Lacrosse stick

“ The goals are simply two poles six feet high and six feet apart, and in front of them, at a lacrosse stick's length from their base, a line is marked with whitewash, inside of which no attacking player must enter unless the ball has preceded him. If he enters in advance of the ball, the goal-keeper may drive him out at the point of his stick, and use any violence necessary for that purpose. ”

“ When a rush is made for it, depress the handle of your crosse so as to bring it almost level with the ball, holding it down stiff so as to secure it. Your antagonist, if running at any speed, will make an attempt to pick up under your crosse, but the instant he attempts it, depress your stick, and the probability is that his will slide over yours, and before he can recover you can pick up without opposition. The crosse must be first kept as seen in the illustration, to deceive your opponent and invite him to thrust at the ball ”

“ There is no restriction upon the length of the stick, but the measurement most likely to suit all parties is from the toe, close into the hollow under either arm. A long stick is better for long and hard throwing, and for general play, providing the player can manage it ”

“ No player shall grasp an opponent's stick with his hands, hold with his arms, or between his legs; nor shall any player hold his opponent's crosse with his crosse in any way to keep him from the ball until another player reaches it. ”

“ The ball was thrown from it by a jerk, and could not be pitched as far as with the present stick, as it got but little impetus. The Indians dodged very little, except when the ball was caught or picked up in a crowd, and dodging was necessary. This seems the more remarkable when we consider the shape of the stick, and the peculiar facilities for dodging, afforded by the concavity of the netting and the smallness of the hoop which retained the ball. ”

“ The present manner of opening the game of Lacrosse is supposed to have originated soon after the introduction of the present shaped stick, and has no resemblance to the beginning of any other game. There was no chance for skill in the old methods of facing—in the ball laid on the ground or thrown up in the air, and the general rush and scramble. That there is considerable knack and art in taking the ball at present, is proved by the proficiency attained by Centres who practise particularly for this part of early play. A few years ago the Indians oftener had it their own way than now ”

“ There it lies on the ground before him; nothing seems simpler than to pick it up. He makes a frantic dash with his stick lowered, but the ball makes a retrograde movement, and the more he pokes at it, the more it seems to evade him. ”

“ As a rule the best and most effective throwing is made with both hands on the crosse; but it is often necessary, and sometimes preferable, to throw with one hand—as, for instance, when so closely checked that you have not time to grasp the stick with the disengaged hand, or when an opportunity offers for a throw into goal which would be lost by the time you would get another grasp. If you want to throw to a man of your side, guard against misjudging the distance, and never attempt it unless he is at least within forty feet. ”

“ The arm should hang at full length, and the stick at the lowest level at which the ball will not fall off. The arm and wrist alone should control the crosse; the body should not be contorted. It is a common play to dandle the ball on the netting when running, and otherwise add variety to the plain carry; and we would recommend players cultivating this dandling of the ball, when carrying near an opponent, and even in many carried dodges. Recently some players have resorted to ingenious constructions of the wooden part of the crosse, to get over the restrictions about bagging the netting. ”

“ When you block a ball near the edge of either flag pole it is liable to slip sideways; as these balls are generally stopped at arm-stretch, when you cannot bring to them a full face of the netting. The instant you block at either side spring to that side ; bring the nearest foot in line with your crosse, toe to the stick and follow with the next foot heels in line with each other. This gives a guard the width of your crosse and two feet together, and has often, in our experience saved games. ”

“ When running, the safest place to carry is on the centre surface, because you can there control the ball better, and are always ready for an effective one-hand throw. If you carry on the lower angle, you have little control of the ball if your stick is struck by a checker; if on the extreme top surface you cannot recover quick, if hard hit, unless you have a short grip. ”

“ In facing, Centre is obliged to place the right side of the netting against the ball, and it seems awkward that in case of a slip, where the crosse has to be used as in close play, that he should have to reverse his stick or play at a disadvantage. It is more convenient, too, to have the angular ridge suggested for the Centre's crosse, on the side with which he plays. However, many good players who use the left side maintain that they make the ball run close to the wood in throwing ; and the most natural side for each player is the only rule. ”

“ The netting must be flat when the ball is not on it. In its widest part the crosse shall not exceed one foot. A string must be brought through a hole at the side of the tip of the turn, to prevent the point of the stick catching an opponent's crosse. A leading string resting upon the top of the stick may be used, but must not be fastened, so as to form a pocket, lower down the stick than the end of the length strings. ”

“ Lay the ball on the ground, place the stick beside it as in facing, and you will see the object of this ridge, and will understand why some novices succeed in taking the ball away every time from older players. If your crosse is flat, or perfectly round at the part where the ridge should be, it will hardly have any catch to hook the ball ”

“ If he stands in the exact centre, throw at the side corresponding to the hand which grasps the butt of his stick. For instance, if his right hand is at the butt, throw past his right side, and vice versa. The theory of this is, that it cramps the arms and crosse a little more to stop balls, especially grounders and low straights, which come on the same side as that which corresponds to the carrying grasp, as that arm is then partly in the way. If he stands to one side, throw at the side most open. If goal-keeper's crosse is held as if expecting a curved ball, throw a grounder ”

