Lacrosse

1
Lacrosse
2
History of Lacrosse

• 1867 - Dr. William George Beers, the father of
  modern lacrosse, finalizes the first set of
  playing rules for the Montreal Club
• 1890 - The first women's lacrosse game is played
  at St. Leonard's School in St. Andrew's, Scotland
  
• 1904 - Lacrosse is first played as an exhibition
  sport in the Olympics in St. Louis. The United
  States Intercollegiate Lacrosse League is formed,
  and divides the colleges into north and south
  divisions.
• 1931 - The United States Women's Lacrosse
  Association (USWLA) is formed as the rule-making
  body for women's lacrosse.
• 1947 - The men's field game positions change from
  goalkeeper, point, cover point, first defense,
  second defense, center, second attack, first
  attack and in home to goal keeper, attack,
  midfield and defense.
• 1990 - Coach Roy Simmons, Jr. of Syracuse
  University is the first coach to win four NCAA
  titles.
• 1997 - The University of Maryland wins it's fifth
  NCAA women's championship. US Lacrosse is founded
  and incorporated as the national governing body
  of men's and women's lacrosse. On March 14, the
  new Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame are
  rededicated, completing the expansion of the US
  Lacrosse headquarters.

3
Field and Equipment
The Ball The ball must be made of solid rubber
and can be white, yellow or orange. The ball is
7.75 - 8 inches in circumference and 5 - 5.25
ounces.
4
Lacrosse players

• Men's Lacrosse PositionsAttack The attack man's
  responsibility is to score goals. The attack man
  generally restricts his play to the offensive end
  of the field. A good attack man demonstrates
  excellent stick work with both hands and has
  quick feet to maneuver around the goal. Each team
  should have three attack men on the field during
  play.Midfield The midfielder's responsibility
  is to cover the entire field, playing both
  offense and defense. The midfielder is a key to
  the transition game, and is often called upon to
  clear the ball from defense to offense. A good
  midfielder demonstrates good stick work including
  throwing, catching and scooping. Speed and
  stamina are essential. Each team should have
  three midfielders on the field.Defense The
  defenseman's responsibility is to defend the
  goal. The defenseman generally restricts his play
  to the defensive end of the field. A good
  defenseman should be able to react quickly in
  game situations. Agility and aggressiveness are
  necessary, but great stick work is not essential
  to be effective. Each team should have three
  defensemen on the field.Goal The goalie's
  responsibility is to protect the goal and stop
  the opposing team from scoring. A good goalie
  also leads the defense by reading the situation
  and directing the defensemen to react. A good
  goalie should have excellent hand/eye
  coordination and a strong voice. Quickness,
  agility, confidence and the ability to
  concentrate are also essential. Each team has one
  goalie in the goal during play.

• WOMEN'S LACROSSE POSITIONS
• THE ATTACK
• First Home
• The first home's responsibility is to score.
  Located in front of the goal, the first home must
  continually cut toward the goal for a shot, or
  cut away from the goal to make room for another
  player. She should have excellent stick work.
• Second Home
• The second home is considered the playmaker. She
  should be able to shoot well from every angle and
  distance from the goal.
• Third Home
• The third home's responsibility is to transition
  the ball from defense to attack. She should be
  able to feed the ball to other players and fill
  in wing areas.
• Attack Wings
• The wings are also responsible for transitioning
  the ball from defense to attack. Wings should
  have speed and endurance and be ready to receive
  the ball from the defense and run or pass the
  ball.
• THE DEFENSE
• Point
• The point's responsibility is to mark first home.
  She should be able to stick check, body check and
  look to intercept passes.
• Cover point
• The cover point's responsibility is to mark
  second home. She should be able to receive
  clears, run fast and have good footwork.
• Third Man
• The third man's responsibility is to mark third
  home. She should be able to intercept passes,
  clear the ball, run fast and have good footwork.
• Center
• The center's responsibility is to control the
  draw and play both defense and attack. She should
  have speed and endurance.

