history of lacrosse

It was June 4, 1763 in what is now present day Michigan. British troops were now posted in Fort Michilimackinac. They look out to the field and see two teams of Native Americans participating in a game of stick ball. The soldiers were captivated by the flow, roughness, and thrill of the game. What game were they playing? They were playing would one day be the modern day sport of lacrosse. Their example could be a prime reason why famous enlightenment thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau called this a game one for “noble savages.” At the young age of 12 years old, I picked up my first lacrosse stick. My love for the game only increased as the years progressed, making me want to figure out the origins of the sport. If you do not know much about the sport, after today you will know the basics. I will be informing you about the ancient game of lacrosse and its evolution to the game you see being played across the country on your high school and colligate fields.

I) The game of lacrosse is the fastest game played on foot and it has been for more than five centuries.
A) The Game of lacrosse was first documented by Jean de Brébeuf on a French Jesuit mission in 1638 in southeast Ontario, Canada, but the invention of the game came long before that date.
1) There is no defined date of when the lacrosse came to existence due to the fact that Native American elder had always believed in teaching the stories of the game to their children orally.
II) The game of lacrosse was played in open valleys or large fields that would span from 500 yards in diameter or even up to several miles.
A) Each team could have 100 men to over 1000.
B) One lacrosse game would last from sunrise to sundown.
III) There were very few rules for the original game of lacrosse
A) You could not touch the ball with your hands and there was no out of bounds
B) They point system for a game depended on how high you strike the goal
1) If you the goal below your body your team would be rewarded one