“ Block with the head surface of the netting, and as the ball slides up, depress the handle of your stick, and scoop it up by a thrust forward and upward. If the ball is very swift, keep the handle of your crosse well advanced until you block, then depress it and catch. When running to meet a grounder, guard against it slipping after caught. Whether you should catch at arms' length, or at closer distance, must depend upon your position at the time. ”

“ The circumference of the stick should be about 31⁄2 inches in its thickest part ; the back part, which is pierced for the netting, should be shaved flat about a quarter of an inch wide on both sides of the holes. All trimming should be completed before commencing to weave. Care must be taken not to sacrifice strength to appearance. A curve too thin is sure to crack at the holes, and some fine morning collapse. ”

“ Who has not seen every part of the anatomy maimed by cricket and base ball, and eyes gouged out by racket balls. The worst accident yet known from Lacrosse was the fracture of the radius of an arm by a fall. No one was ever maimed for life, though it is hard to go earnestly into the game and entirely escape some slight skin cuts and scratches. Many players have their own blood upon their heads by persistent attempts to dodge when they cannot dodge; but after all no game is worth a fig if it has not some spice of danger. ”

“ We knew a home-man, whose forte it was to stand near goal, and tip the ball to the flags if it condescended to come within the reach of his crosse. He was the laziest mortal ever seen on a Lacrosse field; he was never known to disturb his equanimity by a run, but, if the ball came anywhere within the circuit of his crosse, it was generally caught on the wing, or hooked from the ground and tipped into the flags like a shot. A quick tip from a short distance is more puzzling to a goal-keeper than a clean throw. ”

“ How determinedly, how earnestly they work; how they put their hearts into the pleasure, and even enjoy their own misfortunes; letting out the most demonstrative proof of sound lung and limb ever developed by field game, and realizing something of the rush and thrill of a genuine battle. Nature may send born poets into the world, but she never sends Lacrosse players; at least, not in any white community. There is nothing more amusing to a good player than to watch the first attempts of a tyro, with a crosse and a ball. ”

“ Next to a persistent engagement around a goal, the great and exciting charm of Lacrosse is in the ever-varying incidents and vicissitudes of the Fielding,—the gladiatorial contests, the agile feat, the sudden rally, the skirmish, the running fight. Its aspects are so vascillating, and its situations so changeable, that no moment of play is like the play that preceded it: different men are after the ball in a different way, and every circumstance out on the field, as well as every crisis at the flags, has the fascination of novelty. ”

“ It may not be possible for one who has never handled a Crosse—even though he has witnessed many of the exciting matches of the present day, to conceive of the intensity and vehemence of the old game; but to a player who has tried his mettle against Indian wind and endurance, and experienced the exertion required in the present modified game, it is easier to estimate correctly the magnificent physical condition of the aborigine a century ago, and the unparalleled union of strength, agility and wind developed by, and necessary for, the primitive Lacrosse. ”

“ There is somewhat of an illusion, however, among spectators at a Lacrosse match. They see an excitable wavering game; the real play is not confined to any limit—it is far from Quakerish. They see twenty-four men on the alert for the ubiqitous ball—here and there they move out and in, while some run as fast as their legs can carry them. The ball flies through the air from one point to another; there are innumerable close contests and hard struggles in attack and defence, all of which appear in quick succession. ”

“ At his shout of "Play," the two centres strive, by a sharp, sudden twist of the crosse, each to draw the ball in his own direction. The successful one immediately passes it to the nearest fielder on his own side, who is instantly pounced upon by his "cover," and then the fun begins in fierce earnest.
It is quite out of the question to convey through the medium of print any adequate conception of the interest and excitement that a game of lacrosse between two well-matched teams affords. ”

“ We would not advise such tactics in the pale-face game; but if you ever play opponents who practise it, do not leave the defence to Goal-keeper and Point; proportion your men to the numerical strength of the attack, always remembering that, though one man may be physically a match for two, no one man can do much between two antagonists tacking the ball over his head. Sir Colin Campbell received the Russian cavalry with a two-deep line, and made them turn tail; but any parallel defence of confidence in men in Lacrosse, however perfect your goal-keeper and Point may be, is dangerous. ”

“ In a sport, however, contingencies and casual circumstances occur, which lead off from some theories into new ones, and such science can never be unalterable and certain.
Is the art of Lacrosse based on a science? Not entirely so, not as much so as cricket; but that there is science in the game is proved by the fact that many throws, dodges, checks, &c., are explained by fixed principles, from which no one can deviate and be successful. The throw of the ball, for instance, unlike that of a die, is not under the doctrine of chance. ”

“ Lacrosse is always fresh and lively, and sustains its attractiveness from beginning to end. No player has either time or inclination to sit on his heels and yawn; there is none of that serious work and gloomy pleasure which is the bane of some field games, and which some players try to counteract by light gymnastics, or feats which have nothing to do with the game. It unbends the mind better than any other sport, because of the ubiquity of the ball; it is more like genuine recreation, and is a holiday to the blood to play, and a half-holiday to look on. ”

“ The multiplicity of blows, acting in different directions, had the effect of bringing the ball to the ground, where a fine scramble took place, and a glorious clatter of sticks mingled with the cries of the savages. At length, an Indian, more expert than the others, contrived to nip the ball between the ends of his two sticks, and having managed to fork it out, ran off with it like a deer, with his arms raised over his head, pursued by a whole party engaged, in the first struggle. ”