5
Lacrosse skills

• Men's Lacrosse SkillsCatching The act of
  receiving a passed ball with the
  crosse.Checking The act of attempting to
  dislodge the ball from an opponent's stick.Poke
  Check A stick check in which the player pokes
  the head of his stick at an opponent's stick
  through the top hand by pushing with the bottom
  hand.Slap Check A stick check in which a player
  slaps the head of his stick against his
  opponent's stick.Wrap Check A one-handed check
  in which the defender swings his stick around his
  opponent's body to dislodge the ball. (This check
  is only legal at the highest level of
  play.)Cradling The coordinated motion of the
  arms and wrists that keeps the ball secure in the
  pocket and ready to be passed or shot when
  running.Cutting A movement by an offensive
  player without the ball, toward the opponent's
  goal, in anticipation of a feed and
  shot.Feeding Passing the ball to a teammate who
  is in position for a shot on goal.Passing The
  act of throwing the ball to a teammate with the
  crosse.Scooping The act of picking up a loose
  ball with the crosse.Screening An offensive
  tactic in which a player near the crease
  positions himself so as to block the goalkeeper's
  view of the ball.Shooting The act of throwing
  the ball with the crosse toward the goal in an
  attempt to score.

• WOMEN'S LACROSSE SKILLS
• Cradle The act of moving the stick from side to
  side causing the ball to remain in the upper part
  of the pocket webbing.
• Checking The act of using a controlled tap with
  a crosse on an opponent's crosse in an attempt to
  dislodge the ball.
• Catching The act of receiving a passed ball with
  the crosse.
• Cutting A movement by a player without the ball
  in anticipation of a pass.
• Dodging The act of suddenly shifting direction
  in order to avoid an opponent.
• Passing The act of throwing the ball to a
  teammate with the crosse.
• Pick-Ups The act of scooping a loose ball with a
  crosse.
• Shootings The act of throwing the ball at the
  goal with the crosse in an attempt to score.
•  

6
Mens rules
Men's lacrosse is a contact game played by ten
players a goalkeeper, three defensemen, three
midfielders and three attackmen. The object of
the game is to shoot the ball into the opponent's
goal. The team scoring the most goals wins.
Each team must keep at least four players,
including the goalie, in its defensive half of
the field and three in its offensive half Three
players (midfielders) may roam the entire field.
Generally, high school games are 48 minutes
long, with 12 minute quarters. Each team is given
a two minute break between the first and second
quarters, and the third and fourth quarters.
Half-time is ten minutes long. Teams change
sides between periods. Each team is permitted two
time-outs each half. The team winning the coin
toss chooses the end of the field it wants to
defend first. Men's lacrosse begins with a
face-off. The ball is placed between the sticks
of two squatting players at the center of the
field. The official blows the whistle to begin
play. Each face-off player tries to control the
ball. The players in the wing areas can release
the other players must wait until one player has
gained possession of the ball or the ball has
crossed the goal line. Center face-offs are also
used after a goal and at the start of each
quarter. Players may run with the ball in the
crosse, pass and catch the ball. Only the
goalkeeper may touch the ball with his hands. A
player may gain possession of the ball by
dislodging it from an opponent's crosse with a
stick check, which includes the controlled poking
and slapping of the stick and gloved hands of the
player in possession of the ball. Body checking
is permitted if the opponent has the ball.
However, all contact must occur from the front or
side, above the waist and below the shoulders. An
opponent's crosse may also be stick checked if it
is within five yards of a loose ball or ball in
the air. If the ball or a player in possession
of the ball goes out of bounds, the other team is
awarded possession of the ball. If the ball goes
out of bounds after an unsuccessful shot on goal,
the player nearest to the ball when and where it
goes out of bounds is awarded possession. An
attacking player cannot enter the crease around
the goal, but may reach in with his stick to
scoop a loose ball.
7
Mens Fouls of the game

