Lacrosse in Scotland
Encyclopedia
Lacrosse
in Scotland
is primarily played by women and is nationally governed by Lacrosse Scotland
. At school level, it is strongest in private schools.
in Scotland, where women's lacrosse had been introduced by Louisa Lumsden
. Lumsden brought the game to Scotland after watching a men's lacrosse game between the Canghuwaya Indians and the Montreal Lacrosse Club
. Lumsden, in a letter written home from the White Mountains
in New Hampshire
dated 6 September 1884, recounted her visit to watch that match. She wrote: It is a wonderful game, beautiful and graceful. (I was so charmed with it that I introduced it at St Leonards.)" [sic]
One of Lumsden's students, Rosabelle Sinclair
, established the first women's lacrosse team in the United States was at the Bryn Mawr School
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Scotland was a founder member of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations in 1972, which merged with the International Lacrosse Federation (the former governing body for men's lacrosse) to form the Federation of International Lacrosse
(FIL) in August 2008.
Prior to the Lockerbie air disaster in December 1988, the men's game had not been represented in Scotland since the turn of the 20th century. The tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103
saw many Syracuse University
students perish and on a memorial visit one year later the University's lacrosse team were surprised that there was no Scotland Men's National Team for them to compete against. The country was challenged to pull together an inaugural and bona fide team; this was achieved some eight months later and following the 1990 World Championships the men's team played their first representative match. Scotland has now played memorial games against Syracuse during visits to Lockerbie to pay their respects to those lost in the air disaster, and hope this fixture will continue into the future.
In 1993, Edinburgh
hosted the Women's Lacrosse World Cup
.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
is primarily played by women and is nationally governed by Lacrosse Scotland
Lacrosse Scotland
Lacrosse Scotland is the national governing body of lacrosse in Scotland. Previously known as the Scottish Lacrosse Association , name changed upon incorporation in 2005. It is a member of the Federation of International Lacrosse and the European Lacrosse Federation...
. At school level, it is strongest in private schools.
History
The first modern women’s lacrosse game was played in 1890 at the St Leonards SchoolSt Leonards School
St Leonards School, formerly St Leonards School for Girls, is an independent school, founded by the University of St Andrews in the nineteenth century....
in Scotland, where women's lacrosse had been introduced by Louisa Lumsden
Louisa Lumsden
Dame Louisa Innes Lumsden, born into a wealthy family in Aberdeen, Scotland DBE was a lecturer in classics at Girton College and the first Headmistress of St Leonards, Fife. She is credited with introducing lacrosse to St...
. Lumsden brought the game to Scotland after watching a men's lacrosse game between the Canghuwaya Indians and the Montreal Lacrosse Club
Montreal Lacrosse Club
The Montreal Lacrosse Club was a lacrosse club in the Canadian city of Montreal, Quebec. The Club is notable in the history of lacrosse as it was responsible for establishing the first set of written rules of the game....
. Lumsden, in a letter written home from the White Mountains
White Mountains (New Hampshire)
The White Mountains are a mountain range covering about a quarter of the state of New Hampshire and a small portion of western Maine in the United States. Part of the Appalachian Mountains, they are considered the most rugged mountains in New England...
in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
dated 6 September 1884, recounted her visit to watch that match. She wrote: It is a wonderful game, beautiful and graceful. (I was so charmed with it that I introduced it at St Leonards.)" [sic]
One of Lumsden's students, Rosabelle Sinclair
Rosabelle Sinclair
Rosabelle Sinclair, known as the affectionately as the "Grand Dame of Lacrosse", established the first women's lacrosse team in the United States. She was the first woman to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame...
, established the first women's lacrosse team in the United States was at the Bryn Mawr School
Bryn Mawr School
The Bryn Mawr School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls from preschool through grade twelve. Founded in 1885, BMS is located in the Roland Park community of Baltimore, Maryland, USA at 109 W. Melrose Avenue, Baltimore MD 21210.-The Bryn Mawr School Community:In...
in Baltimore, Maryland.
Scotland was a founder member of the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations in 1972, which merged with the International Lacrosse Federation (the former governing body for men's lacrosse) to form the Federation of International Lacrosse
Federation of International Lacrosse
The Federation of International Lacrosse, shortened to FIL, was established in August 2008 in a merger of both the men's and women's international lacrosse associations. It's located in Wilmington, Delaware in United States...
(FIL) in August 2008.
Prior to the Lockerbie air disaster in December 1988, the men's game had not been represented in Scotland since the turn of the 20th century. The tragedy of Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
saw many Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
students perish and on a memorial visit one year later the University's lacrosse team were surprised that there was no Scotland Men's National Team for them to compete against. The country was challenged to pull together an inaugural and bona fide team; this was achieved some eight months later and following the 1990 World Championships the men's team played their first representative match. Scotland has now played memorial games against Syracuse during visits to Lockerbie to pay their respects to those lost in the air disaster, and hope this fixture will continue into the future.
In 1993, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
hosted the Women's Lacrosse World Cup
Women's Lacrosse World Cup
The Women's Lacrosse World Cup, the recognized world championship of international women's lacrosse, is held every four years. From its inception in 1982, it was sponsored by the governing body for women's lacrosse, the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations, until that body...
.