Lacrosse is a rapidly growing sport that you’re probably seeing more and more of on TV and in your community. Because the sport might be new to you, there’s a lot to discover with its rich history. Here are surprising things you didn’t know about lacrosse.
Number One: Jim Brown Is One of the Lacrosse GOATs
When you first think of Jim Brown, you might think of his illustrious football career. What you might not know is that Jim Brown was also a standout in other sports during his time at Syracuse University, including lacrosse. Brown is so highly regarded for his lacrosse career that the Premier Lacrosse League named its MVP trophy after him.
Number Two: It’s Considered America’s Oldest Sport
There’s no shortage of American sports; you might think baseball is the oldest since it’s heralded as the country’s pastime. However, lacrosse is considered America’s oldest sport because it derives from the actions of some Native American tribes.
Number Three: Recognized As Canada’s Official Summer Sport
Speaking of a country’s cultural identity being intertwined with sports, hockey is king in Canada and is recognized as its official winter sport. When it comes to the summer, lacrosse is Canada’s official summer sport.
Number Four: Lacrosse Was an Olympic Sport
Given the sport’s long history, another surprising thing you didn’t know about lacrosse is that it was part of the Summer Olympics in 1928, 1932, and 1948 as a demonstration sport. In 2028, lacrosse could make its grand return to the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles under a new 6v6 playing style.
Number Five: There Are Different Disciplines
When you first think of lacrosse, you probably think of the traditional outdoor game played at the men’s level. While that might be the most popular version of the sport, our last bit of surprising lacrosse facts is that it isn’t the only version. Lacrosse has many different versions!
Not only is there the 6v6 game being developed for the Olympics, but there’s also the women’s game, which has its differences compared to the men’s game. Box lacrosse is another popular variation played indoors with boards surrounding a smaller field.
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