• Personal FoulsSlashing Occurs when a player's
  stick viciously contacts an opponent in any area
  other than the stick or gloved hand on the
  stick.Tripping Occurs when a player obstructs
  his opponent at or below the waist with the
  crosse, hands, arms, feet or legs.Cross
  Checking Occurs when a player uses the handle of
  his crosse between his hands to make contact with
  an opponent.Unsportsmanlike Conduct Occurs when
  any player or coach commits an act which is
  considered unsportsmanlike by an official,
  including taunting, arguing, or obscene language
  or gestures.Unnecessary Roughness Occurs when a
  player strikes an opponent with his stick or body
  using excessive or violent force.Illegal Crosse
  Occurs when a player uses a crosse that does not
  conform to required specifications. A crosse may
  be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if
  any other part of the crosse was altered to gain
  an advantage.Illegal Body Checking Occurs when
  any of the following actions takes placea. body
  checking an opponent who is not in possession of
  the ball or within five yards of a loose ball.b.
  avoidable body check of an opponent after he has
  passed or shot the ball.c. body checking an
  opponent from the rear or at or below the
  waist.d. body checking an opponent above the
  shoulders. A body check must be below the
  shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of
  the player applying the body check must remain in
  contact with his crosse.Illegal Gloves Occurs
  when a player uses gloves that do not conform to
  required specifications. A glove will be found
  illegal if the fingers and palms are cut out of
  the gloves, or if the glove has been altered in a
  way that compromises its protective features.

• Technical FoulsHolding Occurs when a player
  impedes the movement of an opponent or an
  opponent's crosse.Interference Occurs when a
  player interferes in any manner with the free
  movement of an opponent, except when that
  opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is
  in flight and within five yards of the player, or
  both players are within five yards of a loose
  ball.Offsides Occurs when a team does not have
  at least four players on its defensive side of
  the midfield line or at least three players on
  its offensive side of the midfield line.Pushing
  Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player
  from behind.Screening Occurs when an offensive
  player moves into and makes contact with a
  defensive player with the purpose of blocking him
  from the man he is defending. Stalling Occurs
  when a team intentionally holds the ball, without
  conducting normal offensive play, with the intent
  of running time off the clock.Warding Off
  Occurs when a player in possession of the ball
  uses his free hand or arm to hold, push or
  control the direction of an opponent's stick
  check.

8
Women's rules of the game

• WOMEN'S LACROSSE RULESWomen's lacrosse is a
  non-contact game played by 12 players a
  goalkeeper, five attackers and six defenders. The
  object of the game is to shoot the ball into the
  opponent's goal. The team scoring the most goals
  wins.
• Women's lacrosse begins with a draw, which is
  taken by the center position. The ball is placed
  between two horizontally held crosses (sticks) at
  the center of the field. At the sound of the
  whistle, the ball is flung into the air as the
  crosses are pulled up and away. A draw is used to
  start each half and after each goal, and it takes
  place at the center of the field.
• The collegiate game is 60 minutes long, each half
  being 30 minutes. The high school girl's game is
  50 minutes long, each half being 25 minutes. In
  both collegiate and high school play, teams are
  allowed two timeouts per game (including
  overtime).
• There are visual guidelines on the side of the
  field that are in place to provide a consistent
  indicator to the officials of what is considered
  the playing field. The minimum dimensions for a
  field is 120 yards by 70 yards. Additional
  markings on the field include a restraining line
  located 30 yards from each goal line, which
  creates an area where only a maximum of seven
  offensive players and eight defensive players
  (including the goalkeeper) are allowed a
  12-meter fan, which officials use to position
  players after fouls and an arc in front of each
  goal, considered the critical scoring area, where
  defenders must be at least within a
  stick's-length of their attacker.
• The boundaries are determined by the natural
  restrictions of the field. An area of 120 yards
  by 70 yards is desirable.
• When a whistle blows, all players must stop in
  place. When a ball is ruled out of play, the
  player closest to the ball gets possession when
  play is resumed. Loss of possession may occur if
  a player deliberately runs or throws the ball out
  of play.
• Rough checks, and contact to the body with the
  crosse or body, are not allowed.
• Field players may pass, catch or run with the
  ball in their crosse. A player may gain
  possession of the ball by dislodging it from an
  opponent's crosse with a check. A check is a
  controlled tap with a crosse on an opponent's
  crosse in an attempt to knock the ball free. The
  player must be one step in front of her opponent
  in order to check. No player may reach across an
  opponent's body to check the handle of a crosse
  when she is even with or behind that opponent. A
  player may not protect the ball in her crosse by
  cradling so close to her body or face so as to
  make a legal, safe check impossible for the
  opponent.
• All legal checks must be directed away from a
  seven-inch sphere or ""bubble"" around the head
  of the player. No player is allowed to touch the
  ball with her hands except the goalkeeper when
  she is within the goal circle. A change of
  possession may occur if a player gains a distinct
  advantage by playing the ball off her body.
• Fouls are categorized as major or minor, and the
  penalty for fouls is a free position. For major
  fouls, the offending player is placed four meters
  behind the player taking the free position. For a
  minor foul, the offending player is placed four
  meters off, in the direction from which she
  approached her opponent before committing the
  foul, and play is resumed. When a minor foul is
  committed in the critical scoring area, the
  player with the ball has an indirect free
  position, in which case the player must pass
  first.

