Marshall M.S.
Lacrosse Study Guide
HISTORY:
Lacrosse originated in North America where it was played by Native Americans in what is now Southern Canada and the United States. It was originally called “Baggataway.” Traditionally, Lacrosse played a more serious role in Indian culture. It was used for ceremonial purposes and to settle disputes between tribes.
The original equipment used by Indian tribes was a wooden shaft, curved at the top, with leather netting woven into the curved end. Material used for balls included rocks wrapped in animal skin and carved pieces of wood. There were no rules or penalties and the game was often very brutal. A game could stretch on for days with goals 15 miles apart!
The French missionaries thought the sticks looked like the Bishop’s staff or crozier, thus they called it “lacrosse.” Today Lacrosse is played in many countries. Men’s Lacrosse is a full contact sport and women’s Lacrosse is far less physical.
AT MARSHALL, WE PLAY A NO CONTACT VERSION OF LACROSSE WITH NO STICK CHECKING.
THE FIELD:
The size of the fields can vary. When a ball goes out of bounds, the player that is closest when the ball crosses the line gets possession of the ball. The ball must be passed in from the point where it went out to restart the game.
Goals are set up on the end line at each end of the field. Typically in Lacrosse, the boundaries go behind the goal, but not in our class. In front of each goal is a crease, similar to hockey. Only the goalie is allowed in the crease. A stick may cross the plane of the crease on the follow-through of a shot only.
STARTING THE GAME:
The game starts with a “face-off” between two opposing players at the center of the field. The ball is placed between the back of the nets of both player’s sticks. On “3”, the two players flip the ball into the air and try to gain control. No other players can interfere with the ball until one of the two players doing the “face-off” gains control of the ball.
PLAYING THE GAME:
The game starts with a “face-off”. All other players may stand anywhere on the field at the time of the “face-off”. The object of the game is to pass and catch the ball in an effort to shoot and score. If possession of the ball is gained in the defensive half of the field, they must pass the ball across the half-line. No one can run the ball across the half-line at any time. If a ball ever is on the ground, players may scoop it up to gain possession. Once a player has possession of the ball (the ball is in their netting/pouch), no one may touch their stick or interfere with them. After the ball has crossed the half-line, a team must have at least two consecutive passes before they can score. A point is scored when a player shoots the ball from outside the crease and it goes into the goal. After a goal is scored, a “face-off” takes place between two players at the center of the field. Also after each goal both teams switch out their goalie. The goalie is not allowed to leave the crease and cannot reach out of the crease for the ball. They can only pass the ball with in their half of the field, cannot throw across midline.
If one team has more players than their opponent then they must keep one player on defense and one of offense the whole game.
If a ball goes out of bounds the person nearest to the ball gets it and throws it back in using the stick. This is not considered a one of the two passes but the team does not have to start over with their passes if they are the ones to take possession out of bounds.
FIELD PLAYERS:
- should always keep two hands on the stick
- should not have physical contact (body to body or stick to stick)
- NO stick checking (intentionally hitting your stick against another player’s stick)
- may NOT use their hands at anytime
- may NOT kick the ball
- only the goalies can use their hands and all other body parts to stop a shot inside the crease
DEFENSE:
Defense is played by holding the Lacrosse stick VERTICALLY in the air and making it difficult for your opponent to pass the ball. There is NO intentional stick to stick contact! Defense may not hit another player's stick in hopes of knocking the ball out of the pouch. Moving your body in front of the person you’re guarding is also a good way to slow down your opponent. Most turnovers take place by intercepting a pass or scooping up the ball off the ground.
Strategy for good defense is to play man-to-man. Mark up players before the face off.
PENALTIES:
MAJOR FOULS - There should never be any major fouls in our non-contact version of Lacrosse. Any rough, dangerous or out of control play will be considered a major foul. The penalty for a major foul is sitting out of the game. The amount of penalty time to be determined by the teacher.
MINOR FOULS- The penalty for a minor foul is possession of the ball for their opponent. Minor fouls are:
- stick checking
- use of hands on the ball
- “raking” or “trapping” the ball
- using the feet to move the ball (kicking the ball)
- field player enters the crease
- running the ball across the half-line