Lacrosse, considered America's first sport, has its roots in Native American culture as preparation for war. Today it is a game of endurance, finesse, skill and teamwork.

For women, the sport is played on a large field (110 x 80 yards) with no boundary lines to restrict play. There are twelve players per team on the field, each carrying a 3 foot wooden or plastic stick with a crosse (or basket) on the end. The stick is used to catch and pass a small rubberized ball with the objective of scoring into the 6' x 6' goal.

No other sport attracts a higher level of loyalty and dedication than lacrosse. With no professional career to pursue, and a substantial economic investment in equipment and travel, the lacrosse player plays for the true love of the sport. To know lacrosse is to understand that people who play, coach and officiate lacrosse are participating in much more than a sport. It is a lifestyle.

Played around the World in Australia, Canada, Czeck Republic, England, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Iriquois Nations, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Wales and just introduced to Denmark, France, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and Switzerland.

For a lot more information :www.lacrosse.org/pdf/07participationsurvey.pdf

Lacrosse is considered one of the fastest growing team sports in the United States. In the last decade the number of high school youth teams, college and club teams has increased dramatically. Lacrosse has become a national sport with more than 480,000 active players in 2007.

• There are over 160,000 women participating in high school and youth lacrosse.
• Programs began in eastern preparatory schools and have expanded to public and parochial schools nationwide.
• Over 12,000 women participate in lacrosse programs in college.