The History Of Native American Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a sport of discipline, agility, strategy, and strength where two teams compete for popularity and valor. For those who have known the game from the spectator’s seat, no one will think that this game was played in the likeness of war zones during its infancy. No one will think that this sport was more on a spiritual rite than a recreational one as divulged lately in comprehensive studies and researches on the history of Native American Lacrosse.

Little was known about the history of Native American lacrosse. The first French settlers in the Huron country were Jesuits but only recorded less on the details of the game. Information provided tells that the first games were played in North American tribes near the St. Lawrence River in New York and Ontario. It was then spread by a group of tribes in the North Eastern United States called Iroquois. And it was in this community that the sport lacrosse became a widespread tradition. Iroquois historians believed that lacrosse was derived from an even earlier game called Haudenosaunee which resembled the modern day game of stick and balls.

Earlier Native Americans were basically game lovers. Gambling was a common part of their lifestyle and no moral issues were attached to by high priests. The history of Native American lacrosse revealed that games and sports were even aligned with religious activities and teams compete near holy places. They worship and offered sacrifices to their creators by playing such. Indians often started their hunting season with this stick ball game.

Despite the violent nature of this sport, chieftains and players display utmost sportsmanship. All games started by requiring players to prepare spiritually. Divinity was genuinely involved that winning for a team was equivalent to bringing honor and glory to their tribes. Lacrosse was also a signal that a war is about to take place and so young warriors often found the sport to be their war training grounds.

The rules found on the history of Native American lacrosse were far more uncivilized than of today. Yet the aim was simple, to achieve a winning score by grabbing the ball, that was made out of animal heads and stuffed with hair and sand, and aim it to the opponents goal.

A team composed of 100 – 1000 players. Women and children were allowed to participate in a war like execution. Some Indian tribes permitted use of two sticks one on either hands of each player. And virtually all kinds of tactics were made like biting, kicking, butting, hitting with sticks just to get a hold of the ball. The wages of the game was death.


Indeed the modern form of lacrosse was made tamer than its original version. The sport did not receive any western adaptations until the 1600s when French brought it to the western world. The history of Native American lacrosse, however, made us understand that above all, sports should always be a game of discipline.