9
Vocabulary

• Attack Goal Area The area defined by a line
  drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from the
  face of the goal. Once the offensive team crosses
  the midfield line, it has ten seconds to move
  the ball into its attack goal area.
• Body Check Contact with an opponent from the
  front - between the shoulders and waist - when
  the opponent has the ball or is within five
  yards of a loose ball.
• Box An area used to hold players who have been
  served with penalties, and through which
  substitutions ""on the fly"" are permitted
  directly from the sideline onto the field.
• Check-up A call given by the goalie to tell each
  defender to find his man and call out his
  number.
• Clamp A face-off maneuver executed by quickly
  pushing the back of the stick on top of the
  ball.
• Clearing Running or passing the ball from the
  defensive half of the field to the attack goal
  area.
• Crease A circle around the goal with a radius of
  nine feet into which only defensive players may
  enter.
• Crosse (Stick) The equipment used to throw,
  catch and carry the ball.
• Defensive Clearing Area The area defined by a
  line drawn sideline to sideline 20 yards from
  the face of the goal. Once the defensive team
  gains possession of the ball in this area, it
  has ten seconds to move the ball across the
  midfield line.
• Lax Another word for lacrosse.
• Man Up A man advantage that results from a
  time-serving penalty.

10
Vocabulary continued

• Face-Off A technique used to put the ball in
  play at the start of each quarter, or after a
  goal is scored. The players squat down and the
  ball is placed between their crosses.
• Fast-Break A transition scoring opportunity in
  which the offense has at least a one-man
  advantage.
• Ground Ball A loose ball on the playing field.
• Shaft An aluminum, wooden or composite pole
  connected to the head of the crosse.
• Head The plastic or wood part of the stick
  connected to the handle.
• Man Down The situation that results from a
  time-serving penalty which causes the defense to
  play with at least a one man disadvantage.
• Midfield Line The line which bisects the field
  of play.
• On-The-Fly Substitution A substitution made
  during play.
• Pick An offensive maneuver in which a stationary
  player attempts to block the path of a defender
  guarding another offensive player.
• Pocket The strung part of the head of the stick
  which holds the ball.
• Rake A face-off move in which a player sweeps
  the ball to the side.
• Riding The act of trying to prevent a team from
  clearing the ball.
• Release The term used by an official to notify a
  penalized player in the box that he may re-enter
  the game.
• Unsettled Situation Any situation in which the
  defense is not positioned correctly, usually due
  to a loose ball or broken clear.

11
Worksheet

• Who is known as the father of modern Lacrosse?
• Draw and label a Lacrosse field with all of the
  correct line markings.
• Give a brief description of the player positions
  for Men's Lacrosse.
• What are the eight skills used in a Women's
  Lacrosse game?
• What are the eight Personal fouls used in a Mens
  Lacrosse game?
• What are the twelve skills used in a Mens
  Lacrosse game?
• What is the Desirable boundary area for a
  Women's Lacrosse field
• A Women's College game is divided into how many
  minute halves?
• Explain what Offsides is in a mens lacrosse
  game.
• Explain how a Mens game is started.
• In a men's game, who gets the ball after a missed
  shot?
• What is the object of lacrosse?
• 13-30. Define eighteen of the twenty five terms
  listed on the vocabulary pages.

12
Work cited

• http//www.uslacrosse.org/the_sport/womens_rules.p
  html
• http//www.laxpower.com/common/rules.php
• http//www.uslacrosse.org/the_sport/mens_rules.pht
  ml
• http//www.lacrosse.org/museum/history.phtml
• http//dummiesguidetolacrosse.com/laxterms.html