Pictured here are the freshman physical education classes playing a version of the sport of lacrosse. The classes have discussed the history of lacrosse which is the oldest sport in North America. Rooted in Native American religion, lacrosse was often played to resolve conflicts and heal the sick. To Native Americans, lacrosse is still referred to as “The Creator’s Game.” Legend tells of as many as 1,000 players per side, from the same or different tribes, who played on a field from one to 15 miles in length … and games sometimes lasted for days.
The sport of lacrosse is a combination of basketball, soccer and hockey. Anyone can play lacrosse–the big or the small. The game requires and rewards coordination and agility, not brawn. Quickness and speed are two highly prized qualities in lacrosse.
An exhilarating sport, lacrosse is fast-paced and full of action stretching the length of the field, with abrupt starts and stops. Precision passes and dodges are routine in women’s lacrosse. Lacrosse is played with a stick, the crosse, which must be mastered by the player to throw, catch and scoop the ball.
Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. Youth participation in the sport has grown over 500% since 1999 to nearly 250,000. No sport has grown faster at the high school level over the last 10 years and there are now an estimated 200,000 high school players. In the state of Nebraska, Dana College has a women’s collegiate team and Omaha high schools have club teams which compete throughout the metro area.
