Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a team sport played with a stick and ball, involving passing, catching, and scoring goals. Versions include men’s, women’s, and non-contact styles.

Origin

North America

Type

Team sport, stick sport, ball sport

Venue

Outdoor lacrosse field or indoor lacrosse rink

Supreme Authority

Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL)

Summary

Key Types of Lacrosse

Competitions

References

Summary

Lacrosse is a contact team sport played with a lacrosse stick and ball, known as North America's oldest organised sport, with origins dating back to the 12th century among Indigenous people. European settlers modified the game in the 17th century, creating various versions.

Modern lacrosse has five formats: field lacrosse, women's lacrosse, box lacrosse, lacrosse sixes, and intercrosse. Each has unique rules, equipment, and field sizes. Men's field and box lacrosse allow body contact, requiring players to wear protective gear, while women’s lacrosse, which restricts body contact, only requires eyewear protection. Sixes is a shorter, mixed-gender version often seen in international events, while intercrosse is a non-contact version popular for beginners.

The sport is managed by World Lacrosse, the governing body that recognises indigenous teams, such as the Iroquois Nationals, as independent nations. World Lacrosse organises tournaments, including the World Lacrosse Championship and Women’s Lacrosse World Cup, held every four years. The game was part of the Olympic programme in 1904 and 1908 and will return in 2028 with the lacrosse sixes format.

In addition to North America, lacrosse has a growing international presence, with national teams across Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) and Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union host their own tournaments.

Lacrosse has professional leagues like the National Lacrosse League (NLL), primarily for box lacrosse, and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), a field lacrosse tour league. The sport's equipment includes sticks, helmets, gloves, and body pads for protection. While men’s lacrosse has more physical contact, women's lacrosse emphasises finesse with strict rules limiting body checks. The ball used is solid rubber, and men’s sticks have variations in length for different player roles.

Key Types of Lacrosse

Lacrosse has five main types, each with specific rules, equipment, and playing styles:

Field Lacrosse: Played outdoors with ten players per team, field lacrosse is the traditional men’s version. Players use both short and long sticks based on position, with protective gear including helmets, gloves, shoulder pads, and elbow pads. The game is played on a large field, divided by midfield, with goals 6 feet wide and high. The game starts with a face-off and includes penalties for rule violations.
Box Lacrosse: An indoor version played mainly in Canada, box lacrosse has five runners and a goalie per team. The game is played in an enclosed area, typically an ice hockey rink without ice. Box lacrosse has smaller goals, and goalies wear extra protective padding. Physical contact is permitted, including cross-checking, making it a more intense version. A 30-second shot clock keeps the play moving.
Women’s Lacrosse: The women’s game has twelve players on each side and is less physical, with no body contact allowed. Players wear eye protection and mouthguards, while goalies use helmets, gloves, and chest protection. The game starts with a draw, and the rules focus on precision and stick control, with limited checking allowed.
Lacrosse Sixes: Created by World Lacrosse for multi-sport events, sixes has six players on each side, a smaller field, and a 30-second shot clock. The game is played in four 8-minute quarters and allows men and women to play with slight rule variations.
Intercrosse: This non-contact version is popular for beginners and physical education. Played with plastic sticks and a softer ball, intercrossed has five players on each side, focusing on passing and accuracy rather than physical play.

Competitions

World Lacrosse Championships: Organised by World Lacrosse every four years, including men’s field, women’s field, and box lacrosse championships.
Olympic Games: Lacrosse was played in the 1904 and 1908 Olympics. The sport will return in the 2028 Olympics in the lacrosse sixes format.
World Games: Lacrosse was part of the World Games in 2017 for women’s teams and in 2022 for men’s and women’s sixes.
European Lacrosse Championships: Organised by the European Lacrosse Federation, held every four years, with participating men’s and women’s teams across Europe.
Asia Pacific Lacrosse Championships: Held every two years by the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union, involving men’s and women’s teams from Asia-Pacific nations.
National Lacrosse League (NLL): The main professional box lacrosse league in North America, played by teams in the United States and Canada.
Premier Lacrosse League (PLL): A professional field lacrosse league with teams touring various cities in the United States, featuring top international players.
Athletes Unlimited Lacrosse: A women’s lacrosse league in which teams are redrafted weekly, and players score points based on individual and team performance.
Canadian Lacrosse Association Championships: Domestic championships for box and field lacrosse across different divisions, including Senior and Junior levels in Canada.
College Lacrosse (USA): Organised competitions across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, with championships held annually for both men’s and women’s teams.