Lacrosse 101 BRIEF HISTORY 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. Men's Lacrosse Positions Attack: The attackman's responsibility is to score goals. The attackman generally restricts his play to the offensive end of the field. A good attackman demonstrates excellent stick work with both hands and has quick feet to maneuver around the goal. Each team should have three attackmen on the field during play. Midfield: The midfielder's responsibility is to cover the entire field, playing both offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to the transition game, and is often called upon to clear the ball from defense to offense. A good midfielder demonstrates good stick work including throwing, catching and scooping. Speed and stamina are essential. Each team should have three midfielders on the field. Defense: The defenseman's responsibility is to defend the goal. The defenseman generally restricts his play to the defensive end of the field. A good defenseman should be able to react quickly in game situations. Agility and aggressiveness are necessary, but great stick work is not essential to be effective. Each team should have three defensemen on the field. Goalie: The goalie's responsibility is to protect the goal and stop the opposing team from scoring. A good goalie also leads the defense by reading the situation and directing the defensemen to react. A good goalie should have excellent hand/eye coordination and a strong voice. Quickness, agility, confidence and the ability to concentrate are also essential. Each team has one goalie in the goal during play. Men's Lacrosse Equipment The Crosse: The crosse (lacrosse stick) is made of wood, laminated wood or synthetic material, with a shaped net pocket at the end. The crosse must be an overall length of 40 - 42 inches for attackmen and midfielders, or 52 - 72 inches for defensemen. The head of the crosse must be 6.5 - 10 inches wide, except a goalie's crosse which may be 10 - 12 inches wide. The pocket of a crosse shall be deemed illegal if the top surface of a lacrosse ball, when placed in the head of the crosse, is below the bottom edge of the side wall. The Ball: The ball must be made of solid rubber and can be white, yellow or orange. The ball is 7.75 - 8 inches in circumference and 5 - 5.25 ounces. The Helmet: A protective helmet, equipped with face mask, chin pad and a cupped four point chin strap fastened to all four hookups, must be worn by all men's players. All helmets and face masks must be NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) approved. The Mouthpiece: The mouthpiece must be a highly visible color and is mandatory. The Glove: All players are required to wear protective gloves. The cutting or altering of gloves is prohibited. Protective Equipment: All players, with the exception of the goalkeeper, must wear shoulder pads. Arm pads and rib pads are also strongly recommended and often required, as are athletic supporters and protective cups for all players. The goalkeeper is required to wear a throat protector and chest protector, in addition to a helmet, mouthpiece and gloves. Men's Lacrosse Rules Condensed Version Men's lacrosse is a contact game played by ten players: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals wins. Each team must keep at least four players, including the goalie, in its defensive half of the field and three in its offensive half. Three players (midfielders) may roam the entire field. Collegiate games are 60 minutes long, with 15-minute quarters. Generally, high school games are 48 minutes long, with 12-minute quarters. Likewise, youth games are 32 minutes long, with eight-minute quarters. Each team is given a two-minute break between the first and second quarters, and the third and fourth quarters. Halftime is ten minutes long. Teams change sides between periods. Each team is permitted two timeouts each half. The team winning the coin toss chooses the end of the field it wants to defend first. The players take their positions on the field: four in the defensive clearing area, one at the center, two in the wing areas and three in their attack goal area. Men's lacrosse begins with a face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks of two squatting players at the center of the field. The official blows the whistle to begin play. Each face-off player tries to control the ball. The players in the wing areas can run after the ball when the whistle sounds. The other players must wait until one player has gained possession of the ball, or the ball has crossed a goal area line, before they can release. Center face-offs are also used at the start of each quarter and after a goal is scored. Field players must use their crosses to pass, catch and run with the ball. Only the goalkeeper may touch the ball with his hands. A player may gain possession of the ball by dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a stick check. A stick check is 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 five yards of a loose ball. All body contact must occur from the front or side, above the waist and below the shoulders, and with both hands on the stick. An opponent's crosse may also be stick checked if it is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in the air. Aggressive body checking is discouraged. If the ball or a player in possession of the ball goes out of bounds, the other team is awarded possession. If the ball goes out of bounds after an unsuccessful shot, the player nearest to the ball when and where it goes out of bounds is awarded possession. An attacking player cannot enter the crease around the goal, but may reach in with his stick to scoop a loose ball. A referee, umpire and field judge supervise field play. A chief bench official, timekeepers and scorers assist. Glossary of Men's Lacrosse Terms Catching: The act of receiving a passed ball with the crosse. 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 with 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.) 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. 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. 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. Screening: An offensive tactic in which a player near the crease positions himself so as to block the goalkeeper's view of the ball. Shooting: The act of throwing the ball with the crosse toward the goal in an attempt to score. 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. Crosse (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 results from 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 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 term used by an official to notify a penalized player in the box that he may re-enter the game. Unsettled Situation: Any situation in which the defense is not positioned Referee Signals Procedural Result: Change of posession or stoppage of play TIMEOUT LOOSE BALL 20 SEC TIMEOUT SIMULTIANEOUS FOULS NONRELEASEABLE PENALTY GOAL COUNTS NO GOAL FACE OFF STALLING WARNING ALTERNATE POSESSION REENTRY OF THE CREASE POSSESSION PLAY ON RELEASE DISREGARD FLAG OUT OF BOUNDS DIRECTION OF PLAY FAILURE TO ADVANCE THE BALL Personal Fouls Result: One minute to expulsion Slashing - 1 minute: Occurs when a player's stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area other than the stick or gloved hand on the stick. Tripping - 1 minute: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the crosse, hands, arms, feet or legs. Cross Checking - 1 minute: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his crosse between his hands to make contact with an opponent. Unsportsmanlike Conduct - 1 minute to expulsion: Occurs when any player or coach commits an act which is considered unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, arguing, or obscene language or gestures. Illegal Crosse -1-3 minutes: 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. Illegal Body Checking - 1 minute: 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 - 1 minute: 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. Unnecessary Roughness - 1 minute to expulsion: Expulsion Foul: Player is ejected from the game. Technical Fouls Result: Change of posession or a 30 second penalty Holding: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent's crosse. 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 five yards of the player, or both players are within five 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. 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. Pushing Withholding ball from play Crease Violation Conduct foul Illegal procedure Illegal touching of the ball