[2][3][4][5] The game was extensively modified by European colonists, reducing the violence, to create its current collegiate and professional form.

Lacrosse sixes is played by both men and women on a smaller field and is the most common version at multi-sport events.

[18] By the 17th century, a version of lacrosse was well-established and was documented by Jesuit missionary priests in the territory of present-day Canada.

These games lasted from sunup to sundown for two to three days straight and were played as part of ceremonial ritual, a kind of symbolic warfare, or to give thanks to the Creator or Master.

[23] The French Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf saw Huron tribesmen play the game during 1637 in present-day Ontario.

[24] The name seems to be originated from the French term for field hockey, le jeu de la crosse.

The first game played under Beers's rules was at Upper Canada College in 1867; they lost to the Toronto Cricket Club by a score of 3–1.

[24] The new sport proved to be very popular and spread across the English-speaking world; by 1900 there were dozens of men's clubs in Canada, the United States, England, Australia, and New Zealand.

In conjunction with the offsides rule, the opponent may play with six attackers versus the penalized team's five defenders and goalie.

Technical fouls, such as offsides, pushing, and holding, result in either a loss of possession or a 30-second penalty, depending on which team has the ball.

Personal fouls, such as cross-checking, illegal body checking, or slashing, concern actions that endanger player safety.

[44] The first women's lacrosse team in the United States was established at Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland in 1926.

The goal circle is also positioned slightly closer to the end line in women's lacrosse compared to men's.

In women's lacrosse on either the offensive or defensive end, the players besides the goaltender are not able to step inside the goal circle; this becomes a "goal-circle violation".

[50][51] Lacrosse sixes has similar rules for men and women but preserves some differences, such as the amount of contact allowed.

[55] Intercrosse as a competitive adult sport is popular in Quebec, Canada, as well as in many European countries, particularly in the Czech Republic.

Recently, however, lacrosse has begun to flourish at the international level, with teams being established around the world, particularly in Europe and East Asia.

[66] The first World Indoor Lacrosse Championship (WILC) was held in 2003 and contested by six nations at four sites in Ontario.

[73] The 1932 games in Los Angeles featured a three-game exhibition between a Canadian all-star team and the United States.

[82][83] In October 2023, the LA28 Organizing Committee announced that it had recommended lacrosse as one of five sports that may be added to the program for the 2028 Summer Olympics.

In 2004, 12 men's and 6 women's teams played in the tournament, making it the largest international lacrosse event of the year.

[87] The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union was founded in 2004 by Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

[92] Both men and women tournaments, in sixes format, were held in the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Maryland has traditionally dominated women's intercollegiate play, producing many head coaches and U.S. national team players.

Princeton's women's teams have made it to the final game seven times since 1993 and have won three NCAA titles, in 1993, 2002, and 2003.

[103] With an average salary around $20,000 per season, players have regular jobs, mostly non-lacrosse related, and live in different cities, flying into town for games.

[106] The most successful franchises have been the Toronto Rock and the former Philadelphia Wings (now the Albany FireWolves), each has won six championships.

The PLL focuses on being a traveling lacrosse league that will bring the best players in the world to different cities in the United States.

The leagues final year had six teams, playing a week long round-robin regular season.

The teams are the Baltimore Ride, Boston Storm, Long Island Sound and Philadelphia Force.