Rosabelle Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Rosabelle Sinclair, known as the affectionately as the "Grand Dame of Lacrosse", established the first women's lacrosse
team in the United States. She was the first woman to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Sinclair, was born in Russia in 1890 and educated in Philadelphia, before attending St Leonards School
in St Andrews
, where women's lacrosse had been introduced by Louisa Lumsden
. Lumsden brought the game to Scotland after watching a men's lacrosse
game between the Canghuwaya Indians and the Montreal Lacrosse Club
.
After leaving St Leonards School in 1910, Sinclair attended Madame Bergman Osterberg's College of Physical Training in Dartford, England. She then taught at an all girls school in Yorkshire and in 1919 accepted a post at Chelsea Physical Training College. In 1922she left for the United States
.
Sinclair arrived in the United States and taught gymnastics and games at Rosemary Hall School before becoming a physical education teacher at the Bryn Mawr School
in Baltimore, Maryland. She introduced lacrosse to the all girls school in 1926. She would continue teaching there and serve as Athletic Director from 1925 to 1951. Women's lacrosse differs greatly from the men's version, and with emphasis on stick skills and proficiency. Sinclair believed the game should be played with feminine refinement, stating:
Sinclair's legacy remains as being responsible for the growth of women's lacrosse in the United States
. In 1931, she helped form the United States Women's Lacrosse Association, which later was consolidated into US Lacrosse
. Even after her retirement from the Bryn Mawr School, she remained involved in the development of women's lacrosse. In 1978, the Bryn Mawr School
renamed their athletic fields in honor of Sinclair shortly before her death in 1981.
Women's lacrosse
Women's lacrosse, sometimes shortened to wlax or lax, is a sport played with twelve players on each team. Originally played by the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the first tribe to play it was the Hauser tribe, of the Great Plains. The modern women's game was introduced in 1890 at the St...
team in the United States. She was the first woman to be inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Sinclair, was born in Russia in 1890 and educated in Philadelphia, before attending St Leonards School
St Leonards School
St Leonards School, formerly St Leonards School for Girls, is an independent school, founded by the University of St Andrews in the nineteenth century....
in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, where women's lacrosse had been introduced by Louisa Lumsden
Louisa Lumsden
Dame Louisa Innes Lumsden, born into a wealthy family in Aberdeen, Scotland DBE was a lecturer in classics at Girton College and the first Headmistress of St Leonards, Fife. She is credited with introducing lacrosse to St...
. Lumsden brought the game to Scotland after watching a men's lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
game between the Canghuwaya Indians and the Montreal Lacrosse Club
Montreal Lacrosse Club
The Montreal Lacrosse Club was a lacrosse club in the Canadian city of Montreal, Quebec. The Club is notable in the history of lacrosse as it was responsible for establishing the first set of written rules of the game....
.
After leaving St Leonards School in 1910, Sinclair attended Madame Bergman Osterberg's College of Physical Training in Dartford, England. She then taught at an all girls school in Yorkshire and in 1919 accepted a post at Chelsea Physical Training College. In 1922she left for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Sinclair arrived in the United States and taught gymnastics and games at Rosemary Hall School before becoming a physical education teacher at the Bryn Mawr School
Bryn Mawr School
The Bryn Mawr School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls from preschool through grade twelve. Founded in 1885, BMS is located in the Roland Park community of Baltimore, Maryland, USA at 109 W. Melrose Avenue, Baltimore MD 21210.-The Bryn Mawr School Community:In...
in Baltimore, Maryland. She introduced lacrosse to the all girls school in 1926. She would continue teaching there and serve as Athletic Director from 1925 to 1951. Women's lacrosse differs greatly from the men's version, and with emphasis on stick skills and proficiency. Sinclair believed the game should be played with feminine refinement, stating:
Sinclair's legacy remains as being responsible for the growth of women's lacrosse in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 1931, she helped form the United States Women's Lacrosse Association, which later was consolidated into US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
. Even after her retirement from the Bryn Mawr School, she remained involved in the development of women's lacrosse. In 1978, the Bryn Mawr School
Bryn Mawr School
The Bryn Mawr School is an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school for girls from preschool through grade twelve. Founded in 1885, BMS is located in the Roland Park community of Baltimore, Maryland, USA at 109 W. Melrose Avenue, Baltimore MD 21210.-The Bryn Mawr School Community:In...
renamed their athletic fields in honor of Sinclair shortly before her death in 1981.