Lacrosse – the full contact game derived from the sport of warriors, and played well, it is an incredibly fast and fluid game to watch. Experiencing a relatively low profile in the UK, the sport is hugely popular in its original birthplace of North America.

Lacrosse was originally named by French missionaries, literally meaning ‘ball with hooked stick’. Native Americans devised and played this on vast expanses of prairie to train their warriors, resolve tribal disputes and reinforce spiritual customs. Wooden stick shafts with a net at the top were used by tribesman to pass and catch balls made of deerskin or even wood. In this setting games lasted for days and boundaries could extend a mile in length with up to a 1000 men competing.

Today the modern concept of this warriors’ sport still emphasises its physicality even if boundaries have been somewhat reduced to a 100 metres in length. Two teams of ten plus goalie aim to shoot a small rubber ball into the opposing teams’ goal with the aid of plastic headed sticks. Essential skills required are the ability to catch the ball in the net at the top of the stick, to pass to your team and to cradle. Cradling keeps the ball in the stick whilst the player moves. The technique involves holding the stick vertically and moving it in a loose ‘C’ shape form ear to eye, it is all in the wrist. Cradling makes tackling harder and tackling itself is the final skill to master. It is the tapping of an opponents stick in a downward motion to release the ball. Obviously swipes towards the head are not allowed but it happens!

The men’s game is full contact requiring helmets and body armour and players sport a longer stick shaft. The level of protective clothing accounts for the tackles that can hit head and body areas. The women’s game has a lower level of contact but still requires enormous amounts of skill, fitness and controlled levels of aggression. I can attest to this from the fat lips and bruises personally acquired, in addition to watching my co-captain at school get her collarbone snapped by a misaimed tackle.

A well matched team will ensure the ball changes hands many times and players cover the length of the pitch often. The explosive energy needed to stop and start combined with the will power to maintain this for 60 minutes of play ensures lacrosse is not for the faint hearted.

Keen to grab a slice of the action? Clubs in the South West include Bristol Bombers, Bristol University, Bath Lacrosse Club and Bath University – get involved if you dare!

www.bomberslacrosse.co.uk

Lucy Dunseath