It is commonly referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet".
The evolution of the Native American game into modern lacrosse began in 1636 when Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary, documented a Huron contest in what is now southeast Ontario, Canada. At that time, some type of lacrosse was played by at least 48 Native American tribes scattered throughout what is now southern Canada and the United States. French pioneers began playing the game avidly in the 1800s. Canadian dentist W. George Beers standardized the game in 1867 with the adoption of set field dimensions, limits to the number of players per team and other basic rules.
“The game of Lacrosse, was adopted as the national game of Canada on the 1st of July, 1859, the first Dominion Day. The game of Lacrosse was granted this status in the 1800s, not merely because of its popularity or economics, but because it has made significant and lasting contributions to the history and development of this nation, it's people, and the sport community. Indeed, Lacrosse is known as Canada's National Game throughout the world .” Scribner's Monthly, Volume 14, May-October 1877. |
