Jheneli Skye Huff sprints down the field. The 8-year-old from Gowanda, New York, carries a ball in a long stick. Suddenly, she stops and flings the ball. It flies into a goal. Swish! 

Jheneli has just scored a goal in a sport called lacrosse.

Jheneli Skye Huff sprints down the field. The 8-year-old lives in Gowanda, New York. She carries a ball in a long stick. Suddenly, she stops and flings the ball. It flies into a net. Swish!  

Jheneli has just scored a goal in a sport called lacrosse.

Lacrosse is more than a sport for Jheneli. It’s a tradition. People have played it for thousands of years.

Jheneli and her family belong to an Indigenous (in-DIH-jeh-nuhss) people called the Seneca Nation of Indians. Hundreds of years ago, the Seneca and other Indigenous peoples started playing lacrosse. They used wooden sticks to catch and throw a ball. The ball was made of wood or deerskin and fur.

In the past, lacrosse games took up a lot of space. Hundreds of people played at one time. The players ran through miles of forests, and games could last for days. They were peaceful ways to end arguments. Instead of fighting or going to war, people played lacrosse to figure out who would win.

Lacrosse is more than a sport for Jheneli. It’s a tradition. People have played it for thousands of years.

Jheneli and her family belong to an Indigenous (in-DIH-jeh-nuhss) people called the Seneca Nation of Indians. Hundreds of years ago, the Seneca and other Indigenous peoples started playing lacrosse. They used wooden sticks to catch and throw a ball. The ball was often made of wood. It could also be made with deerskin and fur.

In the past, lacrosse games took up a lot of space. Hundreds of people played at one time. The players ran through miles of forests. Games could last for days. People played lacrosse instead of fighting or going to war. The games were peaceful ways to end arguments. 

The lacrosse tradition has been passed down through Jheneli’s family. Her mom played, and she started teaching Jheneli how to play two years ago. They invited other girls to join. 

Jheneli says, “I was nervous. I had never met these people before.”

More and more girls showed up to play. They named themselves the Seneca Girls Lacrosse Team. Now they have 31 players. The girls have fun and learn to work together as a team. 

“I don’t feel nervous when I play anymore,” Jheneli says.

Are you curious about lacrosse? Jheneli thinks you should try it. 

“We make new friends, we get stronger, we get powerful, and we have fun!” she says.

The lacrosse tradition has been passed down through Jheneli’s family. Her mom played, and she started teaching Jheneli how to play two years ago. They invited other girls to join. 

Jheneli says, “I was nervous. I had never met these people before.”

More and more girls showed up to play. They named themselves the Seneca Girls Lacrosse Team. Now they have 31 players. The girls have fun. They also learn to work together as a team. 

“I don’t feel nervous when I play anymore,” Jheneli says.

Are you curious about lacrosse? Jheneli thinks you should try it. 

“We make new friends, we get stronger, we get powerful, and we have fun!” she says.