Late to the Game, Deep in the Roots: LAX

The first time I picked up a lacrosse stick was spring of my junior year—yes, extremely late to be learning a brand new sport. A teammate showed me how to cradle the ball, and I couldn’t keep the ball in the net for more than a few steps before it tumbled out of my stick and rolled down the turf field. But even in those clumsy first moments, I was hooked. The speed, the teamwork, and the feel of the game were completely new to me. I had no idea then how deep the sport’s roots ran, or how much history and culture were tied to the game I was just beginning to learn.

Lacrosse has a complex history that extends far beyond what is visible on high school fields. Native American communities across North America played the earliest forms of these games. Rather than games, however, they were spiritual gatherings, held to resolve conflicts, prepare for battle, or honor traditions. 

The stick was carved from hickory and represented tribal identity, healing, and ceremony.

By the 1600s, French missionaries—in modern-day Canada—observed the game and gave it the name it has today. The sport evolved in the 1800s, when William George Beers, a Canadian dentist, created a set of official rules and modern equipment to help bring it into mainstream competition. That version quickly spread through elite schools in Canada and the northeastern United States. 

80 years later, intercollegiate matches were being played between schools such as Harvard and Princeton, marking the beginning of lacrosse’s long journey with competitive academic institutions.

On the other hand, women’s lacrosse followed a different path. The first recorded match took place in Scotland in 1890 and made its way to the U.S. in the 1920s, with early programs taking shape in private schools. Unlike the men’s version, the women’s game developed with rules that emphasized skill and positioning over physical contact. Today, the two versions have distinct playing styles and equipment, but both are widely played and respected in schools and universities across the country.

This is not to overlook—boys’ lacrosse is significantly more physical than girls’, with requirements on helmets, padding, and a severe lack of foul rules that made me nervous to glance over at the boys’ field. 

Throughout the 20th century, though, lacrosse has had a complicated relationship with the Olympics. It was offered in the 1904 and 1908 Games—both times with Canada taking gold. The sport has since appeared as a demonstration event, and World Lacrosse has recently introduced a new six-a-side format to meet Olympic requirements. Now, lacrosse is scheduled to return to the Olympic program in 2028. 

But, not all teams have an easy path to compete. The Haudenosaunee Nationals, representing the Indigenous nations where the sport originated, have played under their own flag and passport in their games. Whether they’ll be allowed to participate as a recognized team in the Olympics remains uncertain.

In the U.S., lacrosse is beginning to shed its image as a sport for wealthy, predominantly white communities. Public school programs and community outreach initiatives in places like Prince George’s County, Maryland, have opened the sport to a more diverse group of players. Hampton University, a historically Black college, has launched a Division I team. These efforts are helping the sport grow in a direction that better reflects the broader population and its history.

Playing lacrosse has changed how I think about sports. I came to it late, but it’s become one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. There’s something powerful about learning a new skill while also discovering the long story behind it.