Indian pick up lacrosse. Mastering the Indian Pick Up: A Crucial Lacrosse Skill for All Positions

What is the Indian Pick Up in lacrosse. How can players improve their ground ball skills. Why is the Indian Pick Up important for every position on the field. What are the benefits of practicing this technique.

The Origins and Significance of the Indian Pick Up

The Indian Pick Up, also known as a quick stick pick up, is a fundamental lacrosse skill that has its roots in Native American playing styles. This technique involves a fluid, lightning-fast motion to scoop up a ground ball, often in ways that seem impossible to the untrained eye. The term “Indian Pick Up” originated when white lacrosse players observed Native players executing these unconventional and highly effective ground ball maneuvers.

While the name itself may be considered outdated and potentially offensive, the skill remains an essential component of modern lacrosse. Many players and coaches now prefer to use alternative terms such as “quick stick pick up” to describe this technique, acknowledging the need for more inclusive language in the sport.

Why is the Indian Pick Up important?

• Improves ball control and possession
• Enhances overall ground ball skills
• Develops wrist strength and dexterity
• Increases ball awareness on the field
• Provides a competitive advantage in loose ball situations

Mastering the Technique: Tips from Mitch Belisle

Mitch Belisle, a respected figure in the lacrosse community, emphasizes the importance of the Indian Pick Up for players of all positions. In a demonstration at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn, NY, Belisle shared valuable insights on how to perfect this crucial skill.

How can players practice the Indian Pick Up?

1. Start with a stationary ball on the ground
2. Approach the ball at an angle
3. Use a quick, fluid motion to scoop the ball
4. Allow the ball to roll into the pocket of the stick
5. Transition smoothly into cradling or passing

Consistent practice of this technique can significantly improve a player’s overall lacrosse performance, particularly in high-pressure game situations where quick ball possession is crucial.

The Evolution of Ground Ball Techniques in Lacrosse

The Indian Pick Up represents just one aspect of the rich history and evolution of ground ball techniques in lacrosse. As the sport has developed over time, players and coaches have continually innovated and refined methods for gaining possession of loose balls.

Modern lacrosse emphasizes the importance of ground ball proficiency across all positions. From attackmen to defensemen, and even goalies, the ability to quickly and efficiently scoop up ground balls can often be the difference between winning and losing possession, and ultimately, the game.

How have ground ball techniques evolved in lacrosse?

• Integration of Native American playing styles into mainstream lacrosse
• Development of specialized training drills focused on ground ball skills
• Incorporation of athletic movements from other sports to enhance agility and speed
• Adaptation of stick design to facilitate quicker and more secure ball pickup
• Emphasis on team-based ground ball strategies and communication

The Role of Stick Skills in Lacrosse Success

Mastering techniques like the Indian Pick Up is just one component of developing overall stick skills in lacrosse. Proficiency with the lacrosse stick is a fundamental aspect of the sport that separates great players from good ones.

What other stick skills are crucial for lacrosse players?

• Cradling: Maintaining possession while moving
• Passing: Accurately throwing the ball to teammates
• Catching: Receiving passes cleanly and securely
• Shooting: Placing shots on goal with power and precision
• Checking: Defensively dislodging the ball from opponents

By focusing on these skills in addition to ground ball techniques, players can develop a well-rounded skill set that contributes to overall team success.

Off-Season Training: Incorporating the Indian Pick Up

The off-season presents a valuable opportunity for lacrosse players to refine their skills, including the Indian Pick Up. Incorporating this technique into a comprehensive training regimen can yield significant benefits when the regular season arrives.

How can players incorporate the Indian Pick Up into off-season training?

1. Set up a daily practice routine focusing on ground ball drills
2. Use a rebounder or wall to simulate game-like situations
3. Practice picking up balls while moving at different speeds
4. Incorporate the technique into full-field conditioning drills
5. Work on transitioning from the pick up to passing or shooting

Consistent practice during the off-season can help players develop muscle memory and instinctive reactions, allowing them to execute the Indian Pick Up effortlessly during games.

The Impact of Ground Ball Proficiency on Team Success

In lacrosse, possession is key, and ground balls often determine which team controls the pace and flow of the game. Teams that excel in ground ball situations typically have a significant advantage over their opponents.

Why are ground balls so important in lacrosse?

• They create additional possessions and scoring opportunities
• They can shift momentum in crucial game situations
• They demonstrate hustle and effort, inspiring teammates
• They prevent opponents from gaining possession and scoring
• They contribute to overall time of possession, a key statistic in lacrosse

By emphasizing the importance of ground ball skills, including the Indian Pick Up, coaches can help their teams gain a competitive edge and increase their chances of success on the field.

Adapting Traditional Techniques for Modern Lacrosse

While the Indian Pick Up has its roots in traditional Native American lacrosse, the technique has been adapted and refined for the modern game. Today’s players benefit from a blend of traditional wisdom and contemporary athletic training methods.

How have traditional lacrosse techniques been adapted for the modern game?

• Integration of strength and conditioning principles to enhance performance
• Use of video analysis to break down and improve technique
• Incorporation of sports psychology to develop mental toughness and focus
• Adaptation of equipment design to complement traditional playing styles
• Cross-training with other sports to improve overall athleticism

By respecting the traditional roots of techniques like the Indian Pick Up while embracing modern training methods, players can maximize their potential and contribute to the ongoing evolution of the sport.

The Future of Ground Ball Techniques in Lacrosse

As lacrosse continues to grow and evolve, it’s likely that ground ball techniques will undergo further refinement and innovation. Coaches and players are constantly seeking new ways to gain an edge in this critical aspect of the game.

What developments might we see in ground ball techniques?

• Integration of advanced analytics to optimize ground ball strategies
• Development of position-specific ground ball training programs
• Incorporation of virtual reality technology for skill development
• Exploration of biomechanics to enhance efficiency and reduce injury risk
• Continued emphasis on inclusive language and respect for the sport’s indigenous roots

As the lacrosse community continues to innovate, the fundamental importance of skills like the Indian Pick Up remains constant. Players who master these techniques will always have an advantage on the field, regardless of how the sport evolves.

Conclusion: The Enduring Importance of the Indian Pick Up

The Indian Pick Up, despite its controversial name, represents a crucial skill in the game of lacrosse. Its fluid motion and effectiveness in securing possession make it a valuable technique for players at all levels and positions. As the sport continues to grow and evolve, the principles behind this traditional method of picking up ground balls remain relevant and important.

By mastering the Indian Pick Up and other ground ball techniques, players can significantly improve their overall performance and contribute to their team’s success. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an experienced player looking to refine your skills, dedicating time to perfecting this fundamental aspect of lacrosse will undoubtedly pay dividends on the field.

As we move forward, it’s essential to respect the indigenous roots of lacrosse while also embracing the sport’s evolution. The Indian Pick Up serves as a reminder of the rich history and cultural significance of lacrosse, bridging the gap between traditional playing styles and the modern game. By continuing to practice and refine this technique, players honor the sport’s heritage while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on the lacrosse field.

Mastering The Indian Pick Up

Welcome to Mastering the Indian Pick Up!

I caught up with Mitch Belisle in Fort Greene Park (located in Brooklyn, NY) and we got to talking about off season training and things that kids could do to improve their game. A simple way of working on stick skills, wrist strength, ball awareness and overall ground ball skill is by practicing the Indian Pick Up aka a quick stick pick up.

Mitch shows us how it’s done, and explains why this skill is so important for every position on the field!

The Indian Pick Up with Mitch Belisle

Subscribe to the LaxAllStars YouTube Channel for more great lacrosse video, and also check out Trilogy on YouTube! Plenty of great video all around!

The term “Indian Pick Up” is certainly a tad antiquated, hard to truly define, and has the potential to offend, but in case you were wondering, it definitely has a history all its own.

The term came about when white lacrosse players saw native players pick up the ball with unconventional moves showing fluid motions, and in seemingly impossible ways. Since the move was so fast, and people had a hard time grasping what was going on, the move was simply called the Indian Pick Up. It was shorter and sweeter than calling it “the ground ball where you hit the ball with one part of stick and then let it roll into the scoop on another part of the stick” and the name stuck.

So while we want to see you go out and practice this ground ball technique, we are also aware that the name might need a tweak…

What should this move be called as we continue on in the world? Can we come up with a better, less historically and potentially harmful name for this type of GB? Does Quick Stick Pick Up work? Or can you come up with something better?

Impress us with your naming abilities! Maybe you’ll start the next big trend in lacrosse!

North Shore Indians play final box lacrosse game at Harry Jerome

A sell-out crowd turned up for the North Shore Indians’ last game at Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre arena Tuesday night, with the old centre destined to be demolished. ?

The sound of beating drums at Harry Jerome Community Recreation Centre was heard for the last time on Tuesday (Aug. 10) as the North Shore Indians played their final box lacrosse game at the old North Vancouver arena. 

With a sell-out crowd behind them, the Senior B team made it a memorable night for fans, defeating Ladner Pioneers in the final match of an eight-game mini summer series, 9 to 3. 

“We just got stronger as the series went on,” Wilson Williams, Squamish Nation councillor and North Shore Indians Lacrosse Club president, said. “Our defence and goaltending was the key to our success.”

Opened in 1966, the Harry Jerome rec centre is now in need of a major upgrade and is scheduled to be closed and demolished in December to make way for a new $181-million facility.   

The final game at the arena was a special and emotional night for the NSI Lacrosse Club, which has been playing at the rec centre for decades, said Williams. 

“North Shore Indians have been playing out of Harry Jerome for many, many years,” he said. “As far as I can remember. I’m 43 now and I grew up playing there since I was six.”

An opening faceoff ceremony was held to acknowledge NSI’s legacy and alumni and Elders, were recognized for their contributions to the team and sport. 

Williams said it was inspiring to see around 500 fans (capacity due to COVID-19) in the stands with their drums for the final game at the arena. 

“It was a great night,” Williams said. “It was electrifying. The crowd was loud. Very loud.”

While many fond memories made it sad to say goodbye to the arena, Williams said the “future is bright.”

“There is going to be a new recreation centre built in the future and we’re actually working on building a recreation centre complex in the Squamish Nation as well,” he said. “We really want to highlight and share the legacy of the North Shore Indians.”

Squamish Nation has a rich lacrosse history 

Squamish Nation has a rich lacrosse history, which dates back to the early 1930s, with many memorable moments, including legendary goaltender Henry Baker representing Canada in the 1932 Olympic lacrosse team at the Los Angeles Games.

It was in 1935 that the North Shore Indians came to be when lacrosse legend Andrew Paull (Xwechtáal) decided to assemble the first all First Nations lacrosse team to compete for the Mann Cup, the national title at the time. He convinced Squamish Nation players to return and play at home, and recruited from the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario to build his dream team.

“They came out here and that’s how our teams got stronger,” Wilson said.

The team began play in 1936 and were a smash hit. The Indians were so talented, so entertaining, so much fun to watch, that they were able to pack 8,000-plus fans into Vancouver’s Denamn arena at 25 cents a head, even during the Great Depression.

The 1936 team, guided by Paull, was later inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, honoured for being British Columbia’s “most exciting team” and credited with drawing attention to the sport of box lacrosse in the province.

As part of the final game at HJCRC, the club recognized the 1936 Hall of Fame team by giving away 36 T-shirts to the first 36 fans through the door.

Over the years, Squamish Nation has had several members inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame, and the North Shore Sports Hall of Fame – including Paull in 2019.

NSI also have a record of winning many championships at HJCRC arena, including three National Senior Lacrosse Championship titles, in 1985, 1993 and 2001.

Bringing the ‘medicine game’ back to the community 

Williams, who has now retired from the sport, said he was fortunate to be part of the 2001 championship team and would never forget how inspired he was, watching the other teams win as a kid.

“I grew up watching two championships [1985 and 1993] as well, and that’s sort of where my passion for lacrosse came from,” he said.

In recent times, Williams said the team hadn’t participated in the West Coast Senior Lacrosse Association league for around four or five years before rejoining in 2018. Since then, he’s been working hard to get the team active in the North Shore lacrosse community and to paint a vision for the future and, hopefully, more championship wins.  

With the 2020 season cancelled due to COVID-19, he said the community was thrilled to have a summer mini-series back in 2021.

“It’s been quite a spectacle to witness and be a part of, and I think it’s really something that the lacrosse community has been waiting for,” he said, adding that he didn’t think there was a sport on the North Shore that could draw such a big crowd.

“We have a deep culture and use of the traditional hand drums and people are chanting like the old days. If you bring a drum, we allow people to get in free to the game.”

He said players, who hadn’t experienced the crowd, because of the gap in senior lacrosse, were “so overwhelmed and happy to be a part of it.”

For Williams, the overall goal is really about bringing the “medicine game” back to the community. Historically, he said Indigenous communities used to play the game of lacrosse to heal each other.

“If there was war, they would play a game of lacrosse through ceremony to try to heal through things and overcome trials and tribulations of the time,” Williams explained.

“The whole vision around it is to really bring the medicine game back to our community of the North Shore and incorporate that with the legacy of North Shore Indians, which the Squamish Nation is a big part of.

“We really want to grow the game back to not only how it was but also evolve it to this day and time.”

He said the club, which now has a board of directors and alumni committee, was also leaning toward creating a charity or foundation for children to get introduced to lacrosse and to help support young players who can’t afford lacrosse gear.

“I think this will be the big legacy that we’re going to start to really attract our children and youth and families to the game of lacrosse,” Williams said, adding that he hopes his daughters will soon pick up a crosse (stick) and continue on the tradition of playing the sport. 

“The approach we’re taking now is building through our children and youth and making them feel part of something special for the future. ” 

The Senior B team currently has eight Squamish Nation players and a mixture of professional lacrosse players from the National Lacrosse League and has a good foundation of young players coming up through the system, said Williams.

“We really have built strong teams through having our arms open to players to come and be a part of the club,” he said.

