North American Indians were the first people to play Lacrosse, as early as the 1400s. The game originally used a ball and wooden stick. It began as play, but in time the Indians realized that it was a great vehicle for training warriors in the fighting arts.
These days the stick is made from titanium, and the ball is rubber. In its early years, no less than 100 men played Lacrosse, and sometimes even 1,000 joined the game. They would begin at sunrise, end at sunset, with perhaps three days in between. Rocks and trees were the goals, and they were spaced from 500 yards to a half mile apart.
French Jesuit missionaries knew the game by the 17th century and in time the rest of the world learned of it. Lacrosse is still enjoyed in the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, and Scotland among other nations. It’s a rough game involving both thinking and physical stamina. This article offers a few tips for playing the game well.
First, remember that the more time the Lacrosse stick is in your hands the better it will work for you. In addition, make your stick your best friend, taking it with you running or walking so that you become comfortable handling it. Also, if you are right-handed, learn to work the stick left-handed and vice versa. You should also learn how to change the direction and speed of your cradle.
Lacrosse experts will recommend doing sprints to help build up your endurance and your legs. These same experts also believe wooden sticks to be superior over their titanium counterparts. Two reasons are that the metal is cold and causes the hands to stiffen, and the plastic heads break and wear out more quickly. The main reason however, is that the wooden sticks are more absorbent upon impact.
Lacrosse players are constantly moving during their games. The offensive players move to draw attention away from the defensive players. The defense is there to protect the offense and not help the opposing defensive players. When you are close to the goal, keep your passes short, accurate and to the outside, away from the defense. Regular passes are hit hard. Players never stand still, even if they just run backward and forward until they have the ball.
When you have possession of the ball in Lacrosse, you need to fake passes and keep your defenseman’s stick moving all the time. Additionally, make the defenseman play your stick while watching his stick. Finally, make sure you never make a pass to a man that is covered as a means of getting rid of the ball. With Lacrosse, you will have so much fun while enjoying a good, challenging game that requires physical and mental alertness at all times.
Copyright 2006, Tate Palumb, All Rights Reserved. This article may be published on web sites or in newsletters provided this notice and the resource box is included without ammendment.
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Tate Palumb provides a range of resources at his web site: Foxs Lacrosse, where you will find information and inside tips to help you play a better game of Lacrosse. Why not take a look for yourself: www.foxslacrosse.com
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