History of Lacrosse Equipment

Lacrosse is technically America's first sport. The Cherokee and the Iroquois are believed to have played the original form of lacrosse that was later adapted when French explorers noted the games. They thought that the sticks used in lacrosse resembled a bishop's crozier, which is called "la crosse" in French. This started the evolution of the game of lacrosse.

Original Balls

The original lacrosse balls were made of deerskin and were stuffed with hair. As the game spread and among different Native American tribes, some balls were made from wood, baked clay and even stone.

Wooden Sticks

In the original games, the stick was mostly used to injure other players, since players are usually nowhere near the ball when it is in play. The sticks were large and made of wood, but the shape of the sticks often varied with the tribe. Some were straight with a small pocket, while others were curved and had webbed, triangular pockets.

Ball Evolution

The first piece of equipment to change was the ball. Hard rubber replaced the hair-stuffed balls.

Modern Sticks

The sticks were redesigned to improve ball catching and throwing. Aluminum and plastic replaced wood, but the pockets were still triangular with webs like some of the early designs. Sticks also now have different designs for different lacrosse positions.

Protective Gear

Modern lacrosse equipment now includes various pieces of mandatory protective gear for the players. The gear includes helmets, gloves, mouthguards and pads.