Lacrosse Field:
Lacrosse fields are basically a combination of a football field and hockey rink. There are two goals on each side of the field in the form of nets. The field is made up of grass or AstroTurf and is divided into three main sections that separate different positions. Although all these boundaries exist today, they did not 200 years ago. Back in the day there was no goalie and it was up to all the players to save shots on the goal zone, there wasn't even a net to score on. Since it was 200 years ago they used a rock and since rocks are heavy they could throw it and it would stay where they wanted, so the goals were just a zone where players had to get the rock/ball.
Zones & Positions:
There are many different zones on the field that players can and cannot enter. The three main zones are set up from right to left, restraining box, midfield, restraining box, the two restraining boxes are determined after a team possesses the ball at a face off. Once a team has possession of the ball the restraining box is lengthened to the midfield line. Each restraining box contains a goalie, three defense, and three attack making 7 players on each far side of the field. The mid-field zone contains three middies from each team adding up to a total of six players. There are 10 players from each team allowed on at a time. The Native American lacrosse field was much different. There were no restraining boxes or boundaries and many more players were on the field at once. Players were allowed to run wherever they want.
Defense:
Defense is made of of three players per team. Each three are allowed to go up to the restraining box until a possession is called, after it is called defensive players are allowed to go up to mid field line. Native Americans had no restraining boxes so they were allowed to run up and down the field whenever.
Attack:
Attack follows basically the same rules of defense except attack is offence. Attack has to stay in the restraining box until a possession is called and then they are allowed to go up to mid-field.
Middy:
Middies start on the mid-field line and are made up of three middies or two middies and a defender. Once possession is called they are allowed to go wherever they want on the field.
Defense:
Defense is made of of three players per team. Each three are allowed to go up to the restraining box until a possession is called, after it is called defensive players are allowed to go up to mid field line. Native Americans had no restraining boxes so they were allowed to run up and down the field whenever.
Attack:
Attack follows basically the same rules of defense except attack is offence. Attack has to stay in the restraining box until a possession is called and then they are allowed to go up to mid-field.
Middy:
Middies start on the mid-field line and are made up of three middies or two middies and a defender. Once possession is called they are allowed to go wherever they want on the field.
Rules:
There aren't too many rules to follow when playing lacrosse but compared to how it was played 200 years ago, it seems like a lot. In the original game there was no net to score on, players had to shoot the ball in between two flag poles that were two miles apart. The game was also played with almost 1,000 men.