Bagataway Game

The modern day game of lacrosse had its origins in the old game of Bagataway played by native American Indians in north America and southern Canada. Bagataway was played as long ago as the fifteen century. The game had its roots in military preparation (it required a high degree of physical fitness and stamina) and up to five hundred players would compete in each opposing team with the playing area sometimes as much as five miles long! In 1763 a game of Bagataway was being played by Sauk and Ojibway tribesmen not far from Fort Michilimackinac in Michigan and they deliberately allowed the ball to go over the fort's walls. When the British allowed them in to retrieve it the Indians stormed the fort as part of a planned uprising. This is an online version of the Bagataway game and full instruction on how to play are included.