lacrosses

Lacrosse, often pluralized lacrosses, is a team sport played by two opposing teams with a lacrosse stick (crosse) and ball, with the object of scoring by shooting the ball into the opponent's goal. The game traces its origins to Indigenous peoples of North America, where different communities played variations of the game with cultural and ceremonial meanings. In the 19th century, Canadian and American players codified rules and popularized the sport; the term lacrosse derives from la crosse, French for "the stick."

Field and equipment: Field lacrosse is played on a grass or turf field with goals at each end; men's games typically feature ten players per side, while women's games use twelve. Players use sticks with a head that can cradle, catch, and throw the ball; protective equipment is required, with men generally wearing helmets with face masks, gloves, shoulder and elbow pads, and men’s penalties for contact; women wear protective eyewear and mouthguards, with less padding.

Gameplay: The objective is to score more goals than the opponent. Players advance the ball by running with it, cradling the stick, passing, and shooting. Rules distinguish between contact levels and stick checks, with more physical contact permitted in men's lacrosse than in women's.

Governance and competition: World Lacrosse serves as the international governing body, with national federations around the world. In North America, college and university programs in the NCAA operate at the field level, while the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) is a leading professional circuit for field lacrosse and the National Lacrosse League (NLL) operates box lacrosse indoors. The sport also features international competitions such as the World Lacrosse Championships.