Created By:

Kelly Schrage

4th Grade

Big Flats Elementary

Click on the arrows to advance through the PowerPoint Presentation. Click on the longhouse to listen to the information.

Your friends have joined you for a walk along the Chemung River in Elmira, New York.  As you walk by the flowing river, a huge bald eagle lands in a towering tree nearby.

"Look around, boys and girls," announces the Eagle.  "The River, known as the “large bull-thistle”, has changed over the past 600 years.  Can you imagine what this land was like back then?“

"Wow," your excited friends respond. "Could you bring us back to that time so that we can see what it was like for the Native Americans?“

"Hop onto my back," invites the Eagle, "and hold on tightly. I will help you learn about some of the Native Americans who live in New York. You will learn the ways of the First People."

Native Americans of New York have contributed to our lives or

lifestyles today. These contributions included things

such as language, food, games, clothing, legends, and even

architecture (building/planning).

Your team’s job will be to explore, research and gather facts about

the Iroquois and then choose one topic to research and present to

another team.

Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America, having been played by Native American tribes long before any European had even set foot on the continent.

A century after European missionaries discovered the game played by Native Americans, they began to play it themselves, starting in the 18th century.

From there, it evolved and grew in popularity from a very savage game that resembled war, into what it is today, a recreational sport played widely in America and other countries.

Lacrosse

The Iroquois called the game Tewaarathon, meaning little brother of war.

Purpose for PlayingWhen the first people of America started playing lacrosse centuries ago, the game served many purposes. It was played for religious celebration, to train young men for war, entertainment, physical conditioning and to settle disputes between tribes.

Equipment/Gear UsedAmong Iroquois tribes a double-stick version of the game was played. A two-and-a half foot stick is held in each hand, and the soft, small deerskin ball is retrieved and cupped between them. Players did not wear any protective equipment or even shoes.

Native American Lacrosse

Basic Rules of the GameThis game requires the greatest skill for catching, carrying, and passing a ball using only the basketlike head of the lacrosse stick. Quickness, stamina, and strength were equally important to play the game well.

In the earliest times of American Indian lacrosse, the game had few rules, if any.. Since there were no rules and players did not wear any protective equipment or even shoes, injuries to players were severe and occurred often.

The TeamThere were no limitations on the number of players on a team, and often there would be as many as one thousand players in a lacrosse game at the same time

TimeLacrosse games would last for days, stopping at sunset and continuing the next day at sunrise.

FieldThe goal of the game was to get the deerskin ball into the other team’s goal. The fields had no boundaries, and goals were usually between 500 yards to a half-mile apart, though sometimes they were several miles apart. The goals were usually marked by a single tree or a large rock, and points were scored by hitting it with the ball.

Native American Lacrosse (Continued)

Modern Lacrosse

Purpose for PlayingModern lacrosse is very different than Native American “stickball”. Today, people play lacrosse mainly as a sport or for entertainment.

Equipment/GearToday, there is very specific gear that is worn by the players. This gear includes a helmet, shoulder pads, rib pads, arm guards, gloves, cleats and one stick.

Player’s sticks vary depending on the position that they are playing. There are three basic sizes: defense, midfield & attack and goalie. The ball is made up of a hard rubber.

Basic Rules of the GameUnlike Native Americans, modern lacrosse does have rules. In addition, there are different rules for men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse. For this task we will be focusing on men’s lacrosse.

TeamsThere are 10 players on the field at a time for each team: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attacks. Goalies and defensemen try to stop the opposition from scoring; the attacks are the offense, and midfielders are expected to do a bit of both, generally bringing the ball down the field or running back to play defense. There are a varying number of other players who wait on the sidelines to substitute for the 10 players on the field. In modern lacrosse there is limited physical contact allow. Those that are to rough can receive personal fouls. After 5 fouls they are kicked out of the game.

TimePlaying time 60 minutes per game. The time is divided into four periods of 15 minutes each. Scoring is similar to that of hockey and soccer, one point per goal. The team with the most goals at the end of play wins. In the event of a tie, the teams play a sudden-death overtime, with the first goal ending the game. The FieldSimilar to a soccer field, a lacrosse field runs 110 yards in length by 60 yards in width. The goals, also known as cages or nets must be six foot by six foot, and constructed of one and a half inch metal pipe, and painted orange. These goals are placed at opposite ends of the field allowing 15 yards of field behind the goals (similar to hockey).

Modern Lacrosse …continued

SCORE!

Information on clip: The 1999 Nations Cup was held September 16-19 at Oshwekan, Ontario at Six Nations. It is the world championship of aboriginal lacrosse. More clips can be seen at http://www.e-lacrosse.com/1999/nationscup/1.htm

To find out more about lacrosse, read page 31 in the Native American book (soft orange

cover)

Lacrosse…continued