Lacrosse is a game rich in history, involving a stick and rubber ball. First created by North American Indians in the 15th century, this game was a favorite pastime for recreation. However, the Indians soon discovered that the game was physically demanding, making it a great training tool for teaching the warriors to fight.

These days the stick is made from titanium, and the ball is rubber. In its early years, no less than 100 men played Lacrosse, and sometimes even 1,000 joined the game. They would begin at sunrise, end at sunset, with perhaps three days in between. Rocks and trees were the goals, and they were spaced from 500 yards to a half mile apart.

About 200 years after the sport began, Jesuit French missionaries learned about Lacrosse, and news of it began traveling to more people. This somewhat rough game is still played in the US, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and more. Players must be strong and smart. Read on for some tips on how to win.

First, remember that the more time the Lacrosse stick is in your hands the better it will work for you. In addition, make your stick your best friend, taking it with you running or walking so that you become comfortable handling it. Also, if you are right-handed, learn to work the stick left-handed and vice versa. You should also learn how to change the direction and speed of your cradle.

Lacrosse experts will recommend doing sprints to help build up your endurance and your legs. These same experts also believe wooden sticks to be superior over their titanium counterparts. Two reasons are that the metal is cold and causes the hands to stiffen, and the plastic heads break and wear out more quickly. The main reason however, is that the wooden sticks are more absorbent upon impact.

Lacrosse players are constantly moving during their games. The offensive players move to draw attention away from the defensive players. The defense is there to protect the offense and not help the opposing defensive players. When you are close to the goal, keep your passes short, accurate and to the outside, away from the defense. Regular passes are hit hard. Players never stand still, even if they just run backward and forward until they have the ball.

Also when you're in possession, make a lot of fake passes to keep the defense on their toes. Keep your stick moving so the defense will have to do the same as they keep you in their sights. Be careful to never pass the ball to someone who is well covered. Lacrosse is great fun but it keeps you thinking and moving every minute.

Copyright 2006, Tate Palumb, All Rights Reserved. This article may be published on web sites or in newsletters provided this notice and the resource box is included without ammendment.