Lacrosse Outside America: Native American Sport Sprouts Globally

The global growth of lacrosse represents something unique in sports history: an Indigenous North American game that has transcended borders while maintaining profound connections to its origins, creating a worldwide community that honors both tradition and revels in its excitement.

Bumping Hips: A Native American Game

Long before European settlers arrived in North America, Indigenous peoples across the continent were playing variations of what we now call lacrosse. The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) called it “Tewaaraton”¹, while the Ojibwe knew it as “baaga`adowe” (bump hips)², and the Choctaw referred to it as “kapucha toli” or “little brother of war”³. These games could involve 100 to 1,000 players on each side, played across fields stretching 1.5 to 2 kilometers, with contests sometimes lasting several days.

The spiritual significance of lacrosse cannot be overstated. For Native peoples, lacrosse was “gifted to them by the Creator” and served multiple purposes: settling inter-tribal disputes, toughening young warriors for combat, recreation, festivals, and most importantly, religious ceremonies. Duke professor Larissa Soares Carneiro notes that lacrosse originated as a “medicine game,” and “for indigenous peoples, lacrosse is more than a game”. The Haudenosaunee still hold ceremonial medicine games to heal the sick and maintain spiritual balance.

French missionary Jean de Brébeuf first documented the game in 1637, coining the term “lacrosse” because the sticks carried by players resembled the curved tip (‘crosse’) of a shepherd’s staff. While European colonists were intrigued by the game, it is widely believed they could not match the skill of the Native Americans. The Indigenous mastery of lacrosse was so complete that in 1763, Ojibwas famously used a lacrosse game as a ruse to capture Fort Michilimackinac, gradually working their way close to the gates before rushing the fort⁴.

A Sport Uniting Neighbors

While lacrosse originated among Indigenous peoples across what would become both the United States and Canada, the modern sport evolved as a truly North American phenomenon. Canada became the first nation to formally adopt lacrosse, recognizing it as the national game in 1859. Montreal dentist George Beers formalized the first rulebook in 1867, but crucially, he collaborated with Indigenous players and included both Canadian settlers and Iroquois players when demonstrating the sport before Queen Victoria in England, who noted the game was “very pretty to watch”.

This cross-border, cross-cultural foundation has defined lacrosse ever since. The sport flows seamlessly between the United States and Canada, with Ontario contributing 127 players to NCAA Division I programs⁵ while American collegiate stars regularly join the National Lacrosse League, where Canadian box lacrosse tradition meets international talent. The Haudenosaunee Nationals compete as a sovereign nation in World Lacrosse events, representing Indigenous communities on both sides of the border and embodying the sport’s original borderless nature.

Both nations have embraced their responsibility as stewards of this Indigenous gift. Canada maintains approximately 85,000 participants across all disciplines and allocated $1.681 million in 2025 specifically for lacrosse reconciliation initiatives⁶. The United States has seen explosive growth, with women’s lacrosse expanding 97% compared to 61% men’s growth from 2003-2018⁷. Programs like the Thompson Brothers Lacrosse Camps operate across both countries, combining athletic development with cultural education.

The 2023 traditional game between Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee nations—the first such contest in over a century⁸—symbolized how modern lacrosse can honor its roots while embracing growth. When the Premier Lacrosse League established home markets from Boston to California in 2024⁹, or when Canadian teams compete in NCAA championships, they’re continuing lacrosse’s original spirit: a game that transcends artificial boundaries, uniting communities across vast territories in shared respect for the Creator’s gift.

Global Appreciation

Europe represents lacrosse’s most dramatic international success story. The European Lacrosse Federation, founded in 1995 with just six countries (Czech Republic, Scotland, England, Sweden, Germany, and Wales), now boasts 34 member nations¹¹. This represents 317% growth in participation, making Europe the fastest-growing lacrosse region globally¹².

England leads European development with over 200,000 annual participants and 36,000 regular players¹³. The sport ranks as the UK’s fastest-growing athletic activity with 59% participation increase since 2016¹⁴. British Universities and Colleges Sport features over 230 lacrosse teams across 15 women’s and 11 men’s leagues, representing 150% growth since 2007¹⁵.

Germany has emerged as Europe’s second-largest lacrosse association, driven partly by preparation for the 2028 Olympic inclusion¹⁶. The Netherlands maintains structured domestic leagues, while Nordic countries including Sweden, Finland, and Norway demonstrate steady growth¹⁷. Ireland’s recent victory over Germany to qualify for the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship exemplifies the competitive evolution happening across Europe.

The Asia-Pacific region has transformed into what World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr calls the “epicenter of lacrosse”¹⁸. The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union encompasses 19 member nations and will host four consecutive World Championships from 2024-2027¹⁹. Japan leads regional development with approximately 18,000 participants across 300 college teams, 100 club teams, and 50 high school programs²⁰. The country pioneered a student-led grassroots approach, achieving remarkable growth from 21 players in 1986 to peak participation of 18,000 in 2017²¹.

South Korea demonstrates emerging leadership by hosting the 2025 Men’s U20 World Championship, while Hong Kong opened the region’s first Olympic-standard sixes field in 2025²². China’s qualification as host nation for World Games 2025 signals continued expansion, with Southeast Asian nations Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia joining the regional lacrosse community²³.

The global reach extends beyond traditional sports powers. Kenya, representing African lacrosse development, made headlines with their competitive performances, with player Michelle Wesonga noting, “Because it’s our first time, people may think we are here just to have a good time, but we knew that we had a serious job to do, to represent our country”.

Looking Forward

The inclusion of lacrosse in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics marks a pivotal moment for the sport’s global future. Olympic inclusion creates unprecedented growth catalyst through enhanced visibility, government sports funding access, and corporate sponsorship opportunities²⁴. The innovative sixes format—six players per side, four eight-minute quarters, 30-second shot clock—addresses infrastructure limitations while maintaining lacrosse’s essential character²⁵.

Perhaps most importantly, the Olympic stage provides an opportunity to honor lacrosse’s Indigenous heritage before a global audience. The Haudenosaunee Nationals, representing the sovereign Six Nations, compete internationally while maintaining traditional protocols including tobacco-burning ceremonies and wooden stick practice sessions²⁶. As lacrosse legend Lyle Thompson noted, “It would be another injustice perpetrated against indigenous people if the Haudenosaunee Nationals could not represent their nation with their flag in the Olympics”.

The global expansion of lacrosse offers a unique model for how Indigenous sports can achieve worldwide reach while preserving cultural authenticity. From Canada’s reconciliation investments to Asia’s championship hosting to Europe’s grassroots growth, lacrosse’s international community demonstrates that honoring origins and embracing innovation need not be contradictory forces. As more nations discover the Creator’s Game, they join a global family united not just by sport, but by respect for the Indigenous wisdom that gave this beautiful game to the world.

References

Additional sources include various international lacrosse organizations and news outlets covering global lacrosse development.