Lacrosse is a team sport played with a lacrosse stick and a hard rubber ball. It is the oldest organized sport in North America, with its origins in aboriginal Canada as early as the 17th century. Today, it is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and the world. It is scheduled to be an exhibition sport in the 2024 Olympic games.

Lacrosse combines many elements of hockey, basketball, football, and soccer. Players use the head of the lacrosse stick to carry, pass, catch, and shoot the ball into the goal. The sport has three versions that have different sticks, fields, rules and equipment: field lacrosse, women's lacrosse, and box lacrosse. Men's field lacrosse (outdoor) and box lacrosse (indoor for both men and women), are contact sports and all players wear protective gear: helmet, gloves, shoulder pads, and elbow pads.  The women's game is played outdoors and does not allow body contact but does allow stick to stick contact. The only protective gear required for women players is eye gear, while goalies wear helmets and protective pads.

The game is played in 10-12 minute quarters. The number of players on the field varies by age. For 8U, there are 4 players on the field, for 10U, 7 per side, and for 12U and 14U there are 10 players per side.

The Santa Cruz County Lacrosse Association first started in 2005 and has programs for boys and girls ages 6-14. Lacrosse is a high-school sport at Aptos, Harbor, Pacific Collegiate , Scotts Valley, Soquel high schools.

10. Lacrosse is the oldest team sport in North America. It was started by Native Americans and is known as “The Creator’s Game”.

9. It is one of the fastest growing sports in high school and college.

8. Studies show that lacrosse players are more likely to play lacrosse at the collegiate level than baseball, basketball, soccer, football, or swimming. One in seven high school players go on to play lacrosse in college (source: https.//scholarshipstats.com/varsityodds).

7. Lacrosse is great cross-training for other sports such as; football, basketball, and soccer and helps make multi-sport athletes.

6. To develop agility, speed, grit, and endurance.

5. To develop fast reflexes and good hand-eye coordination with both hands and feet.

4. Lacrosse supports diversity and inclusion.

3. Because you will enjoy watching the game as much as your player will have fun playing it.  Hands down the most fun game to watch as a parent.  See our parent testimonials.

2. Team members build long lasting friendships.

And the #1 reason for your student to play lacrosse is…

1. To have fun, learn new skills and be a part of a team.