Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in North America. The combination of speed, skill, physicality, and strategy make it an exciting spectator and player sport. But for some unfamiliar with the game, a common question arises – is lacrosse actually a legitimate competitive sport?
In this in-depth guide, we’ll cover what qualifies lacrosse as a sport, its professional leagues, competitive levels, and more.
What Makes Lacrosse a Sport?
Let’s start with the definition of what constitutes a sport. A sport is generally considered to be an athletic competition involving physical exertion and skill with common elements such as:
- Rules – Governing structure and objective.
- Competition – Contested between opposing teams or individuals.
- Physicality – Requires physical skills and athleticism.
- Strategy – Tactics, teamwork, skill development.
- Entertainment – Provides a spectator experience.
Across all these factors, lacrosse unequivocally qualifies as a sport. The sport checks every box:
Rules: Lacrosse has well-defined rules overseen by governing bodies. Rules cover field dimensions, equipment, scoring, contact, penalties and more.
Competition: Teams compete to outscore their opponent to win matches. Competition exists at amateur and professional levels.
Physicality: Players require tremendous coordination, speed, endurance and skill to perform well. Checking, intercepting passes, cradling the ball while running and shooting with precision all demand athleticism.
Strategy: Teams carefully strategize on lineups, plays, formations, pace of play and defensive schemes to gain advantages. Individual player development is also crucial.
Entertainment: Lacrosse is played before enthusiastic fans in stadiums and enjoys a growing televised presence. Fans are entertained by fast transitions, physical play, and skilled moves.
In addition to meeting all the criteria of a sport, lacrosse has governing bodies, tournaments, trophies, dedicated equipment, competitive leagues for adults and youth, global reach, professional athletes, and more. The structured competition and professionalization cement lacrosse’s standing as an established sport.
Lacrosse Leagues and Competitions
From youth to college to professional levels, lacrosse features highly organized competition and leagues. Some top leagues and championships include:
- National Lacrosse League – Professional indoor lacrosse league.
- Premier Lacrosse League – Professional outdoor lacrosse league.
- NCAA Lacrosse – Competitive collegiate lacrosse with championships.
- National Championships – Amateur tournaments contested by top youth and high school athletes.
- World Lacrosse Championships – International competition held every 4 years.
This extensive organizational structure with standings, playoffs, all-star teams, and global championships mirrors all the hallmarks of major established sports.
Lacrosse History as an Organized Sport
Lacrosse has origins dating back centuries to Native American stickball games used for recreation and settling disputes between tribes. The indigenous game consisted of hundreds of players covering miles of terrain and lasting sunup to sundown.
But in the mid-1800s, lacrosse evolved into an organized competitive sport as non-Native Americans adopted the game and developed modern rules, equipment, leagues, and tournaments that endure today. Lacrosse has been an established organized sport played continent-wide for over 150 years.
Since its beginnings, lacrosse participation has ballooned to over 1 million players globally. The sport continues to grow at youth, amateur, collegiate and professional levels while retaining a cherished spot in North American sporting culture.
So despite perceptions by some as a novelty activity, lacrosse boasts a distinguished history and pedigree as an organized sport stretching back generations alongside football, baseball and basketball.
Is Lacrosse an Olympic Sport?
Lacrosse has featured as a medal sport in the Summer Olympics three times – in 1904, 1908 and 1928. Canada won 2 gold and 2 silver medals across these Olympiads. Lacrosse was also demonstrated in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics.
After many decades of absence, lacrosse returned as an Olympic exhibition sport in the 1984, 1988 and 1996 Summer Games. The sport made a bid for a full return in 2012 and 2016 but these efforts fell short.
Lacrosse enthusiasts hope the sport can eventually regain full Olympic standing, but political hurdles with the IOC have thus far prevented this. But lacrosse’s past Olympic medals and continued exhibition presence reinforce its sporting merits.
Is Lacrosse Considered a Major Sport?
Categorizing sports between major and minor status is subjective and shifts over time as popularity rises or declines. Traditionally, major sports in America encompass pro baseball, football, basketball and hockey along with auto racing, tennis, soccer, and golf.
By these measures, lacrosse currently qualifies as a minor sport but has experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years. Its rising youth participation numbers and professional success point to lacrosse potentially achieving major sport status at some stage as it continues expansion.
Distinctive Qualities of Lacrosse as a Sport
Beyond checking the definitional boxes, lacrosse offers unique traits that set it apart within the broader sporting landscape:
- Blend of finesse and physicality – Combines graceful athleticism with hard-hitting action.
- Native American roots – Indigenous game modernized into an established sport.
- Continuous flow – Play moves rapidly up and down the field.
- Distinctive equipment – Padded sticks used to catch, cradle, and pass the ball.
Lacrosse also bridges elements of several major North American sports – taking aspects of ice hockey’s physicality, soccer’s fluidity, basketball’s scoring, and more. This blend of components from multiple sports provides entertaining matches.
Is Lacrosse a Spring Sport? When is Lacrosse Season?
Yes, lacrosse is traditionally considered a spring sport due to its season spanning the spring months. Exact league dates vary, but the typical lacrosse season runs from February/March through May or June.
Here’s a quick overview of lacrosse season timeframes:
- High School: February/March – May/June
- College: February – May
- Professional Leagues: April – August (outdoor), December – June (indoor)
Read more about when the Lacrosse season starts. All levels listed here.
Spring’s warmer weather allows for lacrosse to be played outdoors on grass fields without snow or extreme cold hampering play. The spring schedule also fits customary academic sports timelines and does not conflict with fall/winter sports seasons.
Some limited “fall ball” lacrosse leagues exist from September to November for off-season training. But the primary competitive season aligns with spring’s milder weather hence the “spring sport” designation.
Final Thoughts: Lacrosse is Undoubtedly a Sport
In conclusion, any doubts about lacrosse’s validity or merits as a bonafide sport are definitively dispelled by:
- Lacrosse meets all definitional criteria of a sport.
- Structured leagues, tournaments, championships, and governing oversight.
- origins as an indigenous competitive game modernized into an organized sport over 150 years ago.
- Blend of speed, finesse, physicality, and strategy that entertains fans.
- Mass participation at amateur levels and professionalization.
- Growing prominence within the North American and global sporting landscape.
So is lacrosse a sport? Undoubtedly. And its rising popularity points to an even brighter future for this unique, fast-paced athletic competition tracing its roots back centuries.
