The History of Lacrosse

Origins and Indigenous Roots

Lacrosse’s earliest roots stretch back centuries, long before the arrival of Europeans in the Americas. Archaeological evidence suggests that Indigenous peoples of North America were playing stickball games resembling lacrosse as early as the 12th century AD. These early contests were not simply recreational but were deeply embedded in spiritual, ceremonial, and community life.

Within and among many nations—especially among the Haudenosaunee (also called the Iroquois), Ojibwe, Cherokee, Choctaw, and other tribes—lacrosse was known by names such as baggataway, tewa:aráton, dehontsigwaehs, and “little brother of war.” These names reflect both the physical character of the game and the cultural meanings ascribed to it. Traditional contests could involve dozens to hundreds or even thousands of players, and the goals were often set miles apart. Games could last for days, pushing even the fittest competitors to their limits.

In many Indigenous communities, lacrosse was imbued with spiritual meaning. It was played to honor the Creator, to heal the sick, to bring harmony or settle disputes between communities, and to prepare warriors for battle. Some oral traditions describe lacrosse as a gift from the Creator – a game that connected humans to the broader forces of earth, sky, water, and spirit.

This context is key to understanding lacrosse in its earliest incarnations: it was far more than a sport. It was a ceremonial event – intertribal in scope, socially unifying, and spiritually significant.

The Early European Encounter

When French Jesuit missionaries arrived in what is now Canada in the early 17th century, they were among the first Europeans to witness lacrosse being played. In 1637, the missionary Jean de Brébeuf observed the game among the Huron people near present‑day Ontario. He described a contest involving large numbers of players and intense physical competition. Crucially, he coined the term lacrosse, likening the long wooden sticks to a bishop’s crosier (French: la crosse).

European descriptions of these early Indigenous games often emphasized their physicality. Observers noted that players used wooden sticks sometimes with woven netting, a deer‑hide ball, and minimal protective gear. They played on vast tracts of land, with few formal rules beyond avoiding hand contact with the ball.

Importantly, through the 17th and 18th centuries, lacrosse continued to be played widely across North America by Indigenous communities, maintaining its fundamental cultural and spiritual roles. It was not yet “a sport” in the modern sense but a cultural institution.

A fascinating anecdote from this period involves Pontiac’s Rebellion in 1763. In one instance near Fort Michilimackinac, the Ojibwe used a lacrosse game as a strategic means to lure British soldiers into disarmament before launching an attack—showing how embedded and tactical the game could be in Indigenous life.

Transition: From Tribal Ritual to Codified Game

By the early 19th century, European settlers and Indigenous players had begun to interact more frequently through sport. In regions such as the St. Lawrence Valley and Upper New York, settlers watched and sometimes participated in Indigenous lacrosse games. Over time, enthusiasm from local settlers led to attempts to formalize the game.

One of the earliest organized lacrosse clubs among settlers was the Olympic Club in Montreal, established in 1842. However, these matches remained uneven affairs; Indigenous players often dominated, leading white players to sometimes field extra participants to balance sides.

The real turning point came in the 1850s and 1860s with the efforts of Dr. William George Beers, a Canadian dentist often called the “Father of Modern Lacrosse.” Beers codified the sport’s first formal rules, introducing team sizes (12 players), time limits, fixed field dimensions, and a hard rubber ball in place of traditional materials. He also introduced positional designations and a more systematic method of scorekeeping.

Beers and his contemporaries also promoted the sport internationally, bringing lacrosse to England and Europe. In 1867, the English Lacrosse Union was founded, and by the late 19th century lacrosse began to spread to Ireland, Australia, and South Africa.

Lacrosse in the United States and Canada

In the United States, lacrosse was first introduced more widely around 1868 in Troy, New York, and shortly afterward in New York City. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the sport grew particularly around the Mid‑Atlantic states, especially in New York and Maryland.

Universities such as Princeton, Yale, Harvard, and New York University were among the earliest American academic institutions to embrace the sport. By 1906, the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse League was formed.

