The Complete Guide to History, Rules, Equipment, and Modern Culture

Lacrosse is one of the oldest and fastest-growing sports in North America — a thrilling mix of speed, strategy, and skill. Known as “the Creator’s Game,” its roots stretch back over 500 years to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) tribes, who played it for spiritual, social, and physical development.
Today, lacrosse has evolved into an international sport played by men, women, and youth across professional leagues, schools, and clubs — from the U.S. and Canada to Europe, Australia, and beyond.

The Origins of Lacrosse

Long before stadium crowds and modern gear, lacrosse was a sacred Native American tradition. The tribe that invented lacrosse — the Haudenosaunee — saw it as more than just a game. It was a ceremonial practice, used to heal the sick, resolve conflicts, and train warriors.
Originally called “stickball,” games could last for days and feature hundreds of players spread across miles of open field. French missionaries in the 1600s observed the sport and named it “la crosse” (French for “the stick”), giving rise to the modern name.