subject: Lacrosse --- a Rapidly Growing Sport [print this page] Lacrosse --- a Rapidly Growing Sport Lacrosse --- a Rapidly Growing Sport
Lacrosse, truly an American continent game, is the fastest growing sport in the United States.
Its origin, around 500 AD, was with the tribes of the Native American societies. Then the game was played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, develop strong, virile men and prepare for war. Legend tells of games with more than 100 players from different tribes taking turns to play. It could be played on a field many miles in length and width; sometimes the game could last for days. Early lacrosse balls were large and hairy made of deerskin, clay, stone, and sometimes wood.
Today the game is quite different. It is a team sport, which requires skill, strategies, finesse, endurance and determination. Today the game is played with safety padding and helmets, a rubber ball, a stick with a mesh "head" atop a stick used to throw, catch and run with the ball. The object is to get the ball into the opponents net. Rather than the field of play being miles long, present day lacrosse is played on a field 60 yards wide and 110 yards long.
Lacrosse during the 1990's had primarily been a regional sport centered in and around the east coast, more common in areas such as Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. In the last half of the 20th century, the sport continued further growth west of this region in smaller areas, including the Midwest, such as Ohio and Texas as well as the west coast, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.
In the past ten years a number of youth programs in every region of the United States have developed. The game demands teamwork, co-operation between players, athleticism, endurance, determination and skill. Like soccer the player is constantly on the move. It is very fast paced and great exercise. It gets kids away from computer games, outside and involved with other kids.
If you child or youth is interested, get him a good training stick, a practice ball and a rebound net. Soon his friends will be asking their parents for a lacrosse stick.
