Why is George Beers called the father of lacrosse?

George Beers of Montreal is known as the "father of lacrosse" because of the significant modifications he made to the sport in 1867 to standardize and improve its play.1

His contributions included:
* Replacing the traditional deerskin ball, which was stuffed with hair, with a hard rubber ball.1
* Limiting the number of players on a team to 12.1
* Improving the design of the stick to allow for easier catching and throwing of the ball.1

These changes helped transition the game from its origins as a rougher, traditional Indigenous sport into a more structured athletic competition.1