In youth and high school lacrosse across North America, it’s a familiar scene: a player goes down with an injury, and everyone else on the field drops to one knee. Play stops, coaches walk onto the field, and for a moment, everything freezes. But where did this tradition come from? Is it actually necessary? And should coaches and teams still be doing it?
In this post, we’ll break down the origins of taking a knee in sports, how it became part of lacrosse culture, and when—and if—it should still be practiced. We’ll also explore whether it’s age-appropriate at all levels, and what coaches need to consider.
The practice of athletes kneeling during a stoppage for an injury likely originated in soccer, long before it became common in American football or lacrosse. In soccer, play is expected to stop immediately when a player is down injured, especially if it seems serious. Out of respect and safety, players would often take a knee or stand still until the player received medical attention.