Eventually, the sound of beating drums will be heard at the new HJCRC. A new arena at the centre will be named in honour of Squamish Nation’s lacrosse history.

For now, it’s back to the drawing board to prepare for next season. NSI are currently looking at three possible venues to play at while the facility is built. City of North Vancouver council expects construction of the new rec centre to start in June 2022 and last until 2025.

On behalf of the organization, Wilson thanked all the fans, teams, coaches, executives, alumni, leagues, lacrosse communities and the City of North Vancouver and North Vancouver Recreation Commission for the continued support over the summer and for sharing their passion, love, and respect for NSI and helping to keep the legacy sport alive.

“NSI is finally back, alive and well in the lacrosse community,” he said.

Elisia Seeber is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

Andrew Lee’s Presentation on American Indians Today, History

PHOTO BY JOHN STROHSACKER

Andrew Lee, vice chair of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors and chair of the US Lacrosse Native American Advisory Council, shared a presentation on American Indians with the US Lacrosse staff last week.

Lee, who is half Seneca, played lacrosse collegiately at Hamilton College – and continues to play and coach the game – and has been an active advocate for American Indian advancement. He spent seven years as the executive director for the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, where he created the now globally-replicated Honoring Nations tribal governance awards and co-authored a book on the contemporary status and issues confronting America’s indigenous peoples.

In addition to his volunteer roles with US Lacrosse, Lee spent nearly two dozen years in board service to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, and currently serves on boards for the Harvard Project, the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center, the Tewaaraton Foundation and the Chickasaw Nation Community Development Endeavor, among others.

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, we’re sharing some of the information Lee presented to the US Lacrosse staff to help better understand the history of Native Americans and the current environment.

• The Hiawatha Belt, represented on the purple flag many lacrosse fans have seen for the Iroquois Nationals and Haudenosaunee women at international lacrosse events, represents the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. It depicts the five original Haudenosaunee nations that came together in a peaceful democracy in the 12^th century. From left to right, it’s the keepers of the western door, the Seneca; then the Cayuga; the tree in the center represents the Onondaga, the capital of the confederacy; next is Oneida and on the far right is the Mohawk, the keeper of the eastern door. A sixth nation, the Tuscarora, joined the Confederacy in 1722.

• The principle of seven generations is a core leadership philosophy of the Haudenosaunee (also known as “People of the Longhouse”), and it means that when leaders make decisions, they have a sacred responsibility to think of the wisdom of those that came seven generations before and to consider how their decision will impact those to be born seven generations ahead.

• There are currently 574 tribes federally recognized by the United States and more than 300 reservations. There are 5.9 million people in the U.S. who identify as Native American or Alaska Native, which accounts for less than 2 percent of the total U.S. population. Approximately two-thirds of the Native population lives off-reservation, primarily in urban settings.

• American Indians and Alaska Natives possess sovereignty, or the right to control their own affairs. Like other governments, tribal governments have their own constitutions and perform a myriad of governmental functions, such as law enforcement and the provision of social services. The total land mass controlled by American Indians and Alaska Natives is 100 million acres. The largest reservation is controlled by the Navajo Nation, which includes land in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah and is roughly the size of West Virginia.

• Native communities continue to face severe challenges with high rates of poverty, suicide, diabetes and school dropout. But Indian Country has been experiencing a renaissance for the past four decades, fueled by policies of self-determination, which allow Indian nations to take greater control of their own affairs. There are a growing number of tribal success stories across a broad array of areas and issues, including health care, education, environment, economic development, and cultural affairs.

• The research is clear: the most successful Indian nations are those which exercise their sovereignty, and back it up with capable institutions of self-governance that match their unique cultures.

• There are still roughly 1,000 native-inspired team nicknames in sports.

Additional Resources

Lacrosse – New World Encyclopedia

Lacrosse is a team sport that is played with ten players (men’s field), six players (men’s box), or 12 players (women’s field), each of whom uses a netted stick (the cross) in order to pass and catch a hard rubber ball with the aim of scoring goals (each worth one point traditionally, but Major League Lacrosse uses a two point goal for goals scored from a distance of 16 yards or greater.^[1]) by propelling the ball into the opponent’s goal. The team scoring the most points after two halves, of varying length from competition to competition, and overtime if necessary, wins.^[2][3][4]

Most popular in North America, lacrosse is Canada’s national summer sport.^[5] It has grown in popularity in the United States, becoming the fastest growing sport at the high school and NCAA levels.^[6]

In its current form, men’s lacrosse is played on a field of grass or artificial turf (such as FieldTurf). Each team is composed of ten players on the field at a time: three attackmen, three midfielders, three defenders and one goaltender. In men’s lacrosse, players wear protective equipment on their heads, shoulders, arms, and hands, as body-checking is an integral part of the game, and stick checks to the arms and hands are considered legal. Women’s lacrosse is played in a similar manner except with two additional midfielders per team. Players of women’s lacrosse (in the United States only) need only wear protective eyewear (except for the goaltender, who wears additional padding, usually consisting of a helmet, shin guards, and chest pad, and most goalies do not wear arm pads), as contact is not permitted apart from minor stick-checks.

History

Lacrosse was invented by Native North Americans. Its name was dehuntshigwa’es in Onondaga (“men hit a rounded object”), da-nah-wah’uwsdi in Eastern Cherokee (“little war”), Tewaarathon in Mohawk language (“little brother of war”), and baaga`adowe in Ojibwe (“knocking about of balls”). ^[7]

The game was named lacrosse by early French spectators. It is widely and inaccurately believed that the name stems from the French term “cross,” for the shepherd’s crook-like crosier carried by bishops as a symbol of office. Jesuit missionary Jean-de-Brébeuf noted the resemblance between the crosier and the shape of the racket stick in the Relation des Jésuites around 1640. In fact, the term cross is a general word in French for any type of bat or stick used in a ball game. The name lacrosse is simply a reflection of this term, and perhaps a shorthand for a phrase such as le jeu de la cross (the game of the stick).^[8]

Lacrosse traditionally had many different purposes. Conflict resolution and training of young warriors was only one part of the game. Games could be played on a pitch over a mile wide and sometimes lasted for days. Often players were gravely injured or even killed. Early balls were made out of the heads of the enemy, deerskin, clay, stone, and sometimes wood. Lacrosse has played a significant role in the community and religious life of tribes across the continent for many years. Early lacrosse was characterized by deep spiritual involvement, befitting the spirit of combat in which it was undertaken. Those who took part did so in the role of warriors, with the goal of bringing glory and honor to themselves and their tribes, and as a religious ritual.^[9] The game was said to be played “for the pleasure of the Creator.”

“An Indian Ball-Play” by George Catlin, circa 1846-1850.

Lacrosse has witnessed great modifications since its origins in the fifteenth century, but many aspects of the sport remain the same. In the Native North American version, each team consisted of about 100 to 1,000 men on a field that stretched from about 500 yards to a couple of miles long.^[10] These lacrosse games lasted from sun-up to sun-down for two to three days. These games were played to settle inter-tribal disputes, to toughen young warriors in preparation for future combat and to give thanks to the Creator. The Alqonquin tribes referred to the sport as “baggatway”.^[10] The game became known to Westerners when a French Jesuit Missionary, Jean de Brébeuf, saw the Iroquois Natives play it in 1636.^[11]

Richmond Hill “Young Canadians” lacrosse team, 1885.

By the nineteenth century, lacrosse evolved to a less violent game and more of a sport as French pioneers began competing. In 1856, Dr. William George Beers, a Canadian dentist, founded Montreal Lacrosse Club and in 1867 he codified the game, shortening the length of each game and reducing the number of players to ten per team.^[10] The first game played under Beers’ rules was at Upper Canada College in 1867, with Upper Canada College losing to the Toronto Cricket Club by a score of 3–1. By the 1900s, high schools, colleges, and universities began playing the game, and lacrosse was contested as a medal sport in the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics.

In the 1930s, an indoor version of the game, box lacrosse, was introduced in Canada. It quickly became, and remains, the dominant form of the sport in that country. A later version of box lacrosse, indoor lacrosse, is played professionally in both Canada and the United States.

A “pee wee” game in progress

In the United States, the sport enjoys its greatest popularity along the east coast, especially in Maryland (where it became the state’s official team sport in 2004), Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the New England states. However, its popularity has started to spread west to Colorado, California, Texas, and the Midwest, spurred by the sport’s increasing visibility in the media, the growth of college and high school programs, and youth or “pee wee” leagues throughout the country. Currently, there are only two NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse teams west of the Mississippi River: Air Force and the University of Denver. The growth of lacrosse was also facilitated by the introduction of plastic heads invented by Baltimore-based stick maker STX in the 1970s. This innovation reduced the weight and cost of the stick, and allowed for faster passes and gameplay.

At the collegiate level, there are currently 57 NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse teams, 32 Division II men’s lacrosse teams, and 131 Division III men’s lacrosse teams. There are also currently 83 Division I women’s lacrosse teams, 37 Division II women’s lacrosse Teams, and 154 Division III women’s lacrosse teams. Additionally, almost 200 collegiate men’s club teams compete at the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association level, including most major universities in the United States.

In Canada, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association has been operating a collegiate men’s league since 1985 and now includes 12 varsity teams which span from London, Ontario to Lennoxville, Quebec. On the women’s side, ten varsity teams, from London, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference.

At the professional level, there are 13 National Lacrosse League (indoor) teams; ten in the United States and three in Canada. In Major League Lacrosse, there are ten teams, all of which are based in the United States, and two more expansion teams are set to play in the 2008 season. The Australian Lacrosse League has three teams; one for each of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

The highest level of box lacrosse (Senior A) has two leagues in Canada: the Western Lacrosse Association (sanctioned by the BCLA) for British Columbia, and Major Series Lacrosse (sanctioned by the OLA) for Ontario; both with seven teams each.

Men’s lacrosse

Diagram of a men’s lacrosse field.

Outdoor men’s lacrosse involves two teams of ten players each competing to project a small ball of solid rubber into the opposing team’s goal. The field of play is 110 yards (100 m) long and 60 yards (54 m) wide.^[2] The goals are 6 feet (1.8 m) by 6 feet, containing a mesh netting similar to an ice hockey goal. The goal sits inside a circular “crease,” measuring 18 feet (5.5 m) in diameter.^[2] Behind the crease is the area designated simply as “X.” Typically one Attackmen will remain at “X” in most types of offensive setups.

Players line up with three offensive players called “attackmen,” players who shoot on the opposing team’s net; three “midfielders” or “middies,” who shoot on the opposing team’s net as well as defending their own net; three “defensemen,” who guard their own team’s net; and 1 designated goaltender, or “goalie” who stands inside the “crease” and blocks incoming shots. Each player carries a lacrosse stick measuring between 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) and 42 inches (106.68 centimeters) long (a “short cross”), or 52 inches (132.08 centimeters) to 72 (182.88 centimeters) long (a “long cross”).^[2] The designated goalkeeper is allowed to have a stick from 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) to 72 inches (182.88 centimeters) long. The head of the cross on both long and short crosses must be 6 inches or larger at its widest point and 2.5 inches wide or wider at its narrowest point.^[2]

A men’s lacrosse stick head

The head of a goaltender’s cross may measure up to 15 inches (38.1 centimeters) wide, significantly larger than field players’ heads to assist in blocking shots.^[2] Goalies at the youth levels commonly use short crosses because they are not capable of handling the true 60 inch goalie cross. Although most attackmen and midfielders utilize short crosses, defensemen carry long crosses, and one midfielder on defense may carry a long cross.^[2] Some teams choose to distribute their sticks differently, not uncommon because a team may only have four long crosses on the field during live play, excluding the benches and penalty boxes. Most modern sticks have a metal shaft, usually made of aluminum or titanium, while the head is made of hard plastic. Metal shafts must have a plastic or a more popular rubber cap or (“butt”) at the end. The heads are strung with string, leather, and mesh. The strings in the “pocket” are called shooting strings and accuracy or “v” strings.

Lacrosse players must wear helmets and gloves and also typically wear shoulder and elbow pads and sometimes they wear rib pads.^[3] Athletic supporters and protective cups for all players are also strongly recommended and often required.^[12]

Players scoop the ball off the ground and pass the ball through the air to other players. Players are allowed to run carrying the ball with their stick. Unlike in women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse players may kick the ball, as well as cover it with their sticks, provided they do not withhold it from play. Play is quite fast and fluent, with considerably more goals scored than are in soccer or hockey, with typical games totaling ten to twenty goals.

Positions

• Attackmen: There are three Attackmen on the field at one time. The Attackmen use “short-sticks.” Attackmen must demonstrate good stick-handling with both hands and they must be able to handle the pressure of the opposing defenseman and they are also the people who score goals.

• Defensemen: There are three Defensemen and one long stick midfielder allowed on the field at a time. Defensemen use “long-poles.” The Defensemen uses his stick to throw checks and try to dislodge the ball. The “long-poles” may also play mid-field as a strategic defender, aka a Long-stick middie (LSM). Teams usually use this to anticipate losing the face-off and be stronger on defense.

• Midfielder: Commonly referred to as “middies,” three Midfielders are allowed on the field at once. There are two types of Midfielders, the defensive and offensive. The two can rotate by running off the sidelines. The Midfielders are allowed to use short-sticks and up to one long-pole. While on offense three short-sticks are generally used for their superior stick-handling. While on defense two short-sticks are used with one long-pole. Some teams have a designated face-off middie that takes the majority of face-offs and is usually quickly substituted after the face-off is complete.

• Goalkeeper: The goalkeeper’s job is to prevent the ball from getting into the goal. Goalies also direct the team defense. Goalies need to be tough both physically and mentally. Also the Goalie needs to be the loudest player on the field calling the position of the ball at all times so the defense can concentrate on the man they are covering instead of where the ball is. The Goalie needs to be able to keep his composure on the field while enduring pain from shots that are capable of reaching over 100 MPH.

