Discover the Game: Top 11 Entertaining and Surprising Lacrosse Fun Facts You Need to Know

1. Party Like It's 1499

Before they rocked out on the field, Native American lacrosse players had a whole pregame ritual that would make modern-day athletes say, "Party like it's 1499": Pregame festivities involved body paint, charcoal designs, decorating their sticks, and betting objects like handkerchiefs, knives, or even horses, while adhering to strict taboos and participating in war-like rituals, making lacrosse a deeply cultural and religious affair.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Canadian National Pride on a Stick

Has your igloo ever been the scene of a heated lacrosse match, eh? Enter Canadian national pride on a stick: Lacrosse was named the national sport of Canada in 1859, and it made a splash at the Olympics in 1904 and 1908. With the International Olympic Committee granting full recognition in 2021, this stick-wielding frenzy might just be doing a comeback tour in the 2028 Olympics!
Source => history.com

Did you know that field hockey dates back thousands of years, with ancient origins in Egypt, Ethiopia, and Iran? Discover more fascinating history about this popular sport.

=> Fun Facts about Field-Hockey

3. Lacrosse Time Travel

Who needs a DeLorean to time travel when you've got lacrosse? Buckle up, because this sport has been entertaining folks since before European settlers even came on the scene: Originally known as baggataway and tewaarathon, the game was played by First Nations in Canada with two teams of 100 to 1,000 men each, on fields ranging from 500 m (1,600 ft) to 3 km (1.9 mi) long. Evolving into a national treasure, the National Lacrosse Association was formed in 1875, but eventually, escalating violence led to the downfall of professional leagues in 1914. Despite the setbacks, the legacy lives on through the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Bishop's Staff-Flix

Before Netflix binges, Lacrosse sticks doubled as bishop's staff-flix: The origin of the word "lacrosse" traces back to the French settlers in Canada who likened the sticks used in the game to bishops' crosiers, naming it "la crosse." Interestingly, the game was first played by American Indians as "baggataway," featuring more players, larger fields, and some rough tactics to train warriors for battle.
Source => deseret.com

5. Tough Mudder Meets Project Runway

Lacrosse: the original Tough Mudder meets Project Runway, with a dash of Fight Club thrown in for good measure: Early North American lacrosse players sported breechcloths and body paint while going barefoot, engaging in chaotic games where over a thousand players would clash in a test of endurance for two or three days, honing their skills for hunting and warfare without letting the ball touch the ground.
Source => subiacolacrosseclub.com

6. Lacrosse-terous Party

Talk about a lacrosse-terous party: Traditional Native American lacrosse games ranged from intimate gatherings of 20 players to massive blowouts with up to 1,000 participants, debunking the assumption of hundreds per team.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. The Dentist Savior of Lacrosse

Fear not, lacrosse enthusiasts, for I bring high tidings of the savior of your beloved sport: In the mid-1800s, a versatile Canadian – who also happened to be a dentist, since combining interests is all the rage – brushed up this ancient game with a fresh set of pearly white rules: That's right, Dr. William George Beers, affectionately known as the "Father of Modern Lacrosse," was the man behind the foundation of the Montreal Lacrosse Club in 1856 and the exciting innovations such as introducing a rubber ball and a redesigned stick that set the stage for the game as we know it today.
Source => worldlacrosse.sport

8. Sibling Rivalry and the Fate of the Universe

When brothers can't resolve their sibling rivalry, they may split like an overripe avocado, or in this case, divide the fate of the universe: In the Oneida creation story, the right and left handed twins competed in a game of lacrosse to determine who'd become the creator of all things, but ended up battling with weapons when the game was inconclusive; the right handed twin emerged victorious, becoming known as the Holder of the Sky, while the left handed twin settled in a distant land across the ocean.
Source => oneida-nsn.gov

9. Wizards of Lacrosse Unite

Calling all wizards of the lacrosse world and those seeking magical powers on the field: Quidditch has nothing on this enchanting gathering! The USA Lacrosse Convention and FanFest takes place in Baltimore from Jan. 20-22, 2023, luring lacrosse devotees with live demos, chalk talks, networking opportunities, and an exhibitor hall filled to the brim with everything lacrosse-related; while the one-day FanFest on Jan 21 lets mere mortals rub shoulders with their favorite pros, participate in clinics, and even snag some autographs – all for a bewitching advance ticket price of just $10 for students.
Source => usalacrosse.com

10. When Rubber Met Lacrosse

Once upon a ball, rubber met lacrosse and they hopped into history hand in hand: Dr. William George Beers swapped traditional wood or fur-filled balls for rubbery alternatives in 1860, and the modern lacrosse ball was born. Today, these bouncy beauties must adhere to strict NCAA and NOCSAE rules for size, weight, and rebound capabilities, with some brands like Wolf Athletics scoring high-fives from pro leagues such as the Premier Lacrosse League.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

11. Jim Brown: From Net to Touchdown

Before he tackled touchdowns, Jim Brown was netting goals like it was his day job: As a two-time All-American lacrosse player at Syracuse University, Brown led his team to an undefeated 10-0 season and was later inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame as the first African American, forever changing the game with his undeniable talent.
Source => profootballhof.com