Lacrosse: Exploring the Spiritual Significance of the Ancient Game

Lacrosse was used as a physical exercise and to prepare oneself for warfare, and was considered to be a sacred or ceremonial affair rather than a sport.

Games could feature as few as two players or hundreds, and were often a mix of tribes competing against one another. The games lasted for hours and were often very rough.

The goal of lacrosse games was to throw a small leather ball past the opponent's goalposts (originally set up across streambeds or open lands). Teams would use long wooden sticks which had a curved end strung with leather netting which was crafted to cradle and throw the ball.

Games would start early in the morning, and once a team scored four goals, a rest period would be called, and the team that scored four would become the challenging team.

The player who scored the winning goal would be carried home on the shoulders of his teammates. Once the game ended, the two tribes would join together and celebrate with ritual dancing, feasting, and speeches of warriors and chiefs.