Rules

Since men’s lacrosse is a full contact sport, with players wearing complete protective equipment, “checking”—striking opponents’ stick or body with the stick—is legal and very much part of the game.

Each team starts with ten players on the field: a goalkeeper and three defenders in the defensive end; three midfielders free to roam the whole field; and three attackers in the offensive end. Each quarter starts with a “face-off” in which the ball is placed on the ground and two “face-off-men” lay their stick horizontally next to the ball, head of the stick inches from the ball and the butt-end pointing down the midfield line.^[2] Face-off-men scrap for the ball, often by “clamping” it under their stick and flicking it out to their midfielders, who start on the wing restraining line near the sideline and sprint in when the whistle is blown to start play. Attackers and defenders cannot cross their “restraining line” until one player from the midfield takes possession of the ball.^[2] A face-off also restarts the game after each goal.

Time continues to run in dead ball situations such as in between goals, with two exceptions: when the referees deem it necessary to avoid a significant loss of playing time, for example when chasing a ball shot far away or during care of an injured player; and in the last three minutes of the fourth quarter of any men’s game.^[3]

In men’s lacrosse, players can be awarded penalties of two types by the referee for rule infractions. Personal fouls always result in the player serving time in the penalty box, located at the side of the field between the opposing teams’ interchange benches. These penalties can last one to three minutes at the referee’s discretion. Two- and three-minute penalties are usually reserved for the most serious slashing or unsportsmanlike conduct fouls. Technical fouls are less severe and result in 30 seconds being served only if the foul was committed while the opposing team was in possession of the ball. If there was a loose ball situation or the player’s team was in possession at the time of the foul, they only result in a turnover. Technical fouls are “releasable,” meaning that a player may return to the game without spending the entire duration of his penalty in the box if the opposing team scores during the penalty. Fouls form an important part of men’s lacrosse as while a player is serving time, his team is ‘man down’. At this time his defense usually plays a ‘zone’ while they wait for the penalty to expire while the attacking team has its best opportunity to score. A list of the fouls in men’s lacrosse is as follows:

Personal fouls

• Slashing: Occurs when a player hits another player uncontrolled, in the back, below or on the knees, or in the helmet/neck.
• Tripping: Occurs when a player obstructs his opponent at or below the waist with the cross, hands, arms, feet or legs.
• Cross Checking: Occurs when a player uses the handle of his cross between his hands to make contact with an opponent.
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Occurs when any player or coach commits an act which is considered unsportsmanlike by an official, including taunting, arguing, or obscene language or gestures.
• Unnecessary Roughness: Occurs when a player strikes an opponent with his stick or body using excessive or violent force.
• Illegal Body Checking: Occurs when any of the following actions takes place:
  • a. body checking an opponent who is not in possession of the ball or within five yards of a loose ball.
  • b. avoidable body check of an opponent after he has passed or shot the ball.
  • c. body checking an opponent from the rear or at or below the waist.
  • d. body checking an opponent above the shoulders. A body check must be below the shoulders and above the waist, and both hands of the player applying the body check must remain in contact with his cross.
• Illegal Cross: Occurs when a player uses a cross that does not conform to required specifications. A cross may be found illegal if the pocket is too deep or if any other part of the cross was altered to gain an advantage, such as the stick being shorter than the required length in order to make it harder to check. (In addition, the penalized player may not use the illegal cross for the remainder of the game). A head must also not be too pinched so the lacrosse ball cannot come out.

An example of a “Push from behind” or “Illegal Body Checking”

• Other Illegal equipment: not having a mouthguard, or not having it in the mouth, open ends on the shaft of the stick (no butt end), no shoulder pads, no arm pads (in most leagues, goalies do not have to wear arm pads so they can move their arms faster to block shots. The minimum amount of pads a goalie needs are helmet, throat guard, gloves, chest protector,and cup)
• Illegal Gloves: Occurs when a player uses gloves that do not conform to required specifications. A glove will be found illegal if the fingers and palms are cut out of the gloves, or if the glove has been altered in a way that compromises its protective features.^[2]

Technical fouls

• Holding: Occurs when a player impedes the movement of an opponent or an opponent’s cross, or a player has his cross in between the arm pads and the players body.
• Interference: Occurs when a player interferes in any manner with the free movement of an opponent, except when that opponent has possession of the ball, the ball is in flight and within five yards of the player, or both players are within five yards of a loose ball.
• Offsides: Occurs when a team does not have at least four players on its defensive side of the midfield line or at least three players on its offensive side of the midfield line.
• Pushing: Occurs when a player thrusts or shoves a player from behind.
• Moving Pick: Occurs when an offensive player moves into and makes contact with a defensive player with the purpose of blocking him from the man he is defending, as opposed to a legal pick, standing next to a defensive player, blocking him from the player he is covering.
• Stalling: Occurs when a team intentionally holds the ball, without conducting normal offensive play, with the intent of running time off the clock. This is called if no attempt is made to get in the box.
• Illegal Start: Occurs when a wing player passes the wing sideline before the faceoff whistle blows.
• Time Delay: (Goalie Only) When the Goalie is in possession of the ball for more than the allotted time while in the crease or fails to clear the ball in the allotted time.
• Warding Off: Occurs when a player in possession of the ball uses his free hand or arm to hold, push or control the direction of an opponent, including pushing him off.
• Mouthguard Fouls: Not having a mouthguard, not having in the mouth or taking in or out of the mouth (also known as chewing on the mouthguard). (Under ILF-Rules no mouth guard is required) ^[2]

Box lacrosse

National Lacrosse League game

Canadians most commonly play box lacrosse, an indoor version of the game played by teams of six on ice hockey rinks where the ice has been removed or covered by turf; the enclosed playing area is called the box, in contrast to the open playing field of the traditional game.^[13] This version of the game was introduced in the 1930s to promote business for hockey arenas, and within a few years had almost entirely supplanted field lacrosse in Canada.

In box lacrosse the goal is smaller (4’9″ X 4′) than in outdoor lacrosse, and the goaltender is usually bigger, with considerably more padding.^[13] The attacking team must take a shot on goal within 30 seconds of gaining possession of the ball, and play is rougher than in the field game with the allowance of crosschecking (see below).^[13]

Indoor lacrosse is a version of box lacrosse with slight rule changes–the games are played during the winter,^[13] not only in regions where summer lacrosse is popular but also in regions where lacrosse is rarely played in summer. This version of the game was intended to be less violent than box lacrosse, although changes in box lacrosse rules have reduced some of its violent play and a change in indoor lacrosse rules to permit crosschecking (hitting another player with the stick with one’s hands apart on the shaft) have made it more violent. The chief differences between the two forms of the indoor game now are that indoor lacrosse games consist of 4 x 15 minute quarters compared with 3 x 20 minute periods in box lacrosse, and that indoor lacrosse players may use only sticks with hollow shafts, while box lacrosse permits solid wooden sticks.^[14] Indoor lacrosse is always played on artificial turf (sometimes called “carpet”), while box lacrosse is usually played on bare concrete.^[13] Comparably, field lacrosse is played on a standard size field.

Today, there are 13 different teams in thirteen different cities playing the National Lacrosse League.

Men’s professional league

One of the fastest growing professional sports leagues on the planet, Major League Lacrosse has captivated fans since its inception in 2001. 2006 MLL World Champions the Philadelphia Barrage boast star players midfielder “middie” Roy Colsey, defensemen Kyle Sweeney, goalie Brian Dougherty, and attackmen Ryan Boyle, amongst others. MLL expansion in 2006 has solidified lacrosse hotbeds of Denver, CO (with the Denver Outlaws), and fostered continued growth in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Riptide), San Francisco (San Francisco Dragons), and Chicago (Chicago Machine).

Rochester, New York (Rochester Rattlers), East Brunswick, New Jersey (New Jersey Pride), Washington, D.C. (Washington Bayhawks), Boston, Massachusetts (Boston Cannons), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—games played in Downingtown, PA (Philadelphia Barrage)—and the Long Island Lizards comprise the “original six franchises” of MLL.

In the 2007 MLL collegiate draft, the first overall selection (by the Chicago Machine) was Pennsylvania State University senior midfielder Patrick Heim. The 2007 Major League Lacrosse Championship was won by the Philadelphia Barrage led by Matt Striebel.

Other leagues

While Major League Lacrosse is growing by leaps and bounds, professional lacrosse is also played at the high school level, collegiate level (NCAA Lacrosse) as well as in the National Lacrosse League.

Women’s lacrosse

2005 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championship where the Virginia Cavaliers lost to the Northwestern University Wildcats

The rules of women’s lacrosse differ significantly from men’s lacrosse and are specifically designed to allow less physical contact between players. As a result of the lack of contact, the only protective equipment required is eyewear and a mouthguard.^[4] Although these are the only protective equipment, there are still many injuries due to accidental checks to the head and the overall aggressiveness of the sport. The pockets of women’s sticks are shallower than those of the men, making the ball harder to catch and more difficult to shoot at high speed. Women play with three attackers (or “homes”), five midfielders (or “middies”), three defenders (starting from the back, called “point,” “cover point,” and “third man”), and one goalie.^[4] Seven players play attack at one time and seven defenders are present.^[4] There is a restraining line that keeps the other four players (plus the goalie) from going into the attack. If those players cross the line, they are considered offsides and a penalty is given.^[4]

In women’s lacrosse, players may only check if the check is directed away from the ball carrier’s head.^[4] Also, players may only check using the side of their stick. If caught by one of the referees using the flat of the head, it will be called as a “held check” and the opposing team will get the ball.^[4]

There are two types of fouls in woman’s lacrosse, major and minor.^[4] When a minor foul is committed anywhere on the field, the player who fouled is set four meters to whichever side she was guarding the person she obstructed. If a major foul occurs outside of the 12-meter fan or eight-meter arc, the fouler must stand four meters behind the player she fouled.^[4]

There are two different surroundings around the goal on both sides of the field. The eight-meter arc and the 12-meter fan. When committing a major foul inside either of these areas, all players that were previously inside the surrounding must take the most direct route out. The player who was fouled now moves to the nearest hash mark that is located around the edges of the arc or fan and either takes position to shoot or to pass (although, most often to shoot). When the whistle is blown, the player with the ball may move up and try for a goal.^[4]

The most important rule in women’s lacrosse is shooting space—this is a violation of the rules. It occurs when a defender moves in at a bad angle on the offender while shooting in the eight-meter arc. This is a dangerous play made by the defender.

Women’s games are played in two 25-minute halves. These 25 minutes are running time, except for the last two minutes, during which time stops when the whistle is blown (This can differ when playing high school or middle school games).^[4] While the whistle is blown, players are not allowed to move. In women’s lacrosse, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their body or cover the ball with their stick in order to scoop it into their stick or protect the ball from picked up by an opponent.^[4]

The women’s lacrosse game has been modified significantly over the past ten years.^[15] Modifications include limiting the amount of players allowed between the two restraining lines on the draw to five players per team. Stick modifications have lead to offset heads, which allow the women’s game to move faster and makes stick moves and tricks easier. In 2002, goggles became mandatory equipment in the United States (but not a requirement in international rules). In 2006, hard boundaries were adopted.

Penalties for women’s lacrosse are assessed with the following cards:^[4]

• The green card, given to the team captain, is for a delay of game.
• The yellow card is for a first-time penalty and results in the player being removed from the field for three minutes.
• The red card is the result either of two yellow cards or one unsportsmanlike behavior ruling, and causes the player to be ejected from the game. If the red card is for unsportsmanlike behavior, the player is also not permitted to play in the following game.

The University of Maryland, College Park has traditionally dominated the women’s intercollegiate play, producing innumerable head coaches across the country and many U.S. national team players. The Lady Terps won seven consecutive NCAA championships, from 1995 through 2001. Princeton University’s women’s teams have made it to the final game seven times since 1993 and have won three NCAA titles, in 1993, 2002, and 2003. The game is also commonly played in British girls’ independent schools, and while only a minor sport in Australia, it is played to a very high standard at the elite level, where its national squad won the 2005 World Cup.

Women’s intercollegiate lacrosse stars have included University of Maryland, College Park standouts Kelly Amonte-Hiller, coach of the 2005, 2006, and 2007 national championship team from Northwestern University, and all-time scoring leader Australian Jen Adams.

International lacrosse

While modern lacrosse has been around for over 70 years, until about 20 years ago it had only been played for the most part in Canada and the United States, with small but dedicated lacrosse communities in Great Britain and Australia. Since then however, lacrosse has flourished at an international level with the sport establishing itself in many new and far-reaching countries, particularly in Europe and East Asia.

With lacrosse not having been an official Olympic sport since 1908, the pinnacle of international lacrosse competition consisted of the quadrennial World Championships. Currently, there are world championships for lacrosse at senior men, senior women, under 19 men and under 19 women level. Until 1986, lacrosse world championships had only been contested by the United States, Canada, England and Australia, with Scotland and Wales also competing in the women’s edition. The expansion of the game internationally has seen the 2005 Women’s World Cup competed for by ten nations, and the 2006 Men’s World Championship was contested by 21 countries. One of the major stumbling blocks to the reintroduction of lacrosse into the Olympic program is the fact that men’s and women’s lacrosse have completely separate international governing bodies.

In 2003, the first World Indoor Lacrosse Championship contested by six nations at four sites in Ontario, Canada. The 2007 WILC will be held in Halifax, Canada. Teams from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, Ireland, Iroquois Nationals, Scotland and the United States will be competing.

The next largest international field lacrosse competition would most likely be the European Lacrosse Championships. Held for both men and women, the European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) has been running the European Championships since 1995. Before 2001 the Championships were an annual event, but in 2001 the ELF changed the format to every four years between the World Championship. Before 2004, only seven nations had ever participated, but in 2004 there was a record number of participating countries, with 12 men’s and six women’s, which made it the largest international lacrosse event of 2004. The next European Lacrosse Championships will be held in Lahti, Finland in 2008.

