Could lacrosse be America’s first sport? It is said that this fun and rugged sport was the first ever observed by European conquerors. And though it is marginally popular now, efforts have been in place to recapture its glory.
It is said that the indigenous sport could have developed as early as the 12th century; and by the time Europeans arrived in North American territories such as present-day Canada, the sport was already popular among Native American forbears.
Much has been written about the method by which it is played, but before the rules were formally codified in the 19th century, William Strachey had documented the basics of the game: In a jagged field stretching across a mile, hundreds of players would scramble to gain the ball and drive it into the opponent’s goal using a long-handled stick. Affixed to one of the stick’s ends is a mesh designed to catch the ball and prevent it from being seized by the opponent.
From a cultural and historical point of view, the charm of the sport rested not only on its raw and rugged character, but also on the camaraderie and sense of community it promoted.
Soon the rules would bear more structure. The playing field has been narrowed and manicured like those in other sports. The number of players has been whittled to ten per team, the players wore more protection, and stick sizes have been specified (only four players are now allowed to carry the longer stick). But the game has not lost the thrill and excitement of yore.
But its popularity would gradually wane. The contact sport last made a showing at the 1948 summer Olympics. Not much was heard of the game ever since, until a nationwide effort to revive its popularity, in honor of its place in American history and culture, began in the late 1990s.
Much of the effort has poured into training as many young players as possible so that they can impart the skill to the succeeding generations. After all, many of its fans and supporters believe, it’s not just a game. It forms part of the American identity.
An accomplished lacrosse player during his years at Syracuse University, Steven Bettinger, now a real estate entrepreneur, has been coaching children in his community on the sport. Subscribe to this Tumblr page for more facts and insights about America’s first sport.
Steven Bettinger 
I miss to play this sport.
I love this American sport!
I wanna try to play this sport so bad..
i like this sport.
That’s why I love this sport. 🙂