Lacrosse sixes may be among the world’s newest sports after its creation in 2021, but what it lacks in history, it makes up for in fast-paced flair and intrigue.
The new code was created to position lacrosse for inclusion at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where it will make its debut 120 years after the traditional sport was last officially included.
Six teams are set to participate in the men’s and women’s competitions at the Games.
So, let’s get you clued in on what you need to know.
What is lacrosse?
That’s a good place to start.
Lacrosse players use a stick with a net on the end to carry, pass, catch, or shoot a small ball into their opponent’s goal, much like in hockey or football.
The team that scores the most goals wins.
What’s the difference between lacrosse and lacrosse sixes?
Well, the obvious one is the number of players. Each team has six players in sixes, though up to 12 players can be included in a matchday squad to provide ample replacements. In the traditional version of the sport, there are 10 or 12 players on each side.
The 70x36 metre field is much smaller than the regular 100x55m, while the game is played over four eight-minute quarters, instead of 15-minute quarters, with a 30-second shot clock and 15-minute half-time.
No long crosses are permitted, with every player allowed to freely roam the pitch instead of limiting attackers and defenders to their respective halves.
What are the differences between the men’s and women’s games?
The men’s game is full contact, where players need robust helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, and gloves just to escape each game unscathed. Body-checking and stick-checking are legal too.
Despite being just as fiercely contested, the women’s list of protective equipment is usually restricted to a pair of goggles and a mouthguard, due to restrictions on body contact.
Men compete on a slightly larger field but have only 10 players per team. Women's international matches also have 10 players, but other matches often use 12. At LA 2028, both sexes will unsurprisingly use six players in sixes.
The sticks are different too. Men use deeper pockets with varied length, while women use shallower pockets with a more uniform length.
How did the sport begin?
If you’re talking about lacrosse in general, its origins can be traced back to the 12th century, when indigenous North Americans played on fields kilometres long and with hundreds of players.
The sport still holds huge spiritual significance for their descendants, as it was played for days at a time as a form of symbolic warfare, where warriors could honour themselves and bring glory to the Creator.
Anglophones first tried the sport in the 1830s. By 1860 it had been codified, and by 1900 there were dozens of clubs across the English-speaking world.
As for sixes, the World Lacrosse governing body simply announced the sport’s creation in 2021 to develop the game’s player base and provide a format that would suit the restricted calendar of the Olympic Games.
The governing body billed the format as a mix between field and box lacrosse, with an emphasis on high-speed, high-scoring action.
Which nations are likely to reach the Olympic Games?
Unsurprisingly, considering their storied histories, North American nations tend to dominate lacrosse on the world stage.
The United States have won all but three of the men’s World Championships dating back to 1967, with Canada picking up the remaining editions.
Australia have finished in the top four every time too, with England finishing between fourth and sixth in all 14 editions.
On the women’s side, the USA have won all but two, though it is Australia who have seized the opportunity on both occasions instead of Canada, who are still perennial contenders.
England have reached the podium on seven occasions, while Scotland did so in 1986. But there is another important team we haven’t mentioned…
Who are the Haudenosaunee?
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy (pronounced ho-dee-no-SHOW-nee) is an area of six traditional nations of Iroquoian Indigenous people, spanning the USA and Canada.
The ‘Six Nations’ comprise the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora people, and have often navigated the balance in power between English and French speakers in the North East of the continent.
Lacrosse has been a cornerstone of these communities for over 800 years, and thus the Haudenosaunee Confederacy was granted independent status by World Lacrosse, allowing them to compete as a nation.
The men have won bronze medals at the last three World Championships, but doubts persist over their inclusion at the Olympic Games, as they are not a member of the International Olympic Committee.
How do you qualify for the Olympic Games?
There are six highly coveted spots each in the men’s and women’s draws at the 2028 Olympic Games. As hosts, the USA will play in both.
Four of the remaining five places can be earned through the inaugural 2027 World Lacrosse Sixes Championship, held in Colorado Springs. The four highest placed teams will obtain a quota place, with a minimum of one team and maximum of three teams from any Continental Federation.
The remaining berth in each competition will come through a final qualifying tournament to be held in spring 2028, including the six highest-ranked teams to have not qualified.
How will the Olympic event work?
All six teams will contest a round robin tournament at the Exposition Park Stadium - more commonly known as BMO Stadium, the home of MLS side LA FC. Medals will be decided on Day 15 of the Games.
Has lacrosse been at the Olympics before?
Lacrosse will make its return to the Olympics at LA 2028 after a 120-year hiatus. The sport featured as an official event at St. Louis 1904 and London 1908, with only men competing on both occasions.
Canada took gold at both Games, meaning they will have an unbeaten record to defend at LA 2028.
The 1904 Games actually saw Canada enter two teams, with the bronze medallists comprising entirely of players from the Mohawk nation. They drew 2-2 with the USA in the semi-final but missed out after a drawing of lots.
In 1908, Canada defeated Great Britain 14-10 in the only match played at White City Stadium.
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