The World Lacrosse Championships have been dominated by the United States, particularly in the men’s game, where the only world championship game losses at either level was in the 1978 and 2006 final to Canada. The United States has won eight of the ten senior men’s and all five under-19 men’s tournaments to date. In the women’s game, Australia have provided stiffer competition, even holding a winning record against the United States of six wins to five at senior world championships, plus one draw. Despite this, the United States has won five of the seven senior women’s and two of the three under-19 women’s tournaments to date, with the other world championships won by Australia, including the 2005 senior women’s trophy.

Despite overall North American success, the highest scoring teams in international competition are not from the United States or Canada. In the women’s game, a collaboration of Great Britain and Ireland defeated a team from Long Island, New York by a score of 40-0 in 1967.^[16] For the men, the highest scoring team was Scotland over Germany, 34-3 in 1994.^[16] However, in the World Championships Premier Division (in 2006 it was Blue), the highest score was from the United States, with their 33-2 win over Japan in 1994.^[16]

The Iroquois Nationals are a team consisting of members of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy. The team was admitted to the International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) in 1990. It is the only Native American team sanctioned to compete in any sport internationally.^[17] The Nationals placed fourth in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Lacrosse Championships. In 2006, the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Program signed a partnership with Nike, Inc.^[17]

Lacrosse Terminology

• 10-Second Rule– The time allotted to a team to move the ball into the offensive zone when short-handed.
• 30-Second Rule– The time allotted to a team to get a shot on the opponent’s goal.
• Corner Man– The player who plays the corner or shooter positions on offense (also see Corner Position).
• Cradling The rocking motion of the stick used to gain a feel for, and to maintain control of, the ball.
• Crease– An area around the goal that opposing players are forbidden to enter.
• Draw– Pulling and turning the stick during a face-off; used to re-start play after a dead ball.
• Fast Break– A rapid attack which occurs during the transition from offense to defense.
• Man Short– A situation where one team has fewer players allowed on the floor than the opponent (also referred to as short-handed or man-down).
• Man-to-Man– A team defensive strategy where pressure is placed on the ball carrier while the remaining players move off their checks towards the middle of the floor.
• Overload– The strategy of moving one or two extra players into one area of the floor.
• Pick & Roll– The act of setting a pick and then turning to receive a pass.
• Point Man– The player who plays the point position on offense.
• Point Position– A location at the top and center of the floor; this location is taken by the player who is furthest from the goal.
• Power Play– A situation when one team has a player advantage as a result of a penalty.
• Quick Stick– The act of catching and then passing or shooting in one motion.
• Scoop– A method of picking up the ball by accelerating the head of the stick under the ball.
• Side Arm– The act of shooting or passing the ball by swinging the stick through the horizontal plane at the waist.
• Sliding– The act of leaving one’s check to assist a teammate.
• Switch– The act of exchanging checks with a teammate.
• Trap & Scoop– The act of placing the head of the stick over the ball to stop its movement and then scooping the ball into the stick.
• Triple Threat– A position where the stick is held with two hands such that the body is between the stick and the opponent; this position allows the player to pass, shoot, or go around their opponent.
• V-Cut– A one- to three-step move by an offensive player where the defender is first engaged; the offensive player then takes a quick reverse step and moves into the open to receive the ball.
• Weak Side– The side of the floor with the fewest number of players.
• Zone– A defensive strategy where each player is assigned a designated area to defend.

Governing bodies

• World – International Lacrosse Federation / International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations

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Notes

1. ↑ Major League Lacrosse approves rule changes for 2007. Major League Lacrosse (November 16, 2006). Retrieved February 4, 2009.
2. ↑ ^{2.002.012.022.032.042.052.062.072.082.092.10} 2007 Men’s Lacrosse Rules. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
3. ↑ ^3.03.13.2 The Rules of Men’s Field Lacrosse. International Lacrosse Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2009. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name “ilf rules” defined multiple times with different content
4. ↑ ^{4.004.014.024.034.044.054.064.074.084.094.104.114.12} Women’s Condensed Lacrosse Rules. US Lacrosse. Retrieved Ferbruary 4, 2009.
5. ↑ National Sports of Canada Act (1994). Consolidated Statutes and Regulations. Department of Justice. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
6. ↑ 2006 US Lacrosse Participation Survey. US Lacrosse. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
7. ↑ Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
8. ↑ Lacrosse entry. Compact Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
9. ↑ Rock, Tom, “More Than a Game”, Lacrosse Magazine, US Lacrosse, November/December 2002. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
10. ↑ ^10.010.110.2 Lacrosse History. STX. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
11. ↑ Patron Saints Index: Jean de Brébeuf. Catholic Community Forum. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
12. ↑ Men’s Lacrosse Rules. US Lacrosse. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
13. ↑ ^{13.013.113.213.313.4} Lax 101. National Lacrosse League. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
14. ↑ National Lacrosse League: Official Rules. National Lacrosse League. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
15. ↑ Women’s Rule Changes for 2000. LaxPower. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
16. ↑ ^16.016.116.2 Folkard, Claire & Jackie Freshfield, eds. (2005), Guinness World Records 2005, Guinness World Records, ISBN 1892051176 
17. ↑ ^17.017.1 Fryling, Kevin (February 4, 2009). Nike deal promotes Native American wellness, lacrosse. University of Buffalo Reporter. Retrieved 2006-07-28.
18. ↑ Lacrosse Argentina. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (Spanish)
19. ↑ European Lacrosse Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
20. ↑ Austrian Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (German)
21. ↑ Czech Lacrosse Union. Retrieved February 4, 2009. Template loop detected: Template:Cs icon
22. ↑ Danish Lacrosse Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
23. ↑ Finnish Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (Finnish)
24. ↑ French Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (French)
25. ↑ German Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (German)
26. ↑ Irish Lacrosse Foundation. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
27. ↑ Italian Federation of Lacrosse. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
28. ↑ Latvian Lacrosse Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
29. ↑ Dutch Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
30. ↑ Norwegian Lacrosse/Norges Lacrosseforbund. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
31. ↑ Lacrosse Scotland. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
32. ↑ Slovakian Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (Slovak)
33. ↑ Slovenian Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
34. ↑ Swiss Lacrosse and Intercrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
35. ↑ Spanish Lacrosse Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
36. ↑ Swedish Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (Swedish)
37. ↑ Welsh Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
38. ↑ Hong Kong Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
39. ↑ Indian National Lacrosse Federation. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (English)
40. ↑ Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
41. ↑ Japanese Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (Japanese)
42. ↑ Korean Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009. (Korean)
43. ↑ Lacrosse New Zealand. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
44. ↑ Tongan National Lacrosse Association. Retrieved February 4, 2009.

References

• Fisher, Donald M. 2002. Lacrosse: A History of the Game. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 0801869382
• Fink, Noah and Melissa Gaskill. Lacrosse for Parents, Lacrosse: A Guide for Parents and Players. Austin, TX: Mansion Grove House, 2006. ISBN 9781932421071
• Inside Lacrosse 2003. Lacrosse: North America’s Game. Baltimore, MD: Carpenter Publishing. ISBN 0975983407
• Scott, Bob. 1978. Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 080182060X

External links

All links retrieved June 19, 2018.

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Indian Trails Sports Complex | City of Palm Coast, Florida

This page was printed from : https://www.palmcoastgov.com/parks/indian-trails-sports-complex

Parks & Recreation

Host site of local, regional and state sports tournaments, the Indian Trails Sports Complex provides visitors with exceptional athletic facilities for soccer, lacrosse, flag football, baseball and softball. We invite you to consider Palm Coast for your next sports tournament!

Palm Coast is located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach in Northeast Florida. It is a coastal community with easy access from both Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 – the beach, Marineland and several state parks are just a few minutes away.

All 16 fields at Indian Trails Sports Complex are natural Celebration Bermuda grass surface. The complex is family-friendly with a playground, concession stands, and free wi-fi. Staff services are provided for your event. Shopping, restaurants and hotels are in close proximity to the complex and are easily accessible.

Complex Features

• 8 Soccer / Lacrosse / Flag Football Fields
• 4 Baseball Fields (66’/90′, 46’/60′)
• 4 Softball Field

• 213 parking spaces, with additional parking available at adjacent middle school
• Electronic score boards for 4 baseball fields
• Bleachers and players benches
• Goals available; various sizes
• Bases and pitchers mounds provided
• Covered player dugouts for baseball, softball
• Tables, chairs provided
• 2 concession stands
• Water fountains
• 3 restroom buildings
• Playground
• Team workouts are allowed by permit only

Staff Services – Two Parks & Recreation staff may be scheduled to work for the event. This staff members will be responsible for trash pick-up and restroom cleaning and will be an on-site contact for any field issues during the event. There is a charge for staffing events.

Wi-Fi – Free Wi-Fi is available.

Golf Carts – If needed, 1 golf cart is available for use by staff of the Event Host. No one under 18 years of age is to drive the golf cart.

Services listed below may be provided for additional cost

1. Athletic Trainers
2. Parking Staff – Parking staff can be provided if needed.
3. Electronic Signage A minimum of 2 signs will be placed on Belle Terre Parkway to direct participants and visitors to the designated parking lots at ITMS.
4. Vendors – Event Host is responsible for food and equipment vendors. All vendors must comply with City permit/vendor requirements.




5. 
   Tents – Rental Tents 12′ x 12′ or greater are allowed, but a tent permit would be required from the City of Palm Coast.




6. Fire Department/EMS – If requested, The Event Host may hire the Palm Coast Fire Department/EMS to be on-site.

For complex availability, contact Dennis Redican, Atheltics & Field Maintenance Supervisor, at [email protected] and 386-986-2528.
To obtain a permit for field usage, please fill out the Athletic Field Permit Application and submit it to Dennis Redican at [email protected].

Click here more information on all City of Palm Coast parks.

5455 Belle Terre Parkway
Palm Coast, FL 32137

Get Directions to Indian Trails Sports Complex

Parks & Recreation

Phone : (386) 986-2323

305 Palm Coast Parkway NE
Palm Coast, FL 32137

Playing Lacrosse At An Elite Level For His Family And Little Brother Kaine – NDNSPORTS

By Dan Ninham (Oneida)

Amos Whitcomb is a member of the Seneca Tribe and the Snipe Clan. His Native name is Hadeÿost, which translates to “The fighter”.  He is the son of Chad Stxy Whitcomb and Rae Lynn George. Amos is from the Allegany Indian Territory in Salamanca, New York. He is 17 years old and a junior at Salamanca Senior High School, Salamanca, NY.

Family And Brother Influences

“When I play lacrosse, I play for my family, especially my little brother Kaine,” said Amos.  “Family means a lot to me and I love how everyone comes out to watch me play and show their support for me and the lacrosse team.  Growing up, my brothers and I would wear #42 to honor my Grandpa, he passed away in 2008, but he was a huge part of who we are as a family.  We all looked up to him and wanted him to be proud of us. The reason we wear #42 is because he was born in 1942. He was a member of the Seneca Nation Wolf Clan.”

“Next, my brothers Kobe and Keion, I have looked up to both of them since I was a baby,” said Amos.  “I went to all of their practice and games. I watched them and learned from them. We would play lacrosse in the yard, in the house and everywhere we went.  Even though I was younger than both of them they would never take it easy on me. We would be full contact in the yard with our Dad in the goal. We would have no pads at all and they would never let me win, let alone pick up the ball.  I had to fight for everything I did with them. We were competitive and wanted to win, even in backyard lacrosse or mini-lax in the house. I feel I am the way I am today because of those two, for never letting me win, never letting me quit, and always teaching and showing me lacrosse.”

“My Brother Kaine pushes me in a different way,” said Amos. “ He’s my younger brother, but I look up to him and I am encouraged and motivated by him.  Kaine was born with a rare genetic disorder. Doctors said he could never play sports or do everyday things like the rest of us. Growing up my Dad taught us to never treat him any different, show him to play, run, learn lacrosse and know he wasn’t any different than us.  Kaine would play with us in the yard, in the house, and at the Community Center. Finally the day came when Kaine got the ‘Ok’ from his doctors to actually play box lacrosse, and it was a great moment. He loved being out on the floor, always happy, always giving all he could.  He could only play one minute in a whole game and he still was the happiest kid out there. He loved playing and especially loved being part of a team. He’s played three years of box lacrosse and started his second year of field lacrosse for the modified team in Salamanca.”

“I play for Kaine because now he looks up to me.  He comes to my practices, and my games. He watches everything I do and I want to be a positive role model and brother to him.  He has been through so much and it feels good to make him happy or smile. He always tells me something I should have done in a game, or gets excited about a certain goal I had then he goes home and tries it.  So, I guess you can say I compete for my family! They all play a part in my success on the field and in the classroom.”

Academic and Athletic Accomplishments

Amos is a high honor roll student at Salamanca HS. He has perfect attendance the past two years and is in the top 10 in his class in the past three years. Amos is a member of the National Honor Society and Seneca Language Honor Society. He’s a Boys State Finalist. He also does community service at the Allegany Community Center with his dad and at the Food Pantry with his mom.

Playing lacrosse since he was three years old for the Allegany Arrows, Amos played with many teams and in tournaments. He is most proud to play with his brothers in local tournaments. Amos played for Champion Lacrosse and earned a bronze medal for Team Haudenosaunee at the 2017 North American Indigenous Games where he also was named MVP. 

Amos finished as the #2 ranked point scorer in Western NY. He was an All American Honorable Mention athlete. The dad-coached Salamanca HS modified season had a 12-0 record this past season. As a freshman varsity player, he scored 36 goals with 32 assists. This past year as a sophomore on varsity, he scored 60 goals with 66 assists.

“My tribes core values definitely contribute to who I am as an athlete,” said Amos. “The Creator gave us lacrosse and I am so proud to play for all the people who can’t, the old, young, and my family.  The game of lacrosse is so important to Native Americans, and it is our game! Growing up on such a small reservation really brings us all together as a community and keeps us close to our culture and historical roots.”

