For decades the sport of lacrosse has been played around the world. Originating in North America, lacrosse was played by the native americans for a variety of reasons. Lacrosse was used as a substitute for war and also in spiritual practices as well. Lacrosse began with simple and elegant sticks, but with the use of technology has being adopted lacrosse now uses pads such as helmets and gloves as well as sticks that are made from metal. Throughout its existence, lacrosse was perceived as a brutal and violent sport that was played by savages, but it actually has a beautiful history and meaning.
To begin with, lacrosse began 1000s of years ago but was only discovered by missionaries in the 1630s. Since it was discovered by missionaries, and they explained it to the rest of the world, the game was coined lacrosse. The missionaries used the term lacrosse because if you break it down you get la crosse or the cross due to the fact that the sticks resembled crosses to the missionaries.

The tribes played lacrosse to please “The Creator” which is why to the Native Americans lacrosse is called the creators game. However, lacrosse was not only used to please the creator, it was also used as a substitute for war. Instead of having wars and fight over land or women, the Native Americans would play lacrosse. Therefore, instead of killing each other they could play a game and the winner would win the battle with no lives lost, but people would get hurt. “The Native American game of lacrosse could involve hundreds of players and stretch across a mile of uneven fields; contests frequently left injured players” (Aveni). Although the warriors were sometimes hurt, they were never killed which is a lot better than war. Lacrosse was such and important factor in Native Americans lives, that when a male baby was born, they were given a lacrosse stick to lay next to them. That stick would be with them until the day they died, and it would be buried with them. The lacrosse stick was a symbol to the Native Americans, it was a portal to the creator and they were treated with extreme care until it became time to play the game.

Continuing off of the reasons lacrosse is played, now the discussion of traditional styles of play. One of the most heated debates in Lacrosse is whether to use traditional methods or modern methods. One major complaint is that the modern players of lacrosse don’t respect the game as much as the Native Americans did or do. A true warrior in lacrosse brings his stick with him everywhere he goes, it is either by his side or within close vicinity. The lacrosse stick is believed to be an extension of the body, and is treated as part of you to warriors. Sadly, with the widespread growth of lacrosse, and the lack of education of its history are making more players disrespect the game and their equipment. These new players aren’t true warriors in lacrosse, and they don’t carry the brotherhood mentality that comes along with it. Another interesting fact of lacrosse is the brotherhood that is created amongst teammates. A bond is formed that may never be broken, and brothers stick together for life. In lacrosse, your teammates are called your brothers because you trust them, and they trust you. Brothers always have to have each others backs and always have to protect one another. Since lacrosse is physical you need to low that your brothers have your back so incase an enemy tries to catch you off guard, your brother will step in and protect you. However, not all of your teammates on the field are brothers. In successful and outstanding teams, the teammates are brothers and connect as a whole. But in mediocre and lower level teams, most players are simply your teammates while you have a few brothers. Brothers in lacrosse all have the same mentality and believe in the traditional ways of lacrosse. “Social leveler, spiritual connector, creative channeler of aggression, the gift of lacrosse from those who preceded the colonists in this land offers us one of team sports’ most important life lessons, whether we play it, witness it, or just read about it. As one Mohawk elder wrote, “Our grandfather told us that lacrosse was played for the enjoyment of the Great Spirit; everyone was important, no matter how big or small, or how strong or how weak” (Aveni).
Over the years, lacrosse has adapted and changed to conform new advancements in pads and helmets, and modern sticks while maintaining its traditional values. When lacrosse started to spread and become popular, methods of producing equipment had to change to meet the demand. The biggest changes were the implications of pads, and modern sticks. A traditional wooden lacrosse stick takes months to build and create, and is a very spiritual process. First, a stick maker ventures deep into the woods to find a specific tree at the perfect maturation level to make strong unbreakable sticks. He then cuts the tree down by hand, and carries it back to the village to begin making it into smaller strips of wood. The wood is then steamed for days until it becomes moist and pliable. It is then bent into the shape of a cane and tied so it holds its position while the wood dries. After drying, the stick is shaved down, and rounded so it can be used. The stick is then strung with a traditional stringing design, and ready for use. “These sticks take months to create and are made completely by hand, and are practically indestructible unless used in improper ways” (Wood). On the other hand, modern stick are mostly made out of metal at a factory and produced by the thousands. The issue with metal sticks is that they are weak and can break easily if you are a true warrior. Other substitutes are wooden shafts that are very heavy or composite shafts which are extremely strong and light, but cost a lot of money. Another major aspect that has changed in lacrosse is the use of pads in the game. Originally, lacrosse was played with no pads, but as it spread pads began to become produced and added in. The first pads implemented were gloves because while checking a stick, players finger would get hit, and hurt easily. Next, came helmets to protect people from getting hit in the head, and suffering brain injury. Then, came chest pads to protect your lungs, ribs, and heart from getting hit. Finally, arm pads came along to protect arms from being broken during checks.
In conclusion, lacrosse is a beautiful sport that has been played for generations and will continue to do so. It is the fastest growing sport in the world, and is being loved more and more as people experience it. Although lacrosse began with simple but very important focuses it has become loved by millions of people and continues to grow to this day. The stick is revered as part of a warriors body and is connected with his soul. The warrior will get his stick the day he is born and will carry it with him to his death. Lacrosse has a beautiful, eloquent, and impacting history that is sadly being lost as it spreads, but with simple teachings and the warriors who spread the word, the traditional values and meanings will never be lost.