Often a large rock or tree was considered the goal and a score was made by hitting the tree or rock with the ball. Some Indian tribes used goal posts 6 to 9 feet apart, and the ball had to pass between them for a score, much like today's game. Games could last from dawn to dusk and stretched over the course of 2 or 3 days. Lacrosse games were originally used to toughen up the young fighting men for war. There were even times when games were played between 2 tribes to settle their arguments or disputes. It was not until the early 1800s that the French settlers started playing lacrosse on a regular basis. The French influence on the game tended to "civilize' it a bit as well. Canadian dentist W. George Beers wrote a set of rules for the game in 1867 that set out the size of the playing field, limits to the number of players on each side, and other standard rules.

 Little did the French settlers know that they would be credited with being the founders of lacrosse, along with the native Americans. New York University boasted the country's 1st college team in 1877, and Philips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, Philips Andover Academy, Massachusetts  and the Lawrenceville School, New Jersey were the nations' 1st high school teams in 1882.