Coaches As Positive Influences

“Franky Brown positively influenced me as a competitive athlete,” said Amos.  “He is a family friend and played at Hobart College, Iroquois Nationals, and the Buffalo Bandits.  Franky has always given me positive encouragement. He’s a great guy and I really appreciate all he has done for me.  He would train me one-on-one in the lacrosse arena, let me know what to work on, encouraged me to keep my grades up, and stay out of trouble.  We have been in the weight room together and he has given me advice on college and what it takes to succeed. Franky has played at a high level of lacrosse his whole life and I feel privileged that he sees something in me and he makes time to help me anyway he can.”

“Josh Becker is a fitness coordinator and friend,” said Amos. “He and I are close friends and he always has advice for me in life and lacrosse.  He would train with me at times and give me college workouts to do. He played for the Iroquois Nationals, college, and professional lacrosse so I always listen when he tells me how to do something.”

“I’ve always had a strong relationship with Jesse Jimerson,” said Amos.  “He’s a great person, father, and role model, all three of them are! I use to love watching Jesse play lacrosse, his style, always going all out, always playing his best.  Jesse played for Six Nations Rebels, Arrows, and Iroquois Nationals.”

“I met Brad about three months ago,” said Amos.  “I started doing his Warrior Boot Camp class at 5:30 am, 3 days a week.  I wanted to prepare for the upcoming season. Brad has become my personal trainer two days a week, pushing me, getting me in top shape.  I really appreciate the time he has put into helping me out to become a better lacrosse player. He’s always upbeat and positive and very knowledgeable in the fitness field.”

The Holistic Way Of Life With Training And Performance

The holistic way of life is focused on a balance of body, mind, spirit, and emotion. To be able to practice and perform at a peak level all four area’s need to be trained efficiently.

“I have been doing a lot of skill training to maximize my performance,” said Amos.  “In the off- season I go to our arena or high school four times a week to run or shoot, usually September-November.  I started hitting the weight room this off-season as well, working with Frank, Josh, Jesse and Brad. Before school I go to Warrior Boot Camp at 5:30 am with my friend Tre and twenty others!  Just before the season I started with a personal trainer to ensure I will be in shape physical and mentally. And of course I am in the yard with my dad and brothers. My Dad always reminds me everything starts at home.”

“There’s always room for improvements and I’m always working to increase my knowledge about the game and the fundamentals of lacrosse,” said Amos.  “It’s just as important as physically playing the game. Also, the historical element of the game, that’s something I would also like to improve, my knowledge on because the game is so important to my heritage.”

“The day I was given a small wooden lacrosse stick was the day lacrosse and I were connected forever,” said Amos.  It’s a way of life, and it’s all over on the ‘rez’, now it’s in colleges and on TV. I will always love lacrosse and I want to do so much more with it.  High school, college, pros … it’s in my blood, it’s in our culture, and it will always be with me spiritually.’

“When I’m faced with stressful game situations I remind myself that it’s just a game, a game I love to play,” said Amos. “It’s not about the stats to me or just winning.  It’s about the love of the game, my friends, family, and teammates. The coaches I have met, friends I have made, the traveling because of lacrosse. Lacrosse will always mean family to me including my dad, my brothers, my grandparents, and especially Kaine.  He taught me to always look on the positive side of things. There will always be another game.”

Coping With The Pandemic

“I’m staying well by following the guidelines given to us all by staying home and indoors most of the time,” said Amos.  “I still train by laxing in the backyard and doing workouts in the house with push ups, sit ups and squats. I’m also doing my schoolwork.  But in all honesty, schoolwork has taught me to slow down a little and not be on the go as much as we use to be. I’ve been spending a lot of the time with my Gram, Dad, and Kaine, so that’s the silver lining in this whole situation.  It has brought us closer, put our phones down, talk, play games, watch movies. That’s the positive I am getting out of this all- FAMILY.”

Photo Credit: Kristen Sledge-Whitcomb

Alexa Demarco’s Lacrosse Profile | ConnectLAX

Alexa Demarco’s Lacrosse Profile | ConnectLAX

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Alexa has not yet committed to a school.

Very competitive and aggressive, muti-sport athlete who is a team player. Goal oriented and very determined. Picked in 2021 as one of the best 75 freshman in New Jersey.

I started playing lacrosse when I was ten years old and haven’t put down my stick since. I was named to the second all-league team as the team’s only freshman, as well as the top 75 freshmen in the state of New Jersey. As a freshman on my high school varsity team, I was the second-leading scorer. I was ranked one of the top Varsity HS players to pick up ground balls in the state of New Jersey. I’m comfortable with both my left and right hands, and I’m most comfortable in man-on-man situations. I’m confident in my ability to put the ball in the back of the net with both hands and to win 1v1s. My ability to clear the ball up the field is also something I am confident in. I’m a multi-sport athlete who’s been playing travel soccer since I was five years old. I have a 3.75-grade point average and am extremely motivated both on and off the field. I have also been involved in multiple clubs at school including student council, talented art programs, and I helped organized a food truck festival at school and all the money we made was donated to people in need. In my spare time, I teach children lacrosse, which helps me improve as a player. I’m not your typical athlete; one thing that coaches can’t teach is the capacity to be aggressive, and I’m a very aggressive player. I’m a coachable player who works hard. Lacrosse is the one sport that has always made me happy and taught me a lot.

Game film visible only to logged in college coaches.

Honors & Awards:

Ranked Top 75 freshman in the state of New Jersey. Second team all league . Only freshman to be on this

Press:

—

Links to Press:

Other HS Sports Played:

Jv Soccer

Play 2 Sports In College?

No

Relevant Lacrosse Accolades:

Started varsity as freshman and played whole game every game

See HS Stats

Coach Contacts

High School:

Indian Hills

Coach:

Mike Carti

Team Name:

Jersey Number:

Club Name:

X-Treme Lax Factory

Coach:

Mike Carti

Team Name:

X-Treme Lax Factory 2024

Jersey Number:

68

See Contact Info

GPA (unweighted):

90-92; 3.7; A-

See All Academics

Alexa is one of the most talented players to ever play for me as a freshman. Alexa has all the skills you would want in a lacrosse player. I have the pleasure of coaching Alexa both in High School and in club. I can play Alexa anywhere on the field from offense to defense to taking the draw. Alexa has such a great drive for the game of lacrosse. Her IQ of the game of lacrosse is off the charts. She knows what to do in every situation on the field. She is a very hard worker and has the drive of always wanting to be the best. Alexa is one those players that will do anything for her team and puts them first. Off the field Alexa is a such a nice person and cares for others before herself. Alexa would be a huge addition to any team she goes and plays for at the next level.

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View @alexademarcolacrosse on Instagram

90,000 “You have to put a special lace in your nose and get it out through your mouth. This is an ancient Indian practice. ” Goalkeeper Tyalo about the pre-match ritual – Hockey

The goalkeeper of Perm “Hammer” Igor Tyalo, recognized as the best goalkeeper of the VHL in September, spoke about his pre-match rituals.

– Do the stereotypes about goalkeeper oddities hurt you?

– I would not say that they hurt, it’s even interesting to listen to, talk about this topic.

– Do you have any oddities yourself?

– Yes, a lot! And in the training process there is, and in everyday life.

– For example, should no one touch your golf clubs?

– Of course. In general, I hate it when someone touches my uniform. Even, let’s say, if this happens not in my presence, I will still find out about it and notice that someone touched her. And any part!

– Do you have any pre-match rituals?

– There is one thing. Not that a ritual … The bottom line is that a special cord, four millimeters thick, is taken, and you have to stick it into your nose.And then get it through the throat, that is, through the mouth.

– Are you serious now?

– Yes, this is an ancient Indian practice. It can have a great effect on the brain and, accordingly, on your game. There is a massage of the nasal passages. It is necessary to make movements with the cord back and forth, left and right, and then get out and change the nostril. I came to this several years ago, this is such, say, an important part of my preparation for the game. A fairly rare practice, few people try to use it.

– You don’t want to sneeze?

– Sneezing – no, but there is an urge to vomit.

– Do you do this in the dressing room before the game?

– No, no, of course. If anyone sees this, it seems to me that they will kick me out of the locker room. Not the most pleasant sight.

– What does it give, if it’s not a secret?

– I’m starting to read the minds of the players (smiled). In fact, it affects breathing, and breathing plays a huge role in sports.You start to breathe better, there are a lot of nerve endings in the nose, so there is an effect. By the way, many guys asked to be shown how I do it, but I haven’t shown anyone yet. It’s tough in general, ”Tyalo said.

VHL on the official website noted that she asks not to repeat this practice.

90,000 125 stories about the invention of basketball | JumpBall

Basketball, which Americans consider their national sport no less than baseball or American football, was in fact invented by a Canadian.

Physical education teacher James Naismith, a Scottish Canadian, invented a new sport exactly 125 years ago on December 21, 1891. Basketball is one of the few sports that has an official launch date and can celebrate its birthday. Which we celebrate today, remembering how basketball appeared.

* * *

James Naismith was not supposed to be a physical education teacher at all. His relatives insisted that he become a priest, and the decision to go to study to be an athlete was received with horror: in the 1800s, sports in the United States were considered by many to be a tool of the devil, distracting young people from church, work and family.“Years later, I asked my sister if she had forgiven me for dropping out to study as a theologian,” Naismith recalled. “No, Jim,” she replied. ”

James Naismith had no middle name. Many sources indicated his full name as “James A. Naismith”, to which Naismith himself joked that “A” means “anonymous.”

James Naismith’s childhood was not easy. His family emigrated to Canada from Scotland, his father worked for a pittance in a sawmill. When he was not even 9 years old, some kind of curse fell on the family: first, James’s grandfather died, the sawmill soon burned down, then his father caught typhus.Little Jim’s uncle took him along with his younger brother and older sister to him so that the children would not get infected. The elder Naismith soon died of illness, and three weeks later his wife, who contracted typhoid fever while caring for her husband. So the Naismiths became orphaned, and their uncle and grandmother began to raise them (she will die in two years).

Future professor, doctor and inventor Jimmy Naismith was not a very good student at school. He preferred fresh air to study: working on a farm or logging, swimming in the river or fishing, and in winter – sledding or hockey.Three years before graduation, he announced to relatives that he was leaving school and would work on the farm full time. He returned to school only at the age of 19, when his uncle, having seen enough of James’ poor carpentry skills, advised him to work with his head, not his hands.

There was little entertainment in the countryside, and the children invented their own games. One of these favorite games of James was “Duck on a Stone”. Each player had a pebble, one player (“defender”) put his own on a large stone.Other children got up 5-6 meters from the stone and tried to knock down the defender’s stone with their stones. If they hit, they stayed in the game, but if they missed, they had to find their stone before the defender attacked them. Naismith liked the game so much because it required precision, reaction, and the ability to dodge a defender.

When Naismith returned to school, he quickly adjusted and was promoted to senior class twice during the school year. He was good at mathematics and natural sciences, but he had big problems with languages.However, he overcame them, and once he, still a schoolboy, was called to replace a sick teacher in a rural school. Naismith’s early students performed better in spelling and worse in mathematics. So he found out that it is often easier to teach others what he himself once learned with difficulty than what was given easily.

McGill University, where Naismith entered, was one of the first in North America to introduce physical education into the curriculum. Rugby was especially popular, gradually evolving into American football.

One day Naismith accidentally wandered into rugby training. The center of the team broke his nose, and he needed a replacement from the audience. Naismith never played, but volunteered and replaced the injured one so successfully that he was offered a place on the team. James agreed on the condition that he could use the injured player’s uniform (he had no money for his). For the next six years, he played at the center position in the university rugby team, without missing a single game.

In his penultimate and final year, Naismith was recognized as the best athlete at McGill University.In addition to rugby, he played football and lacrosse, as well as boxing.

Naismith’s motto in college was “Don’t let anyone do more than you do today.”

After completing his bachelor’s degree, Naismith continued his studies at the theological school in McGill, aspiring to become a Presbyterian priest, but did not abandon the sport, the “tool of the devil” – moreover, he was appointed director of sports at the university after the death of his predecessor.

* * *

Soon, Naismith felt that he did not need to become a priest in order to change people’s lives for the better.“I discovered the fact,” he later writes, “that there are other ways to influence young people besides preaching.” One of Naismith’s acquaintances invited him to become an intern at a college in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, where an educational physical education program was developing.

The college sports department was headed by Luther Gulick – now he is recognized as the “father of physical education” in the United States.

The college studied in two programs: one trained physical education teachers, the other – sports administrators.If the former showed interest in gymnastics, athletics and other indoor sports, because they knew that they would someday have to teach it, then there was no enthusiasm in the future administrators when they were each driven into the gym for an hour. … New games didn’t appeal to them either. At a meeting between faculty members, Naismith said that “the problem is not in the people, but in the system we use.” Gulik reacted to these words like a real leader: he made Naismith responsible for inventing a new game.

So intern Naismith was assigned to find a way to get the students involved in something active in the room. James initially refused this assignment, but soon left his job as a teacher of psychology, theology, wrestling and swimming (such a non-standard set) in order to invent a new sport for apathetic “clerks”.

Before Naismith, these obnoxious students drove two instructors mad. James was Luther Gulick’s third, and most likely last, attempt to introduce winter sports into the educational curriculum.

The new sport would not be needed if it were not for winter. At the end of the 19th century, there was a lack of indoor games – gymnastics and aerobics were popular but not very exciting sports. And in the northern states, like Massachusetts, in winter it was no longer possible to play football, rugby, or baseball, and hockey had not yet become popular on this side of the border and was too dependent on weather conditions.

Another problem was the lack of electrification of the society.Under the artificial light in the hall, it was impossible to play sports, which would only require accuracy. So at Springfield College the challenge was to invent a new sport that could be practiced in a dimly lit hall in winter.

^{In the photo: the hall in which Naismith introduced his new game to his students}

He had 14 days to invent a new game.

