LACROSSE IN GENERAL

Lacrosse is a fast-paced, tactical team sport played by two teams of ten/twelve players each who use netted sticks (called the cross) in order to pass and catch a rubber ball with the aim of scoring goals by propelling the ball into the opponent's goal.

5 years ago there were only a few lacrosse clubs in The Netherlands. Today 17 clubs are representing lacrosse in the Netherlands, 4 new clubs are getting started and with over 500 players The Netherlands is rapidly becoming one of the leading lacrosse playing countries in Europe.

In 2008 the Dutch Lacrosse team won the silver medal at the European Championships, which makes us the second best lacrosse playing country of Europe. This year the Dutch women are also representing our country during the Worldcup in Prague.

MENS LACROSSE

In its modern incarnation, men's lacrosse is played by three attackmen, three midfielders, three defensemen, and one goaltender on a grass or artificial turf field. Men wear helmets, gloves and other protective equipment as contact is an integral part of the game.

Offensively the object of the game is to use the lacrosse stick to catch, carry, and pass the ball in an effort to score by shooting the ball into an opponent's goal. Defensively the object is to keep the opposing team from scoring and to dispossess them of the ball through the use of stick checking and bodychecking.

WOMENS LACROSSE

Women's lacrosse is played 12 V 12 and is the more tactical version of the game. With less deep pockets on their sticks, womens lacrosse is all about stickcontrol, fast dodging and passing. Women wear protective eyewear (except for the goalie, who wears a helmet goalie mask), but less overall equipment because hitting is not permitted in the women's game except for minor stick-checks.

THE LACROSSE FIELD

The field of play is 110 yards (100 m) long and 60 yards (55 m) wide. The goals are 6 feet (1.8 m) by 6 feet (1.8 m). The goal sits inside a circular "crease", measuring 18 feet (5.5 m) in diameter. Each offensive and defensive area is surrounded by a "restraining box."

Each quarter, and after each goal scored, play is restarted with a face-off. Attackers and defenders cannot cross their “restraining line” until one player from the midfield takes possession of the ball or the ball crosses the restraining line.

During play, teams may substitute players in and out freely. Sometimes this is referred to as "on the fly" substitution. Substitution must occur within the designated exchange area in order to be legal

The Show

THE HISTORY

The sport was invented by Native North Americans. Its name was dehuntshigwa'es in Onondaga ("men hit a rounded object"), da-nah-wah'uwsdi in Eastern Cherokee ("little war"), Tewaarathon in Mohawk language ("little brother of war"), and baaga'adowe in Ojibwe "the Creator's game".

Since there was only one ball, early players concentrated on injuring their opponents with the sticks. Sometimes games lasted for days, and in the end some players were violently injured or even killed.

They used balls made out of deerskin, clay, and sometimes wood. Lacrosse played a significant role in the community and religious life of tribes across the continent for untold years.

Native American Lacrosse was characterized by a deeply spiritual involvement, and those who took part did so with dedicated spirit and with the goal of bringing glory and honour to themselves and their tribes.