Lacrosse

Lacrosse is returning to the Olympic Games in 2028 in Los Angeles after an 80-year hiatus.

It is a contact team sport, where players try to sling a rubber ball into the opposition goal using one stick each with a net on its end. Nets are used to carry, pass, catch and shoot - with only goalkeepers allowed to touch the ball with their hands.

The Olympic discipline of lacrosse sees the game being played in the six-a-side 'Sixes' format with a 30 second shot clock, making it a faster paced game.

The sport has been played in Australia since the late 19th century after its introduction during the gold rush in Ballarat, Victoria. By 1907, Lacrosse was being played in front of 16,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. By 1914 Lacrosse was played by ANZAC troops in the sand at Gallipoli during world war one. Participation in Lacrosse was prevalent in every state across Australia by 1974.

Today, Lacrosse is still played across Australia with many clubs being over 100 years old.

Our national teams have taken part in every World Championship competition since its inception in 1967, with Melbourne being the hosts for the 2nd ever Lacrosse World Championships in 1974. In 2023 the Australian lacrosse teams both ranked highly in the world standings, the women third and men sixth.

Olympic History

Lacrosse was first staged at the St. Louis 1904 and London 1908 Olympics. The sport was then absent for 20 years before being brought back for the Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and London 1948 Olympic Games.