Lacrosse dates back to around the 12th century to indigenous tribes in North America. Lacrosse was a significant part of Native American culture. In the 1600s, French Jesuit missionaries were among the first to observe the game. They named this game lacrosse.
Lacrosse in Maryland started with members of the Baltimore Athletic Club competition in a track meet in Rhode Island in the late 1800s. They saw people playing lacrosse and decided to bring it back to Maryland. Lacrosse became the official sport of the state in 2004 and it has since grown. According to Visit Maryland, “Lacrosse may be the oldest team sport in the world, but it’s also the country’s fastest growing, and Maryland is the cradle of the game.”
For lacrosse, you need the stick, mouthguard and protective eyewear. The stick has a net where one catches the ball and cradles it. The mouthguard and eyeguard are important because it protects players from getting hurt. Cleats are encouraged as they help with traction, but they aren’t necessary.
From equipment to rules, girls’ and boys’ lacrosse differ in a number of ways. First, boys’ lacrosse is much more of a contact sport, so they have more padding and wear helmets. They also have bigger lacrosse sticks. Girls’ lacrosse only needs mouthguards and goggles because it has much less physical contact. Their sticks are smaller and have less of a pocket, so cradling can be more tricky. Girls’ lacrosse prohibits checking, so the sport is more strategic and requires more stick skills.
In lacrosse, in order to win the game, the players must work together. Each position in lacrosse has different jobs that ultimately lead the team to victory. The first is defense, where the player stands in front of the opposing player to prevent them from getting the ball and scoring goals. The next position is attack. The main goal of attackers is to score. They operate near the opposing team’s net, dodging defenders and shooting goals. The purpose of midfield is to get the ball across the field and to players. These players do the most running in the game, as they travel from end to end. Last but not least, the goalie. Lacrosse goalies have much more padding and a pretty big helmet to protect them from flying balls. They also have a bigger lacrosse stick with a bigger net so they can block the ball more easily.
According to ESPN, the top team for men’s college lacrosse is Cornell University, with Maryland in second place, and Penn State in third. For women’s college lacrosse, the top team is North Carolina, then Northwestern in second, and Boston college in third place.
Friends can play a big role in deciding what sport to do. Practicing and spending time with friends can be one of the best parts of playing sports. Freshman Savannah Collins said she chose to play because of her friends. “All my friends play [lacrosse],” Collins said.
As a team sport, lacrosse is uplifting and supportive. Players encourage each other but also push each other to do their best during practices and games. “Lacrosse had a good environment and helped everyone get better, unlike other sports,” Jones College Prep junior Parvathi Limaye said.
Lacrosse is a team sport that brings people together, demonstrates endurance and skill, and is overall an inspiring game.
