STANDARDS

CCSS: 6.EE.A.2.C, 7.EE.B.3, MP1, MP6

TEKS: 6.3D, 6.7D, 7.3A, 7.3B

By the Numbers: Lacrosse

Kent Nishimura/The Denver Post via Getty Images (Nationals); iStockPhoto/Getty Images (Field)

Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. Worldwide, 66 countries have teams that are part of World Lacrosse, the international federation for the sport. One of those teams is the Iroquios Nationals. “We are the only recognized indigenous nation-state that plays in world sports,” says executive director Leo Nolan. That means they’re the only First Nations team sanctioned for international competition in any sport. Lacrosse is also the oldest organized sport in North  America, dating back to the 16th century. Originally, hundreds of players were on each team, and the length of the field varied from only 500 yards to 6 miles! A single game could go on for days. The sport has evolved in modern times, with much smaller team sizes and a standard field size.

Read on to learn more about the Iroquois Nationals and lacrosse. Then plug in the numbers to solve the equation below and reveal a final fact.

5

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Average length in feet of a defense player’s stick

110

iStockPhoto/Getty Images

Length of a modern lacrosse field in yards

10

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Number of players on the field per team in modern lacrosse

1987

Kent Nishimura/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Year the Iroquois Nationals joined the International Federation of Lacrosse, now known as World Lacrosse.

11

The Noun Project

Number of medals the Iroquois Nationals teams—which include men’s, women’s, and indoor divisions—have won in World Lacrosse championships.

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