Lacrosse is a game of Native American origin. French Missionaries coined the term "le jeu de la crosse" in reference to the similarity of appearance of a Catholic Bishop's staff ("Crossier") and the stick or racquet used to play the game. The game was played for multiple purposes by the various Native cultures and had many names. "Lacrosse" is a spiritual and medicine game, especially to the Iroquois, and was played to rid a settlement of sickness and to resolve disputes between disputing factions.The version of lacrosse that is played today most closely resembles the Iroquois version.

On June 4, 1763 the Ojibwa and Sauk played a game of lacrosse or Baggatiway (Little Brother of War") to honor the King of England's birthday outside the gates of Fort Michilimackinac. The game was a ruse to lull the soldiers and settlers in the fort into letting their guard down. It worked! The Ojibwa and Sauk eventually attacked and sacked the fort by throwing the ball over the wall several times. Eventually, the soldiers opened the gate of the fort to make retrieving and returning the ball easier. When the gate was opened the players attacked with weapons that had been hidden previously in nearby vegetation.

Today, lacrosse is the fastest growing team sport in the United States with over 1,200 high school teams, 400 college teams and many parks and recreation and club teams for both boys and girls. Lacrosse requires the athleticism of basketball, the physical toughness of ice hockey and the endurance of soccer. The men's version of lacrosse can be highly physical. However, the women's game does not allow nearly the same amount of contact. There are many opportunities to continue playing lacrosse after high school and college. There are professional indoor and outdoor teams and hundreds of club teams made up of post-collegiate players. In addition, there are many tournaments and jamborees for players of all ages throughout the country and even in other nations. Today lacrosse is played in over 25 nations. Every four years the world championships are held to determine which nation has the best lacrosse players.