* * *

At first, Naismith tried to modify existing sports.But rugby turned out to be too traumatic even without grabs, football meant too many broken windows and equipment standing in the hall for other activities, and lacrosse dropped out of candidates after it turned out that several Canadian students played it too well and any related him modifications.

The day before the end of the deadline for inventing a new game, Naismith was in a panic – he never came up with anything. Then he tried to approach the problem from a different angle.Why have attempts to modify the old failed? Because people liked those games the way they were, with no innovation. How is an abstract sports game built in general? It usually has a ball in it. So the future game has a central element around which it is built.

But balls are also different. If the ball is small, you need a lot of inventory for it – clubs, bats, gates, shields, masks, and so on. And the more inventory, the more difficult the rules are, but a simple game is needed. It is also easier to hide a small ball somewhere in a playful way.It’s easier with a big ball.

The second challenge was to define the philosophy of sport. Rugby could not be played in small halls because it would have resulted in a high number of collision injuries. Collisions occur to stop the person running with the ball. “I sat at the table with these thoughts and said out loud:“ If he does not run with the ball, he will not need to be captured. If he is captured, there will be no rudeness in the game. ” I still remember how I snapped my fingers and shouted: “Found!” – wrote later Naismith.This is how the basic principle of the new game was formed – you cannot run with the ball. Hardly a detailed description, but it was only the first stroke of a sketch of the future of sport.

The third task is to substantiate the goal of the game. At first, Naismith wanted the ball to be thrown into opposite goals, like in lacrosse – a 2 x 2.5 meter net. But if the ball is thrown too hard, it will hit another player and injure him, and this again does not work. And then Naismith remembered his childhood and playing “Duck on a Stone”.She didn’t need strength, but accuracy – exactly the kind of special trait that Naismith was looking for in his new game: “I thought that if the target to be hit was horizontal, not vertical, then the players would have to throw the ball in an arc. Strength, the essence of rudeness, will be useless. ”

Naismith also decided that the target should be hung over the players’ heads to prevent defenders from crowding around it and blocking the ball’s path. We are already feeling something similar to the familiar basketball, isn’t it?

* * *

On the morning of December 21, 1891, an enthusiastic James Naismith arrived at work.Naismith had two soccer balls to choose from, one for rugby and the other for soccer. The rugby ball is stretched out to be carried in the hands, James concluded, and this is not necessary in a new game. Therefore, a round shell was chosen.

The first variant of the basketball basket we were used to was a pair of boxes half a meter by half a meter. True, they existed only in Naismith’s imagination – the college janitor did not find suitable ones and offered two baskets of peaches. This is how the basket ball was born.Remember this name forever – Pop Stebbins – that was the name of the janitor who found baskets of peaches in his closet.

Baskets were fixed at 10 feet (305 cm). It was at this height that the lower railings of the balconies above the playing field were located, and it is at this height that basketball hoops are located all over the world today. “If the railing was 11 feet, that’s where I would have fixed it,” Naismith said. But the dynamics of basketball would change if it became more difficult to score from above or shoot from afar.

Naismith wrote the rules for the new game in less than an hour, then gave them to the college stenographer, Miss Lyons, to type.

Rules were only 13. They were pinned by a pair of thumbtacks on the bulletin board in the gym – and so they became official.

First rule: The ball can be thrown in any direction with one or both hands . Naismith believed that the rugby rule that the ball can only be passed backward was not required in his game.

Second rule: The ball can be hit in any direction with one or both hands (but not with a fist) . James didn’t want the ball hitting hard with his fist to hit anyone’s nose, or worse, out the window. It is not allowed to hit the ball in most modern basketball rules.

Third rule: a player cannot run with the ball. He must throw it from the place where he caught it; some movement is acceptable if the ball was caught at a high speed .At first, they played only this way, you could either pass or roll the ball on the ground. Dribbling was first used by students at Yale University in 1897, and it soon spread. At first, it was possible to make only one blow to the floor, since 1909 the restrictions were lifted. In 1903, the players who dribbled the ball were prohibited from throwing – until 1915.

In 1927, the Basketball Rules Committee tried to remove dribbling from basketball rules. In response, basketball coaches, led by Fog Allen, a former student of Naismith, formed the National Basketball Coaches Association.This organization still exists today, and thanks to it were organized the Basketball Hall of Fame, Student Basketball Hall of Fame and the NCAA Basketball Tournament. It all started with a protest against the return to authentic basketball without dribbling.

Fourth rule: the ball can be held in the hands or between them; other parts of the hands or body cannot be used . Naismith didn’t want the ball to be gripped so tightly that it couldn’t be pulled out. Now this rule is not in basketball, but no one really wants to keep the ball with their feet or under the arm.

Fifth rule: it is forbidden to push with the shoulder or arms, grab, trip, or beat the opponent in any way; the first violation is considered a foul; the second will disqualify him until the next hit or, in case of intent to injure the player, until the end of the game without the right to substitute . Naismith had the hardest part with this rule when he later judged women’s matches: “Everything worked out well until I whistled a foul on one of the girls. She asked, “Did you whistle a violation at me?” And then told me what my character is, where I came from and where I should go. “

Sixth Rule: It is a foul to hit the ball with a fist, as well as violations of rules 3, 4 and 5 . Gradually, violations for which fouls were given were added. And some – on the contrary, were removed, instead of a foul, a change of ownership was awarded. For example, until 1922, running with the ball was a foul. Since 1922 – only by improper dribbling. Now in the NBA there are 11 situations that are punished with personal fouls – and almost fifty violations for which you can whistle a technical foul.

Seventh rule: three fouls in a row by one team are counted as 1 point to their opponent (in a row means that during this time the opponent has not fouled once) .In 1893, a point was awarded for each foul, and in 1894 free throws were introduced for fouls, the rules of execution of which changed many times.

Rule 8: a point is awarded if the ball is thrown in the air or ricocheted off the ground into the basket and remains there, while the defenders are not allowed to touch the basket. If the ball hangs on the edge of the basket and an opponent moves the basket, it is considered a goal scored . In 1896, hitting the ball in the basket was counted as two points.

Rule 9: If the ball goes out-of-bounds, it must be thrown into play by the person who first touched it.In case of controversial situations, the referee throws in the ball. Five seconds are given to enter the ball from out-of-bounds. If the ball is not thrown during this time, it is passed to the opponent. If either side continues to delay the game, the referee shall award them foul . These five seconds to kick the ball out of touch have been preserved in the rules to this day.

Modern rules governing who should throw the ball appeared only in 1914 – and before that they were pushing for the front, trying to catch up with the ball, as if in “Duck on a Stone”. Sometimes it was funnier.According to Naismith’s recollections: “I remember playing in a hall with a balcony. At the beginning of the first half, the ball flew there, and the players of one team immediately rushed in a crowd to the stairs, and there were so many of them that they could not push through. Two players from the other team tried to bounce their partner to grab onto the balcony railing, pull himself up and get to the ball first. ”

Tenth rule: The linesman must evaluate the actions of the players, keep a record of the fouls, and inform the head referee when a team has committed three fouls in a row.He has the right to disqualify players based on rule 5 . Even before testing his sport, Naismith realized that one referee was unlikely to be able to cope with the maintenance of the game. Therefore, out of 13 rules, two are dedicated to judges at once.

Eleventh rule: The referee must watch the ball and determine when it is in play, out of play, who is in possession of the ball, keep track of the time. He must determine the hit of the ball in the basket and keep score, as well as perform other duties related to the work of the head referee .

Twelfth rule: the game consists of two halves of 15 minutes with a 5-minute break. Soon the game time was increased to 40 minutes.

Thirteenth Rule: The side that scores the most goals will be named the winners. In the event of a tie, the game may, by agreement of the team captains, be continued until the decisive ball .

Now there are 13 rules in the NBA code, but they are all written out in much more detail. In the NCAA and FIBA, there are generally ten rules.But with paragraphs and subparagraphs, their number reaches several hundred.

* * *

^{In the photo: First Team and James Naismith}

The first game was 9v9, simply because there were 18 students in the group. The walls of the hall served as the boundaries of the site, the lighting was poor, and the players did not have any special equipment. Naismith placed the players on the court, like in lacrosse – three in defense, three in the center, three in attack, called in two players, tossed the ball – and a new game was born.

Naismith later recalled: “Within a few minutes it became clear to the experimenter that the game was a success. The players seemed to enjoy the ups and downs of the game from the bottom of their hearts, in particular the attempts to avoid a collision with an opponent. ” The students were so fascinated by the game that they wanted to continue it after the end of the class.

The hardest thing for the early basketball players was to adapt to a sudden stop after receiving the ball. The natural instinct is to keep moving with the ball.But this was a violation, and according to the rules, a player after a foul was removed from the court until the next hit. “It happened that there were half a team in the penalty area,” Naismith recalled.

Rudeness was also present. The list of injuries in the first game, according to Naismith: several fingals, one dislocated shoulder, one loss of consciousness. Not bad for half an hour of play.

Only one goal was scored in the game. The author of the historic hit was William Chase, who threw the ball into the basket from 8 meters.

At that moment, a new problem emerged – the thrown ball had to be removed from the basket. Stebbins was called with a stepladder.

After the game, it turned out that someone had removed the rules from the bulletin board. It turned out that it was one of the players, Frank Mahan, who wanted to leave a souvenir as a keepsake. But after a couple of weeks, his conscience tortured him and he decided to return them to Naismith.

The same Mahan asked Naismith after Christmas if he had already come up with a name for the new game? Naismith replied that no, then Mahan suggested two options – “Naismith ball” and “basketball ball”, and the humble inventor chose the second, more euphonious option.

Until 1921, it was written in two words – “Basket Ball”, sometimes with a hyphen. And 30 years after the invention of basketball, journalists decided to shorten the name to one word.

Among the 18 participants in the first basketball game, there was even a Japanese – Genzabaro Ishikawa, who would later introduce his homeland to a wonderful new game. Other participants in the first match brought basketball to France, India, Britain and Persia.

* * *

Soon, rumors spread around the school about a new, as yet unnamed game, spectators began to come to the matches.Two weeks later, 100 people turned up at one of the games – including a group of female students from Buckingham Women’s College, returning from lunch and accidentally passing by the hall and hearing a noise. After the game, the Buckingham instructors approached Naismith and asked if they could play basketball. Naismith didn’t mind – and so the first women’s basketball team was born. They were opposed by a team made up of Springfield College stenographers.

The very first women’s basketball game, like the men’s one a couple of weeks before, was judged by Naismith himself.And his future wife (married in 1894), Mood Naismith, nee Sherman, also took part in one of the first games. They met thanks to the fact that the future basketball inventor rented a room in the house of the Sherman family – the house was close to the college where Naismith worked.

Two years after basketball was invented, at another college in Massachusetts, Senda Berenson will decide to adapt Naismith’s rules for women. So basketball began to develop in another direction, independent of the mainstream – and turned into “basketball” – a version of basketball 6 on 6, which among women finally gave way to competition with real basketball only by the 1970s.

* * *

Basketball instantly spread across America – and the “fault” of that is the Christmas holidays among the students. Having traveled to their hometowns in the United States and Canada, they enthusiastically talked about the new game and demonstrated it in local branches of the Young Christian Association (YMCA).

Soon, a team of students, with Mahan as captain, began touring the country with exhibition basketball games, often in conjunction with a group of acrobats from the same college.

Naismith’s idea was that basketball could be played by any number of people. But after some experimentation, in which the number of players on the court reached 50, the matches were limited to the standard 9v9, as in the very first match in history. By 1897, the number of players on one team was limited to five.

Pretty soon, Naismith’s students formed a full-fledged team and began challenging other college students and staff to matches. So they defeated both the team of students from another faculty (future physical education teachers) and the team of their teachers.

That game – March 11, 1892 – is recognized as the first public basketball game to be attended by 200 spectators. Naismith himself spoke for the teaching team – one of only two times in his life when he participated in a game that he himself invented. Amos Alonzo Stagg, the future one of the greatest coaches in American football, scored the only goal for the teachers.

A year later, Stagg will go to work as a coach (football, baseball and basketball at the same time) at the University of Chicago, where he will soon popularize 5-on-5 basketball – an option that will become canon.

“If you saw our first matches, you would laugh,” Naismith recalled much later. – Adult men played, most with a mustache, some even had a beard. They wore long pants and short-sleeved shirts. Someone could aim for such a long time with the ball raised above his head that they simply took it out of his hands. It was an endless source of fun – no matter how often the ball was lost in this way, the player always turned around with raised hands and a bewildered expression on his face – “Who did it?”

* * *

In January 1892, the basketball rules were published in the Springfield College newspaper, The Triangle. Of course, she had nothing to do with the “triangle attack”: the triangle was the emblem of the YMCA, which was once invented by the boss of Naismith at the college, Luther Gulick.

Triangle’s editors received so many requests for a copy of the rules that they published a separate booklet, which also described the equipment needed to play the game.

As early as April 1892, the game was reported in the New York Times under the headline “A New Ball Game, Replacing Football Without Rude.”

The first basketball was made by the Overman Wheel Co., a bicycle factory. from Massachusetts. It was lighter and larger than the previously used soccer ball.

The first balls were brown, and only many years later they began to make them orange – so that the audience could better see the ball from the stands.

In the late 1890s, Naismith asked A.G. Spaulding to design an improved version of the basketball. And 120 years later, Spalding balls are official in the NBA, but earlier they were not very even, not very round and laced, which made dribbling difficult.

^{Pictured: Ball production by Spaulding}

In ten years, Spaulding will launch the first special-purpose basketball shoe.

With the spread of the game, the first inconvenience appeared: climbing a ladder to get the ball out of the basket after each hit was annoying. At Springfield College, a special man was sitting on the balcony, taking the ball out of the basket. Then someone suggested cutting out the bottom of the baskets – alas, history has not preserved the name of the author and the place of this important invention.But even the bottom was not cut out so that the ball would fall through, but so that it could be pushed out of the basket from below with a stick. “Since the stick was often not at hand,” Naismith recalled, “we had to use other items. Fortunately, the inexperience of the players led to the fact that the ball was thrown into the basket very rarely. ”

In 1898 the baskets were changed to rings with a net attached. By 1912, rings with a hole in the bottom of the mesh were already common.

