History
Lacrosse originated from the game known to early Indigenous People’s as stickball, a gift from the Creator, given to heal people's minds and to resolve disputes. Lacrosse was initially encountered by Europeans when French Jesuit missionaries in the St. Lawrence Valley witnessed the game in the 1630s.
For centuries, lacrosse was seen as a key element of cultural identity and spiritual healing to the people of Turtle Island (North America). It originated as a field game and was adopted by Canadian, American, and English athletes as a field game, eventually settling on a 10 v 10 format.
Box lacrosse is a modern version of the game, and was invented in Canada during the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1930s, 6 v 6 indoor lacrosse came to be played in the summer in unused hockey rinks. It is the only sport in which the American indigenous people are sanctioned to compete internationally, participating as the Haudenosaunee Nationals.
Box lacrosse has experienced slow but steady growth over the years and is now played in over 30 countries worldwide. Box lacrosse for women has seen much more limited growth over time due to a variety of barriers including:
Limited opportunities for competitive play
Lack of information about teams and leagues
Limited resources and equipment
Stereotyping and traditional perceptions
The World Lacrosse Box Championship (WLBC), formerly known as the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship (WILC), was founded in 2003. Since that time there have been five World Championships on the men’s side, with Canada winning all five world events.
After several years of advocating on behalf of female box players globally by the World Lacrosse Women’s Box Lacrosse Working Group, World Lacrosse recently announced the first combined Men’s and Women’s World Lacrosse Box Championship to take place in Utica, NY, in September 2024. This historic event signals the entry of women into international box lacrosse competition, an important step towards gender equity in the sport.