The History of Lacrosse
The origin of lacrosse is an obscure one. Indians
were playing lacrosse, in the new world, long
before Europeans arrived, and the natives competed
with remarkable intensity. Rooted in Native American
religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve
conflicts, heal the sick, and develop strong,
virile men. Apart from its recreational function,
lacrosse traditionally played a more serious role
in Indian culture.
The early data on lacrosse is from missionaries
and English explorers, and is scant and often
conflicting. Its origin lost in the antiquity
of myth, Lacrosse remains a notable contribution
of the Native culture to modern Canadian society.
The game of lacrosse is still a tremendous source
of pride for the Iroquois community. Lacrosse,
initially called "baggataway", was a wide-open
game that was part religious ritual and part military
training. Lacrosse was also used to vent aggression.
In fact, territorial disputes between tribes were
sometimes settled with a game, although not always
amicably.
As a result, traditional lacrosse was surrounded
by a lot of ceremony and respect, and tribal elders
often served as game officials. In all it's forms,
the Native version of lacrosse was an athletic
contest of great skill, pride and spiritual significance.
One of the more astounding facts of Native American
lacrosse was the enormity of the games. Indian
lacrosse was a mass game and often, the teams
were made up of a hundred to a thousand of braves
on each side.
The importance of lacrosse in Native society
is unquestioned, where, in some languages, the
Native name for lacrosse translated to 'Little
Brother of War'. The Iroquois version of lacrosse
has had the most influence on the modern game
of lacrosse.
By the 1800s, lacrosse evolved to become more
of an organized sport and less violent, as French
pioneers adopted the game. Whites started to play
lacrosse by the 19th century, adopting it from
the Iroquois.
Introduction of a hard rubber ball in the lacrosse
game was its first step into the modern game.
Field lacrosse is sometimes perceived to be a
violent and dangerous game, however, injury statistics
prove otherwise. Today men's lacrosse uses chest
protectors, helmets, shoulder pads, and gloves;
however the Indians had no protection of any sort.
Men's and women's lacrosse remain derivations
of the same game today, but are played under different
rules. English girl schools often used lacrosse
as a springtime sport for their field hockey players.
By the 1900s, high schools, colleges and universities
had begun to adopt lacrosse as a league sport.
About the Author:
Rob Daniels is a professional writer representing
http://www.lacrosse-shop.com
and http://www.hockey-games.net
some of his favorite sports.
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