Since most of the halls had balconies, spectators were sitting behind the rings, and some unscrupulous fans could prevent the ball from entering the basket. And the match organizers came up with another important element of basketball – the backboard. True, no one imagined that the shield would make it easier for the ball to hit the basket and increase the effectiveness, and, consequently, the entertainment of the sport.

In 1895, the first match between universities was played by the teams of the Minnesota State School of Agronomy (now the University of Minnesota at St. Paul) and Hamline College (now the University of Hamline).Although the first student team appeared in Vanderbilt in 1893 – they did not play with other colleges.

Basketball spread at such an alarming rate that the YMCA banned it in some places in the United States – basketball games pushed other sports out of gyms. Then basketball players had to move to ballroom dancing halls, arsenals, hangars and other large indoor spaces.

It’s funny, but in Springfield itself, basketball did not take root on the first try – in 1899 the basketball team was disbanded and returned only in 1907.

One of Naismith’s students at Springfield was William Morgan. In 1895, he decided to invent his own game – so in Holyoke, 10 kilometers from Springfield, the “Mintonette” was born. We now know it by the name “volleyball”.

As early as 1896, just five years after the invention of basketball, the first professional basketball game took place. It was held in the ballroom, and to prevent the ball from flying away to the audience, the parquet was fenced with a wire mesh. This is how the first term for the name of basketball and basketball players appeared – “Cage Game”, “cagers”, “cell workers”.The wire was easily injured, so it was usually replaced by a net of ropes – and this was how the pros played until the 1940s. In college basketball, the cage was soon banned.

^{In the photo: basketball in a cage}

The first professional league was born in 1898. Six teams made up the National Basketball League – this name (NBL) will be inherited by the NBA’s ancestor league forty years later. Players earned about $ 10-12 per match.

* * *

In 1898, Amos Alonzo Stagg, already a football coach at the University of Chicago, was asked for advice. The University of Kansas needed a physical education teacher – but this position included the post of chaplain who would gather students for prayer every morning, so there was no way to find the right candidate. Stagg sent an urgent telegram to Kaznas: “I recommend James Naismith, basketball inventor, physician, Presbyterian priest, excellent athlete, does not drink, neither smokes, nor swears.Write to the Denver YMCA ”(this was where Naismith was working at the time). Of course, after such a recommendation, it was impossible not to invite Naismith. James joked for a long time that he got this job only because he knew how to pray.

Naismith wanted to incorporate basketball into his curriculum, although the only gymnasium did not fit the sport’s requirements. It was in the basement, it was only 10 meters wide and 25 meters long, there was a column supporting the ceiling in the center of the hall, and the ceiling itself was a little more than three meters.This did not stop Naismith and he organized a basketball team from his students, mostly football players. The matches took place at a party, on neutral grounds, in factory premises and even at the rink.

The first contender in the history of the University of Kansas basketball team was the YMCA Kansas City, who won 16-5. It was played by Jesse James Jr., the son of a famous bandit.

In Kansas, Naismith continued to invent sports games – but neither the thief-tag, nor the highball, nor the vrill took root.

Naismith never cared if the team he coached lost or won, so he – still a basketball coach at the University of Kansas – was trusted to judge his own team’s games.

From Naismith himself comes the greatest branch of student (and not only) coaches. Under his leadership, the famous Forrest “Fog” Allen played, who later replaced Naismith in Kansas. Allen coached two other future great coaches – Adolph Rapp, who built the basketball program at the University of Kentucky, and Dean Smith, who led the University of North Carolina team and trained many coaches and players, from Larry Brown to Michael Jordan.

^{In the photo: Michael Jordan and Dean Smith}

At the same time, Naismith did not believe that Allen would make a coach, much less a teacher of new coaches. When Baker University invited Allen, still a student, to coach their basketball team, Naismith took it as a joke and told Adolf, “You can’t coach, you’re just a player.” We can say that for Naismith, the work of a trainer was tantamount to the work of a physical education teacher. It took only 16 years from the moment basketball was invented until that incident, but the sport developed rapidly.

Ironically, the first basketball coach in University of Kansas history is also the worst. Naismith remains the only one who has failed to achieve a positive balance of wins in Kansas – 55-60.

* * *

Naismith did not attach importance to his invention for a very long time. For him, it was just a small game, which was inferior to gymnastics and wrestling in its favor.

Naismith once held a class in which he compared his first basketball rules with the new ones.After some time, when he needed those rules again, he found that he had forgotten them then in the audience. The search came to nothing, and soon Naismith lost hope of finding the artifact. But 12 years later, he looked through his documents and found an unmarked envelope dated 1891. Naismith opened the envelope and two of the most important pages in basketball history fell out.

In 2010, two pages of rules were bought at auction for 4.3 million and deposited at the University of Kansas Museum.

After Fogh Allen succeeded Naismith as head coach of the basketball team in Kansas, Naismith was named the university’s sporting director and professor of physical education. But paperwork alone was not enough for him: he wrote books, patrolled the US-Mexican border in 1916, taught sports medicine, traveled to France during the First World War, where he taught hygiene to American soldiers. The main thing in the training was to make sure that the soldiers did not go to brothels.

Naismith became a US citizen only in 1925, almost 35 years later, as he moved from Canada.By this time, professional basketball was flourishing, tough, aggressive, played in cages – not at all like the game that Naismith had invented as a light winter game in which players would not get injured.

^{In the photo: Naismith and his wife in 1928}

John Maclendon was among Naismith’s students in Kansas. He was passionate about basketball, but could not play for Fog Allen – John was black, and blacks began to be admitted to the team only in 1951.So Maclendon learned basketball from Naismith. And he became one of the greatest coaches in college sports history. John holds many titles as “the first black coach in …”, but his main achievements are the improvement of pressing tactics and the invention of the “quadrilateral attack”, which would then develop Dean Smith. John McLendon was twice inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame – for his coaching merits and for his contribution to the development of basketball.

In 1932, a meeting of the Council of American Coaches was held.Naismith did not participate in it, but sent several suggestions for improving the game. One of those was the idea of ​​giving the defending team 30 seconds to tackle the ball, and the violation would be punishable by a free throw. In fact, the inventor of basketball could have reinvented basketball again – his visionary thought ahead of the 24-second counter in the NBA by 20 years. But he believed that it was more important to motivate the defense to take possession from the attack, rather than the attack – rather to throw the ball into the ring.

In the same letter to the council, Naismith suggested rewarding a hit from a distance with 4 points instead of 2.And again he was ahead of his time – the three-point line first appeared only in 1961 in the ABL (in 1979 – in the NBA).

* * *

In 1936, basketball was introduced to the Olympic Games. Fogh Allen dreamed of seeing 75-year-old James Naismith and his wife in Berlin. Money for tickets for the spouses was collected all over America – many colleges, schools, churches, amateur and even professional teams gave a cent from each ticket sold between February 9 and 15, 1936 – “Naismith Week”.As a result, 5 thousand dollars were collected – much more than was required.

In Berlin, Naismith saw how widely his invention had spread throughout the world. But he considered basketball an international game from the very first match – the same one that took place 125 years ago. Americans and Canadians, as well as an Englishman, a Japanese, and a Frenchman took part in that game. For Naismith, this was confirmation that his game would be understandable and close to anyone on the planet.

Especially for Naismith, a mini-opening ceremony of the Olympics was held – with the participation of the basketball teams of the tournament.20 teams marched in front of Naismith, moved to tears. And then they went to the site – in the open air, without any protection from the rain (the match for gold was played this way – under the downpour), with sand and sawdust instead of parquet.

^{In the photo: Olympic basketball in the open air}

Naismith was also entrusted with the honorable right to be the first to throw the ball into the game – the Olympic tournament opened the match between Estonia and France.

There were 17 (!) Springfield College graduates in the coaching staffs of the first Olympic teams.The college obviously coped with the task of preparing teachers of physical culture.

Naismith also presented the first Olympic medals. All of them went to American teams, and James was a citizen of two countries that played in the pouring rain in the finals – the United States and Canada. The Mexican national team took the bronze.

* * *

Little was known about the details of basketball’s origins until 2006, when Naismith’s granddaughter Helen, who at that time was already 74 years old, did not decide to sort out five dusty boxes with documents left over from James Naismith.There were letters, photographs, the first rules, Naismith’s own description of the first game, and many other useful artifacts that told the story and invention of basketball.

Naismith never tried to profit from his invention – he did not even register a patent for the game, and also always refused advertising contracts – only at the end of his life, according to friends, he advertised a Rawlings basketball. One day a lawyer came to his office and promised him a share of every ticket sold to a basketball game.Naismith immediately kicked the lawyer out of his office.

Not everyone agrees that Naismith invented basketball. Descendants of Lambert Gill, director of the YMCA in Herkimer Village, New York, claim that it was 19-year-old Gill who invented the sport in 1890, and the first game was played back on February 7, 1891. But the Gill family did not provide any tangible evidence, except for a photograph of Herkimer’s team, in which it is not at all clear what kind of sport the players were involved in.

In honor of Naismith, the NCAA Student Athletic Association is giving out its top honors – Naismith is the name given to the Best Player and Best Coach in Student Basketball.

In 2010, a bronze sculpture was erected at Springfield College in honor of the most famous worker of this university – James Naismith.

* * *

“I’m not worried about the future of basketball because the game itself is interesting no matter how much someone tries to change it. If a sport is interesting, it will always exist, and basketball is just that … It’s a good, integral game. ” By 1939, when James Naismith passed away, almost every school and college in the United States had a basketball team, and about 20 million people around the world played basketball.Now their number reaches 300 million.

Early members of the Basketball Hall of Fame include Naismith, Luther Gulick, Amos Alonzo Stagg, and the entire first basketball team to play the first basketball game on December 21, 1891. The Hall itself is located in Springfield, the birthplace of basketball, and is named after Dr. James Naismith – Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame.

“I want to leave this world in a slightly better state than the one in which I found it.” – James Naismith, inventor of basketball.

Photo: Gettyimages.ru/Hulton Archive; Global Look Press / KPA; wikipedia.org/D. Gordon E. Robertson; twitter.com/Full_Basket_; instagram.com/forpetessake29

90,000 Rabbit Museum and 12 more unusual museums from around the world – My vacation

We have become accustomed since childhood that in the museum visitors admire only ancient works of art and ancient artifacts. But modern museums have long been full of surprises and gladly rush to meet the age of rapid development and variety of tastes.

Sulabh International Toilet Museum, New Delhi, India

Those who have ever been to India are well aware of the local lack of decent latrines. Therefore, it is rather ironic that it was here that a museum dedicated to toilets and toilets was opened. Gandhi once said that “sanitation is even more important than independence.” But if you look at most of the Indian public toilets, it may seem that these words of the great philosopher and politician were not taken seriously by anyone here.

Lunchbox Museum, Columbus, Georgia (Columbus, Georgia), USA

If you thought there was nowhere to fall below, you are wrong. Even the metal lunchboxes from the Allen Woodall exhibition have been honored to participate in the museum exhibition. It’s funny that there is an exhibition of antique dishes next door.

Torture Museum in Amsterdam, Holland

This place is only suitable for those with a healthy stomach and strong nerves, because here the most cruel medieval torture installations are offered to the inquisitive viewer, from the inglorious throne of the Inquisition (pictured) to skull crusher.

Museum of Bad Art, 3 branches in Massachusetts, USA

Why are museums only for talented artists? This is the question the founder of this exhibition once asked himself and decided to create his own museum, where people can come to look at paintings that are “so bad that they cannot be ignored.” According to the curators of the exhibition, the museum aims to maintain a balance between the beautiful and the terrible in the world.

Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA

This is the only place in the world completely dedicated to all kinds of shapes and sizes of condiment containers.The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum displays about 20,000 spice containers from around the world.

Rabbit Museum, Altadena, California, USA

In addition to focusing directly on cute bunnies, this exhibit also focuses on funny verbal puns. At the entrance to the museum, you are offered to “jump”, and inside there are many other exhibits related to eared animals, the number of which “multiplies” day by day.

Ripley Museum of Weirdness (Ripley), many branches around the world

This museum has many branches around the planet, and it is dedicated to all the weirdest and most unusual on Earth. The very first museum of oddities was opened in St. Augustine, Florida (St Augustine, Florida).

Paris Sewer Museum, France

The underground world of Paris is cut up and down by ancient catacombs and atmospheric sewers, the history of which is celebrated here underground in the thematic museum.It, too, was once part of a common sewer system. Fortunately, this is in the past, and old drains are no longer used for their intended purpose, so that visitors to the exhibition do not have to worry about non-compliance with sanitary standards.

Kansas Barbed Wire Museum, Lacrosse, USA

This exhibition is one of a kind. Nowhere else in the world can you find a museum dedicated to the history of the “devil’s rope”, which has its own amazing past. For example, did you know that this wire has served some of the founders of the American state a lot?

Avanos Hair Museum, Turkey

Here is an exhibit from a slightly embarrassing collection of hair that once belonged to 16,000 different donors.All the curls of this museum were collected by a famous Turkish potter. Probably, such a sight can seriously disturb bald visitors.

Shin Yokohama Museum of Japanese Noodles, Tokyo

Another very primitive exhibition according to some guests, and it is dedicated to what is undoubtedly the fastest and most affordable snack on the planet – instant noodle soup …

Pharmacy-Museum, Lviv. Ukraine

It is located among ancient buildings of different eras, so at first glance it is difficult to distinguish it from other exhibitions.But in the depths of the basements of this building, you can find amazing potions and apparatus. Each visitor can look at the old book of Lviv pharmacists, containers for herbs and medicines, ampoules and barrels.
All those who want to improve their health or just stay in good shape should buy “iron wine”. This drink has a long formulation and is formulated to improve digestion, increase hemoglobin and stimulate metabolism.

