lacrosse

the Canadian national team sport. Equipment includes a ball and long rackets (crosses).

Lacrosse originated as a ritual game of the North American Indians. The main rules of modern lacrosse were written by the Canadian G. Beers in 1850. In the second half of the 19th century, the game spread throughout Canada and to Great Britain, the USA, Australia, and South Africa.

Lacrosse is played on a level grass field, usually without boundary lines; the dimensions (100-112 m X 45-67 m) are established by the teams participating. The goals, 2.1 m wide and 1.8 m high, are set at opposite ends of the field. The length of the stick is not restricted (maximum usually 180 cm) and depends on the player’s preference and his position on the team, but the width of the head cannot exceed 30 cm. The sponge rubber ball weighs about 140 g and has a circumference of up to 20 cm. There are ten or 12 players on a team, including the goalkeeper, who plays with a large-netted racket.

Lacrosse may be played by men or by women. The rules resemble those of ice hockey. For example, body checking is permitted, but striking the ball with the hand is prohibited. The purpose of the game is to score points by sending the ball into the opponents’ goal. The winning team is the one that scores the most points during the 60 minutes of play (with breaks). Demonstration games of lacrosse were played at the Olympics in 1904, 1908, 1932, and 1948.