

 Boys Lacrosse Gear

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Glossary of Boys Lacrosse Terms

ATTACK GOAL AREA: The area defined by a line drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from the face of the goal. Once the offensive team crosses the midfield line, it has ten seconds to move the ball into its attack goal area.

BODY CHECK: Contact with an opponent from the front - between the shoulders and waist - when the opponent has the ball or is within five yards of a loose ball.

BOX: An area used to hold players who have been served with penalties, and through which substitutions “on the fly” are permitted directly from the sideline onto the field.

CHECK-UP: A call given by the goalie to tell each defender to find his man and call out his number.

CLAMP: A face-off maneuver executed by quickly pushing the back of the stick on top of the ball.

CLEARING: Running or passing the ball from the defensive half of the field to the attack goal area.

CREASE: A circle around the goal with a radius of nine feet into which only defensive players may enter.

LACROSSE (STICK): The equipment used to throw, catch and carry the ball.

DEFENSIVE CLEARING AREA: The area defined by a line drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from the face of the goal. Once the defensive team gains possession of the ball in this area, it has ten seconds to move the ball across the midfield line.

EXTRA MAN OFFENSE (EMO): A man advantage that occurs following a time-serving penalty.

FACE-OFF: A technique used to put the ball in play at the start of each quarter, or after a goal is scored. The players squat down and the ball is placed between their crosses.

FAST-BREAK: A transition scoring opportunity in which the offense has at least a one-man advantage.

GROUND BALL: A loose ball on the playing field.

HANDLE (SHAFT): An aluminum, wooden or composite pole connected to the head of the crosse.

HEAD: The plastic or wood part of the stick connected to the handle

MAN DOWN DEFENSE (MDD): The situation that results from a time-serving penalty which causes the defense to play with at least a one man disadvantage.

MIDFIELD LINE: The line which bisects the field of play.

ON-THE-FLY SUBSTITUTION: A substitution made during a play.

PICK: An offensive maneuver in which a stationary player attempts to block the path of a defender guarding another offensive player.

POCKET: The strung part of the head of the stick which holds the ball.

RAKE: A face-off move in which a player sweeps the ball to the side.

RIDING: The act of trying to prevent a team from clearing the ball.

RELEASE: The team used by an official to notify a penalized played in the box that he may re-enter the game.

UNSETTLED SITUATION: Any situation in which the defense is not positioned correctly, usually due to a loose ball or broken clear.

Summary of Personal Fouls

SLASHING: Occurs when a player’s stick contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick.

TRIPPING: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the crosse, hands, arms, feet or legs.

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

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

UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS: Occurs when a player strikes an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force.

ILLEGAL CROSSE: Occurs when a player uses a crosse that does not conform to required specifications. A crosse may be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if any other part of the crosse was altered to gain an advantage.

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

 

ILLEGAL BODY CHECKING: Occurs when any of the following actions takes place:

a. body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within five yards of a loose ball;

b. avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball;

c. body checking an opponent from the rear or at or below the waist;

d. body checking an opponent above the shoulders. A body check must be below the shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of the player applying the body check must remain in contact with his crosse.

ILLEGAL GLOVES: Occurs when a player uses gloves that do not conform to required specifications. A glove will be found illegal if the fingers and palms are cut out of the gloves, or if the glove has been altered in a way that compromises its protective features.

WARDING OFF: Occurs when a player in possession of the ball uses his free hand or arm to hold, push or control the direction of an opponent’s stick check.

INTERFERENCE: Occurs when a player interferes in any manner with the free movement of an opponent, except when that opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is in flight and within 3 yards of the player, or both players are within 3 yards of a loose ball.

OFFSIDES: Occurs when a team does not have at least four players on its defensive side of the midfield line or at least three players on its offensive side of the midfield line.

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 with the purpose of blocking him from the man he is defending.

STALLING: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without conducting normal offensive play, with the intent of running time off the clock.