Did you ever wonder where the sport, lacrosse, originated?

Well, I did and I would have guessed that it was somewhere in Europe. Was I ever wrong? Would you believe that it began as a team sport of Native American origin in the United States and Canada. I’m not putting you on, it really did. In fact, Lacrosse began among the Huron and Iroquois tribes. It began as a ball sport as part of a religious ritual, played to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, develop strong, virile men and to prepare for war.

Just what is Lacrosse, you ask? It is a team game played with a solid rubber ball and long-handled racquets called a crosse or a lacrosse stick with loose netting designed to “hold” the lacrosse ball. The stick is used to catch, carry and pass the ball so as to eventually score a goal by hurling it into the opponent’s net.

Lacrosse is now played in high schools, colleges and even by professional leagues in the United States. Locally, the Ultimate Soccer Arena at 867 South Blvd. in Pontiac has an indoor Lacrosse field that is quite popular and admission is free to spectators.

If you ever wondered about Lacrosse, now you know more and can even see it locally.