Lacrosse
in the United States
In the U.S. lacrosse became a popular
game for colleges and high schools
in the northeast. In 1877, two New
York schools, Manhattan College and
New York University played the first
US collegiate lacrosse match. By 1882,
lacrosse was being played at high
schools in New Hampshire and New Jersey.
The sport is governed
by the US Amateur Lacrosse Association,
which was founded in 1879. The earliest
version of the US Intercollegiate
Lacrosse Association was started in
1882 to oversee the college game.
Since 1971, The National
Collegiate Athletic Association has
staged men’s lacrosse championships
for Division I schools. John Hopkins,
Syracuse and Princeton universities
have dominated. Division II championships
were played from 1974 to 1981. After
a 12-year break, the Division II championships
resumed in 1993. NCAA Division III
men’s lacrosse championships
have been held continuously since
1980.
The Ladies Take Sides
In the late 1800s women began formally
playing lacrosse. English girls schools
used lacrosse as a springtime sport
for their field hockey players. The
women’s game began as with eight
players per side, but team size was
increased to 10 and then 12. Even
though Body checks are forbidden,
women engage in a tough, physical
style of play and they don’t
wear helmets like the men do. The
Ladies Lacrosse Association was founded
in England in 1912.
England brought women’s
lacrosse in the United States in the
early 1900s. An English physical education
instructor, Constance Applebee, started
a US women’s lacrosse camp in
1922. The US Women’s Lacrosse
Association was born out of this camp
in 1931.
Women’s NCAA
lacrosse championships for Division
I schools began in 1982. Maryland
has been the powerhouse of women’s
collegiate lacrosse. Division II women’s
championships began in 2001. Division
III titles have been awarded since
1985.
Today, many clubs
organized by high schools, communities
and universities play one of three
forms of lacrosse:
Men’s Lacrosse
is still the most popular version
of the sport. It is played by 10-man
teams on a grass field. A game consists
of 25-minute quarters and four-minute
overtime periods in the case of a
tie. The ball may be thrown, caught
or carried by the stick. It also may
be kicked or rolled but never touched
by the hands. Body checks and aggressive
play are part of the game.
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