.
.

Many Teams Don't Want Lacrosse to Become an IHSA Sport in Illinois

Vernon Hills athletic director Brian McDonald is a big proponent of adding boys and girls lacrosse to the IHSA's roster. But he can't do it alone.

 While more than enough girls lacrosse teams want to play in the IHSA playoffs and become a fully-sanctioned sport under the state organization, there are too many dissenters among the boys teams. And the IHSA stipulates that both boys and girls lacrosse have to join together.

 McDonald said he's frustrated by the schools that have teams but aren't willing to be recognized by the state's association. In response, McDonald no longer schedules games against schools that refuse to join the IHSA.

 "It seems like we are stuck in this hole, and we can't get out of it," McDonald said. "I don't know what the reasons are, maybe financial, but I respect the right of those schools to have them. "But for us, I feel like they are inhibiting the growth of the sport."

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-
Paul Rabil Lacrosse Show to Debut on Sirius Radio

-Lacrosse Comes to U. San Francisco

-Lacrosse Gaining Popularity in Evansville, IN 

-Lacrosse Growing Stronger in Franklin, WI

-Physical Therapists Take on Lacrosse Injuries

-Ohio Youth League Has Strength in Numbers

-An Analysis of Growth and Contraction

US Lacrosse Releases 2013 Participation Survey

BALTIMORE — A record total of 746,859 players competed on organized lacrosse teams in 2013, as reported in the annual US Lacrosse Participation Report released today. The growth rate from last year (722,205) was 3.4 percent and youth participation topped 400,000 for the first time ever.

The 403,770 youth participants represent over half of the total playing population and youth participation grew 3.6 percent over 2012. Roughly two-thirds of the youth participants are boys (265,428) and more players came from New York (55,298) than any other state.

Full article

Quick Hits:

-Lacrosse Becoming Ohios Fastest Growing Sport

-Lacrosse Growing in Riverside, CA

-Thoughts on Lacrosse Growth in Cleveland

-Lacrosse Wave Washes over Tampa

-Schools Trying to Grow Sport in Stamford, CT

-Lacrosse Taking Off in Iowa (video)

-Girls Lacrosse Growing in Central Oregon

-Growing the Sport in Thunder Bay, ON

-CNN Looks at Lacrosse and Wall Streets Connection

-Brietbart: Lacrosse, Americans Fastest Growing Sport

University of Northwestern (MN DIII) and Palm Beach Atlantic (FL DII) Add Lacrosse

ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern is excited to announce the addition if its 19th varsity sport, women's lacrosse, which will officially begin playing in the 2015-2016 academic year. Northwestern is just the second post-secondary institution in any of the NCAA's three divisions in Minnesota to sponsor women's lacrosse as a varsity sport.

 Northwestern's lacrosse team will practice and play in the university's revamped Reynolds Field complex, a $10.7 million project that includes new artificially turfed fields and locker rooms in addition to new spaces for an athletic training room, updated bathrooms and a concession stand. "Adding women's lacrosse is a natural fit for Northwestern with our new facility offering and the institution's growth plan," said Dr. Matt Hill, vice president for student life and athletics. Hill continued, "Offering lacrosse as a collegiate varsity sport makes sense as interest in the sport in our region has soared in recent years.

We're excited to feature lacrosse at the collegiate level for girls in Minnesota and the surrounding states who want to stay close to home after high school and continue to play their sport while continuing their education."

Full Article


PBA currently sponsors 12 varsity sports including baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and volleyball. As part of the provisional agreement, PBA is required to add men’s and women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s distance track by the 2017-18 season. Currently, the Sailfish compete in men’s and women’s lacrosse at the club level.

The SSC is currently in its first season of men’s lacrosse and recently announced its sponsorship of women’s lacrosse to begin in the spring of 2015. The addition of women’s lacrosse will grow the conference sponsorship to 18 intercollegiate sports that compete in NCAA Division II.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Youth Lacrosse Flourishing In Delaware

-First Year HS Program Has Growing Pains on Long Island

-Girls Lacrosse Growing in New Hampshire

-Growing Lacrosse in North Carolina

-Lacrosse Hurting Softball Participation in New York

-Growing the Game in Omaha, Nebraska

-Lacrosse Hurting Baseball Numbers in New Jersey