Lacrosse’s early popularity in North America even led to its inclusion in the 1904 St. Louis Olympics and the 1908 London Olympics—its first appearances on the Olympic stage. The 1904 Olympics featured teams from Canada and the United States, including a team composed entirely of Mohawk players from the Iroquois Confederacy.

Meanwhile, women began playing lacrosse in the late 19th century as well. In 1890, Louisa Lumsden introduced the game to Scottish schools, and in 1926 Rosabelle Sinclair established the first women’s lacrosse club in the United States.

Cultural Significance and Misappropriation

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, lacrosse became increasingly standardized and popular among settler communities. Yet this change was not without cultural consequences.

While Beers and other formalizers of modern lacrosse acknowledged the Indigenous origins, the game began to lose much of its spiritual and ceremonial significance as it was absorbed into settler sports culture. Many Indigenous players and communities were excluded from the organized leagues that were forming. The transformation of lacrosse into a codified competitive sport involved stripping away much of the ritual and community cohesion that had defined it for centuries.

The sport’s spread in elite academic institutions, especially along the Ivy League corridor, further shaped its identity. Lacrosse became associated with private schools, collegiate competitions, and a form of social prestige—far removed from its origins as a communal and sacred practice.

Despite this transformation, many Indigenous communities continued to play lacrosse in its more traditional forms and preserved its deeper meanings.

The Rise of Organized Lacrosse and International Bodies

Through the 20th century, lacrosse’s structure and governance grew more formalized. In the United States, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) took up sponsorship of lacrosse competition in the 1970s, offering national championships for men starting in 1971 and for women in 1982.

Internationally, organizations such as the International Lacrosse Federation and later World Lacrosse were formed to govern and promote the sport worldwide. The World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, first held in 1967, became the premier global field lacrosse competition, drawing teams from across the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.

One landmark development occurred in 2021, when World Lacrosse received full recognition by the International Olympic Committee, paving the way for lacrosse’s potential return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 – a significant milestone nearly 120 years after it last appeared in 1908.

Modern Variations: Field, Box, and Women’s Lacrosse

As lacrosse grew, several variations of the sport developed:

Field Lacrosse: The traditional outdoor version with ten players per side, played on a large pitch with standard goals. This form preserves much of the original open-field dynamics.
Box Lacrosse: Invented in Canada in the 1920s and 1930s, box lacrosse is an indoor version played inside hockey arenas or enclosed spaces. This version features six players per side, smaller fields, and more intense physical play. It became popular as a winter alternative to field lacrosse and helped expand the sport’s spectator appeal.
Women’s Lacrosse: While similar in many ways to the men’s game, women’s lacrosse has distinct rules and equipment standards, emphasizing speed and skill with different protective gear and playing styles.

These variations reflect the sport’s adaptability and popularity across different environments and demographics.

Global Expansion and Cultural Reclamation

In the early 21st century, lacrosse has continued to expand far beyond its North American heartlands. World Lacrosse now boasts dozens of member nations, with countries such as Bangladesh joining as emerging lacrosse communities.

At the same time, Indigenous players and nations, particularly the Haudenosaunee Nationals, have sought greater recognition within international sport. The Haudenosaunee are the only Indigenous organization recognized as a sovereign national team in international competition, a testament to the enduring legacy of lacrosse’s roots.

These developments raise important conversations about cultural identity, ownership, and representation in sport today – especially as lacrosse continues to grow globally.

Lacrosse Today: Legacy and Challenges

Today lacrosse thrives as a competitive sport at youth, collegiate, professional, and international levels. It enjoys significant popularity in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The sport’s fast pace, physical excitement, and strategic complexity draw players and fans alike, while ongoing efforts emphasize diversity and inclusion.

Yet lacrosse also carries the responsibility of honoring its Indigenous origins. Players, coaches, historians, and organizations increasingly acknowledge lacrosse’s roots as a sacred Indigenous game, not merely an athletic pastime. This recognition involves both educating participants about the sport’s history and supporting Indigenous lacrosse communities in preserving their traditions.