Smuggling Museum. Odessa. Ukraine

In Odessa, which was famous for its criminals and brilliant thieves, a museum-exhibition of smuggling was created.It contains more than 150 items confiscated from smugglers, as well as detailed instructions on how to transport them across the border. Each guest will be able to inspect the heroin service, the car door in which the packs of cigarettes were transported, and so on. There are even the heels of shoes in which jewelry has been successfully transported. Many will be interested to hear how smugglers used the Odessa catacombs for their own purposes.

90,000 ★ 12 Most Epic Rafting Sites in the World ★

• Franklin River, Tasmania (Nearby Hotels)
• Futaleufu River, Chile (Nearby Hotels)
• Colorado River, Arizona (Nearby Hotels)
• (Nearby hotels)
• Cotahuasi River, Peru (Nearby hotels)
• Chilco River, British Columbia (Nearby hotels)
• Sun Kosi River, Nepal (Nearby hotels)
• Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica 90 (Nearby hotels
• ) Salmon River Middle Fork, Idaho (nearby hotels)
• Rio Zamora, Ecuador (nearby hotels)
• North Johnston River, Australia (Nearby hotels)
• Noche River, Italy (Nearby hotels)

Whitewater Rafting – Amazing Adventure sport because there are different threshold levels to try and test your comfort level.Class I and II rapids can often be navigated by true beginners and families with children, while Class V rapids can only be tried by experienced adrenaline seekers.

What’s also interesting about this sport is that there are incredible rivers with rapids all over the world, so chances are that you are not too far from where you live and plan to visit. Local guides can be found almost everywhere rafting is popular, and each river offers something different for the adventurer.

But if you’re trying to narrow your list down, here are some of the most epic rafting spots around the world.

Nelson Falls, Franklin Gordon Rivers National Park, Tasmania Nelson Falls, Franklin Gordon Rivers National Park, Tasmania

Franklin River, Tasmania (Nearby Hotels)

Activity and conservation helped preserve the environment around the Franklin River making Tasmania an unexpected rafting destination. A company called Tasmanian Expeditions spearheaded the first commercial trip in the late 1970s and continues to lead the way in local conservation efforts.The best time of the year for rafting here is from November to January. One recommended rafting trip here takes nine days, which is admittedly a big commitment to the sport. But if you’re up for the challenge, you’ll be rewarded with waterfalls, gorges, and epic rapids to battle.

Futaleufu River in Aisen District Futaleufu River in Aisen District

Futaleufu River, Chile (nearby hotels)

One of the most legendary rafting rivers in South America is the Futaleufu River in Chile.This river is fed by high lakes in the Andes Mountains of Patagonia and provides breathtaking mountain scenery. You will find several sections of the river for navigation and class V rapids here. However, some areas are suitable for beginners as well. Beginners can try multiple sections here, but the V-class rapids are challenging even for experienced rafters. Plan to spend a couple of days on this river and camp overnight for the full experience. While you’re in the area, continue your adventure by booking a guided climbing day or horseback riding.

Rafting on the Colorado River Rafting on the Colorado River

Colorado River, Arizona (Nearby Hotels)

There is nothing more grandiose in water rafting than the Grand Canyon. The Colorado River flows through the Grand Canyon and is an internationally renowned rafter site. This is a classic place to visit if you’ve already rafted and want more experience. The canyon walls, pits and rapids are huge and impressive. The Colorado River also flows through Cataract Canyon in Utah and has several huge Class V rapids.It is interesting to find a white river in the desert, but it is an impressive river that reaches its peak in June. Overall, the Colorado River is 226 miles long. As you explore, you can also check out the hiking trails, campgrounds, and Native American ruins in the area.

Zambezi River in Zimbabwe Zambezi River in Zimbabwe

Zambezi River, Zambia (Nearby Hotels)

Africa has some incredible floating rivers, but one of the best is the Zambezi River in Zambia.The river flows along the Bakota Gorge and stretches about 15 miles below Victoria Falls. A dramatic landscape marks this rafting route, which includes a couple of dozen rapids. This is the spot for class VI and V rapids, which are intimidating and best suited for experienced rafters. Most of the rapids here are class IV. Also, hippos and crocodiles are often found in these waters.

Rio Cotahuasi in Cotahuasi Canyon in Peru Rio Cotahuasi in Cotahuasi Canyon in Peru

Cotahuasi River, Peru (nearby hotels)

Classic river expedition in Peru travels on the Rio Cotahuasi river.This route passes high canyons and Inca ruins, which can only be reached by boat. But this is not a trip for the faint of heart. You will need to walk all day to reach a location that can be reached from Cotahuasi. Popular rafting trips here last a week and include about 100 miles of rapids that reach Grade IV and V status. This is a really special trip because you can camp near the ancient Inca ruins that the modern world has left untouched.

Chilko River, Lava Canyon Chilko River, Lava Canyon

Chilko River, British Columbia (Nearby Hotels)

Another epic area in North America for rafting is the Chilko River, which is famous for its Class IV rapids. The river is surrounded by stunning scenery in all directions – glacier peaks, alpine forests and lush meadows. This journey takes you through Love Canyon, Farwell Canyon and Big John Canyon, and is considered the longest stretch of navigable water in North America.Another river water in British Columbia worth visiting is the Alesque River. It is a 140-mile river, flanked by towering peaks and huge glaciers. Definitely dress for the weather though, because the water temperature doesn’t often go above freezing.

Rafting in NepalRafting in Nepal

Sun Kosi River, Nepal (Nearby Hotels)

Nepal is known for its high mountain peaks, and the Sun Kosi River offers an alpine experience for adventure lovers. The river is located near the Tibetan border in the Himalayan ridge.You will experience class V rapids and landscapes that range from jungle to forests, canyons and gorges. The Drigung Chu River is another rafting spot in the region that is well worth a visit.

Rio Pacuare, Costa RicaRio Pacuare, Costa Rica

Rio Pacuare, Costa Rica (Nearby hotels)

Costa Rica is an adventure-lover’s paradise, so it comes as no surprise that there are excellent rafting opportunities. Come to Rio Pacuare to experience the 67 miles of the river, which is divided into three sections.Here you will find Class III and Class IV thresholds which are perfect for intermediate rafters. Wildlife enthusiasts will also love this rafting, as monkeys and exotic birds can often be seen on the shores.

Pine Creek Rapids. Salmon River Pine Creek Rapids. Salmon River

Salmon River Middle Fork, Idaho (nearby hotels)

Also in the USA, the Salmon River Middle Fork is a very popular rafting destination. Come to this part of Idaho between late May and mid June for the best conditions.Here you will find fairly continuous Class IV thresholds that do not give many rafter breaks. Plan a trip to this river if you are looking for pure wildlife that has not been tainted by roads or shelter. Other than Alaska, you won’t find a more remote wilderness area without traffic. However, you can see some bears around the river. The full path is 105 miles long, with 3,000 feet of vertical drop and no less than 100 rapids.

Rafting in Zamora EcuadorRafting in Zamora Ecuador

Rio Zamora, Ecuador (nearby hotels)

One of the most famous rivers for rafting in Ecuador is the Rio Zamora.For inspiration, see the history book, A Journey through Rio Zamora, Ecuador J.L. Hermessen. Rivers on the Amazon side in the Andes tend to have more steady streams and are larger, cleaner and more scenic than those in the Western Andes. Besides Rio Zamora, another great rafting spot in Ecuador is Rio Upano. This river flows through the rainforest, so you can see unique wildlife and local villages along the way. Most adventure seekers start their journey in the city of Makas and travel through the canyons, class IV rapids, waterfalls and the Namangos gorge.

Rafting Rafting

North Johnston River, Australia (Nearby hotels)

Head north from Queensland for Class IV and V rapids on the North Johnston River. On this Australian itinerary, you will see rainforests, volcanic gorges and Palmerston National Park. But one of the most memorable things you can see here is the bioluminescent mushrooms that glow in the forest and on the rocks. The heavy rains that fall in the area make these rapids so dramatic.Plan to camp overnight for the best nighttime views. This is an exciting journey for true white water lovers, because you will need a helicopter to get to the beginning of the river route.

Vermiglana Creek in Val di Sole Italy Vermiglana Creek in Val di Sole Italy

River Noce, Italy (Nearby hotels)

Italy is known for many different things, but rafting is not often one of them. However, the Noce River is an amazing rafting destination because this is where the Dolomites of northern Italy meet melting glaciers.This trip will give you a complete picture of what this country is like. Class V rapids can be found in the Mostizzolo Gorges, providing one of the most thrilling experiences in Europe.

Biography of Oscar Giannino | 1xmatch

biography • Economics and politics under the microscope

Oscar Fulvio Giannino was born on September 1, 1961 in Turin. Having started political activities in the PRI, the Italian Republican Party, he became secretary of the youth federation in 1984.After three years in power, in 1987 he resigned to become a representative and a member of the National Office: the tasks that he will undertake. leave in 1994. In the meantime, he became a journalist, wrote in La Voce Repubblicana, the party’s daily newspaper, of which he became editor-in-chief in 1988. In 1992 he was enrolled in the Order of Journalists. and worked on the monthly Liberal, a sheet of the eponymous foundation created by Ferdinando Adornato no sooner than he left the Republican Party in 1995.

After becoming deputy editor of Liberal, which eventually became a weekly, in 1999 Oscar Giannino was named head of the economic pages of Il Foglio, a newspaper run by Giuliano Ferrara that often dictates the country’s political agenda. In 2004, Giannino left Elefantino and moved to Riformista, where he took over as Deputy Director Antonio Polito.

Next year he will be the main character of the small screen, anchorman of “Batti e ribatti”, an in-depth political program broadcast on Raiuno after the news at 20: 3; in the publishing industry, he was called to the vice management of Finanza & Mercati.Collaborated with the daily newspaper Libero under the leadership of Vittorio Feltri, he became – on May 2007, 2009 – the director of LiberoMercato, the financial and economic supplement of the newspaper, which, however, left less than two years later, in February XNUMX, he was dismissed from for disagreements with the publisher.

He took the GOP card in 2007 (having signed the liberal reformers manifesto a year earlier), he became a member of the National Council (and in 2011 he will also transfer to the National Party Leadership).Meanwhile, in collaboration with the Bruno Leoni Institute, he creates Chicago-blog.it, an opinion and information portal, where he, along with other journalists and experts, explores current economic and political issues.

After the press and television comes the radio moment: in fact, since June 2009, Giannino has been hosting “Nove in punto, version of the Oscar,” an in-depth program broadcast at 9 am Monday through Friday on Radio 24, Radio Sole 24 Ore. Columnist for Il Mattino and Panorama and co-director of the monthly magazine Capo Horn, journalist becomes president in 2011 of the committee to review the objection to a referendum on privatization of water supplies.

Among other things, as a member of the scientific committee of the Italy-USA Foundation, Giannino devotes most of his free time to caring for cancer patients after developing a deep sensitivity to this subject, personally involved in the disease.

Columnist for Rid, Il Gazzettino and Il Messaggero, in 2011 he married Margarita Brindisi in Rome in a civil ceremony led by Georgia Meloni, then Minister of Youth Policy.

Among the publications of Giannino, we note “The Foreign Policy of Washington (1982 y.), “Europe of Cultures” (1996), “Against taxes. Because it is possible, necessary and wrong to reduce taxes ”(2007).

In July 2012, he was instrumental in the creation of a (not yet political) movement called Stop Decline. In December, he announced on YouTube via a video that the movement had become a de facto political party called Fare; a few days later, at the beginning of the new year, he announced his candidacy for the post of chairman of the Council of Ministers, however, a few days before the election, news spread that Giannino had lied about his academic achievements (this is a master’s degree).the degree included in the curriculum was never actually achieved). Giannino then confirmed that he had never received either a master’s degree or two degrees, explaining this story with a misunderstanding: on February 20, 2013, he announced his resignation from the presidency of Fare, while continuing to participate in the elections.

Phrases by Oscar Giannino

Without globalization, we would just screw up.

If you think markets are evil, you can also lull yourself into believing that safe haven goods are three Ms: money, metals, and bricks.But if, on the other hand, you think that evil is inherent in people as well as good, and markets are just a tool for assessing their risk, then refuge lies in the three T’s: head, tenacity and recklessness.

Thanks to outdated globalization, we have associated with the engine of planetary growth, world trade, an unprecedented number of inhabitants in the history of the Earth. We have detached ourselves from a pure subsistence economy, that is, from a high risk of starvation, more in a decade than in all of world history.And in a couple of decades ahead, again thanks to the same mechanism, hundreds of millions of people, unparalleled since we have a historical memory, will for the first time become consumers of goods and services with increasing added value.

More than 10 years ago, this genius Jim O’Neill coined the acronym Bric, stating that Brazil, Russia, India and China would be the powerhouse of countries for growth. To prove him right, we had to come to terms with the onset of the epoch-making crisis, which, since 2007, has been affecting developed countries and their models of financial intermediation.

Liquidity is a classic fluid response inspired by the suspension of judgment.

Until you understand where the market is going, it is better to keep what you have in banknotes, that is, in deposit accounts that only enrich the banks.

All historical series over twenty years show that during this period, equity is always better than bonds, and it is better than money market funds. Obviously, if you are completely unlucky, this does not mean that you will experience two deep crises in twenty years of your portfolio investment, as happened, for example, in Italy between the early 1992s and XNUMX.In this case, the comparative yield may also differ. from the action that beats everyone.

Markets are designed to make profit in both good and bad cases, rewarding those who value the best. And also the decline in the value of assets is a competition for prizes, who values ​​better.

What many fail to understand, most notably among politicians who hate drastic cuts for their delays that increase country risk, is that lowering the price of soaring risk is an activity as worthy as being rewarded by rising prices companies or countries that perform better.

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Born on the same day as Oscar Giannino.