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History
Much has been written about the history of lacrosse and it's origins among native North Americans, particularly, of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence region. The name lacrosse comes from French Jesuits who noted the stick resembled the staff carried by the bishop and thus referred to the game, by the general term for a curved stick (crosse), as 'la crosse'.

Documented evidence of lacrosse dates as far back as the 1630 and sticks from the early 1800's still survive. The importance of lacrosse in Native society is unquestioned where, in some languages, the Native name translated to 'Little brother of war'. Lacrosse was often used to settle disputes between villages.

One of the more astounding facts of Native lacrosse was the enormity of the games. Today’s field lacrosse is played with 10 players per side on a 110 yard long field with games lasting about an hour. Early lacrosse could be played by hundreds of players on field from 500 yards to a few miles long and would be played from sun-up to sun-down, with some games lasting for days.


While the North American Indians invented the outdoor game long ago, the indoor game was invented in Canada in the 1950’s. The game began as “box lacrosse” played in hockey rinks in the spring and summer after the ice melted.  British Columbia and Ontario are hotbeds for indoor lacrosse talent feeding approximately 90 percent of the players in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). 

Outdoor lacrosse (also called field lacrosse) is very popular in the United States where it is the fastest growing high school sport (including in Minnesota). Indoor lacrosse has the same equipment (stick, ball and pads) and the same skill set, but is far different in speed, scoring and contact (due to a much smaller playing surface and the boards).

The National Lacrosse League has been around in various incarnations since 1987. The current league has twelve teams.

Eastern Division       
Boston Blazers       
Buffalo Bandits       
Orlando Titans
Philadelphia Wings   
Rochester Knighthawks       
Toronto Rock   

Western Division
Minnesota Swarm
Calgary Roughnecks   
Colorado Mammoth   
Edmonton Rush
Washington Stealth   

The Basics

• The game is split up into 4-15 minute quarters and a 15-minute overtime (first goal wins).
• 5 “runners” play at a time (3 forwards and 2 defensemen) along with a very well-padded goalie. 
• Most contact is legal (including hits against the boards), although there are many penalties (minor-2 minutes and major-5 minutes).
• Slashing and cross-checking are legal although should be confined to the arms.  The refs use their judgment here.
• An average game has ~25 goals total and close to 100 shots on net.
• While the game is played in a hockey rink, it is more similar to basketball, with: 
  • A 30 second shot clock.  A shot has to hit the goalie, the cage or score in 30 seconds.  If not, it’s a turnover.
  • A 10 second timeline clock (players must bring the ball over midfield in 10 seconds)
  • An over-and-back violation (If a shot misses the net, hits the boards and flies over the center line, that’s an over and back violation)

Stoppage of Play

• There are many whistles during play, most are simply loose ball violations or technical violations which result in a turnover: Illegal screens, loose ball push, 30 second violation, illegal pick, etc.
• Minor penalties are 2:00 in the penalty box and, similar to hockey, the player is released after a goal is scored by the opposing team: Delay of game, elbowing, holding, slashing, illegal cross check, tripping
• Major penalties are 5:00 in the penalty box and the player is released when the team on the power play scores 2 goals.  The player penalized has to stay in the box for the full 5 minutes, but the offending team is back at full strength after two goals are scored. When a second major penalty is imposed on the same player in a game, an automatic game misconduct penalty is imposed: Fighting, flagrant stick and checking violations (at referee’s discretion.
• 5 on 3’s are common if one team has two men in the box.  Each penalty is releasable as noted above.
• If a team that is two men down gets another penalty, the other team is awarded a penalty shot.
• Crease Violation: Only the goalie can be inside the crease during play. If an offensive player’s foot is in the crease or on the line when a shot is taken, the shot is disallowed.  If there is a goal, it too is disallowed.