The Origins of Lacrosse

What does the woven pouch in a Haudenosaunee lacrosse stick represent? (hint: think about today's lacrosse sticks)

• the ways families in a community are connected

• the ways friends in a community are connected

• represents a spider web

• there is no meaning

Answer explanation

"the woven pouches represents the ways that the families in the Haudenosaunee community are connected" (paragraph 2)

How does the author describe a medicine game for the Haudenosaunee people?

• The players take medicine before the game starts.

• a game is played when someone in the community needs help or support

• Only doctors or medical professionals can play in the game

• a swimming race is organized when someone in the community needs help

Answer explanation

Paragraph 2.

"Special lacrosse events called medicine games are sometime called when someone in the Haudenosaunee community needs help or support."

True or False

Stickball games were used to resolve important issues by some Native American Tribes.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True; "stick ball was used as a way to avoid bloody wars. Instead, tribes would gather and play huge, competitive stickball games" (paragaph 3)

What is the difference between the Great Lakes version and Southeastern version of lacrosse.

• The Southeastern version uses 2 sticks, compared to the Great Lakes uses 1 stick with a flat loop

• there is no difference

• The Great Lakes version uses 2 sticks, while the Southeastern uses 3 sticks

Answer explanation

The Southeastern version uses two sticks, while the Great Lakes version uses one stick with a flat loop. The Southeastern version is known as stickball today (Paragraph 3).

Stickball was used to settle _______.

The history of lacrosse is rooted in _________ sports tradition.

• Native American

• Hispanic

• Chinese

Answer explanation

"The history of lacrosse is rooted in Native American sports traditions" (paragraph 1).

True or False; the version of lacrosse played today is closely related to the first version played by the Haudenosaunee people.

• False

• True

Answer explanation

True, "the kind of lacrosse played commonly today is closely related to the version first played by the Haudenosaunee people" (Paragraph 2).

True or False; In stickball, there are no limits on the amount of players or size of the field

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True: "In these traditional matches, there were no limits on the number of players or size of the field" (paragraph 3).

Do you think lacrosse should be in the Olympic Games?

Answer explanation

Lacrosse is being considered for inclusion into the Olympic Games (paragraph 5).

Would you like to play lacrosse someday?

• Yes, lacrosse sounds like a lot of fun!

• No, thank you.

• Maybe I will try playing.

• I'll stick to watching others play.