Lacrosse has become one of the most popular sports in America today; yet most people don’t actually know the true meaning or background behind it. When hearing the word “lacrosse,” most people solely think of the modern-day high school sport, and it never crosses their mind to ponder its history. Being one of the oldest sports, its history is rich and meaningful to how the game is played today. Honor, determination, and pride are three words Native American tribes prioritized when playing the game, and it has subtly been carried into this new generation of lacrosse players. The Lake Highland Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse team is starting their season strong with each game and practice, and instilling these warrior-like traits.
Lacrosse has been played by millions, dating back to the 17th century when Southeastern tribes like the Cherokee, Haudenosaunee, and the Iroquois first created it. The game used to be called, “‘The Medicine Game’ because it was used to solve wars between tribes,” states the midfield varsity player John Miller, grade 11. With this in mind, he and many other Lake Highland lacrosse players like to, “Think about how they settled wars with the sport and played with a lot of grit and energy.” Lacrosse was played by many Southeastern tribes that played the game with much higher stakes, contradictory to today. At the beginning of its creation, lacrosse was a resolver of conflicts, and the winner of the game would essentially win the war. Obviously, in today’s society, the game is played more with a recreational appeal, but the players still use this determination, deriving back to the game’s beginnings, to win their games.
As the 2024-2025 Spring lacrosse season starts, LHP lacrosse players prepare to represent both their school and the tradition of lacrosse itself. Player John Miller, grade 11, emphasizes this, saying, “I like to honor my family when playing, I take pride while I play for the school I represent.” Back in the 1200s, many young Native American men used to play lacrosse to toughen them up in preparation for war and any other battles they may encoun-ter. Since lacrosse is considered a very high-contact sport, the rules have been changed over time to reflect today’s safety standards. Now, multiple layers of padding are required, and certain moves are considered “illegal” as they may be used intentionally to harm opponents. However, this is not the case for the Haudenosaunee and the Iroquois tribes. To this day, its people still play with no padding, and those aged 7 to 80 will all play together in the same match.
This fast-paced and constantly-moving game has created a major name for itself, as its popularity has increased more than 60% since the late 1980s. It is most predominantly played on the East Coast of the U.S. but has begun gaining popularity in the Midwest and the South. Compared to hundreds of years ago, lacrosse may seem to have lost its traditions, as it was created as a very rough and physical game. However, this is not entirely true. Although safety measures have been put in place for high schools in America, the rules are still very loose, and players must be cautious. This is partly to honor the original version of lacrosse and stick to its roots without changing the game too much. Since lacrosse is so fast, it is important to, “Constantly keep your head on a swivel in the protection of not getting run over,” says defensive midfielder, and varsity player Christian Swanson, grade 11. This is something that has been practiced by all players from the earliest dates and is key to a successful player. The LHP JV and Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse team make sure to run fast-paced drills to prepare the players for instances like these.
Another crucial aspect of the game of lacrosse is the mental challenges that occur when playing. While it is mainly a physical sport, mental challenges can set players back if they do not have the right mindset. In its earliest phases, lacrosse was sometimes viewed as a spiritual and cultural game, and players heavily leaned on their faith to perform to the best of their abilities. This is still true for many players today, and it has become very common for them to have talks and huddles to set their mindsets in a way that will allow them to perform to the best of their abilities. It is common for athletes to get mental blocks when they are playing a sport they love and cannot play with 100% of their talents 24/7.
Athletes must be able to perform well under pressure, be quick thinkers when executing shots, and predict what their opponents will do. Many teams will practice specific drills focused on the mental side of the game rather than just the physical. This has been practiced since the beginning when stakes were higher, and players had to think more diligently about where and how they were placing the ball, as the punishments were far more severe.
Lacrosse is not just a regular sport; it embodies the values, emotions, and culture of a warrior. Many people fail to realize the importance of its history and only take the game at face value. The Cherokees, Haudenosaunee, and Iroquois have made a huge impact on the game, as the sport’s inventors and lacrosse would not be the sport that it is today without their influence. While there have been changes over the years, lacrosse is a sport that tends to stick to its roots, honoring those who created such a unique game. The Lake Highland JV and Varsity Boys’ Lax Nation has and continues to embody these values as the sport rapidly gains more and more popularity.
