Championship Attendance Down, NCAA Ponders Change

Among the potential changes that Jarnecke said have been discussed, the most dramatic may be moving the Final Four a week later into June and playing the Quarterfinals on Memorial Day weekend. He said the idea of stretching out the weekend so the NCAA DI Final is a week later than the Semifinals hasn’t been addressed; in the early-June championship weekend scenario, he predicted it would be the same format as the current event.

Adding a week to the season does have some bigger hurdles, however, since that would keep students on campus longer after classes are over and there are costs associated with that. But removing some of the “opportunity costs” of playing on a holiday weekend might benefit the championship event, he said.

“If there’s a model and it makes sense, it’s something we’ll consider,” he said. “So we will explore that, but that part may be harder to come by than the other pieces.”

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Lacrosse Carrying a Big Stick in Minnesota

-Oklahoma Baptist Hires First Varsity Coach

-DePere, WI Loving Lacrosse

-Lacrosse Gets It's Due in Crooked Arrows

-Girls Flocking to Box Lacrosse in British Columbia

-ESPN Coverage Helps Grow Game

-Life in a non-hotbed in Oregon

-STX Invests in Growth and New Ideas

Posted in: Attendance,Box Lacrosse,Canada,Division I,Industry,Minnesota,Movies,NAIA,Oklahoma,Oregon,TV Coverage,Wisconsin,Youth

Stalled Sport Ponders New Tactic: A Shot Clock

A high-flying sport had been grounded, reduced to a plodding affair by controlling coaches and stagnant rules. Fans were bored, especially late in games, as winning teams played keep-away for minutes on end.

That was college basketball in the 1970s. But to fans of men’s college lacrosse, it sounds much like their beloved pastime today.

Lacrosse is often called the fastest sport on two feet, but it has slowed considerably in recent years. That has sparked debate over a measure to speed up the game that men’s college basketball initiated nearly three decades ago: a shot clock.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Lacrosse World Gets on Big Screen

-How Lacrosse Hit the Big Screen

-High School Lacrosse Growth in Oregon

-Lacrosse Scoring in Tennessee

-Mass. HS Tries to Save Program from Elimination

Posted in: Massachusetts,Movies,Oregon,Rules,Tennessee

Piedmont College (DIII GA) Enters Growing World of Lacrosse

Peter Manderano had plenty to do when he was hired in the summer of 2010 to start a men’s lacrosse team at Piedmont College.

There were scheduling logistics to be worked out, uniforms to be designed and equipment to be ordered.

The most difficult task, though, was selling a vision to recruits when other schools could pitch wins and history.

“One of the hardest things was to convince kids to come to a program that doesn’t even exist,” Manderano said. “We sold the idea that you’ll play every day, all the time, and the idea that you’ll get an education and a good college experience.”

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Central Illinois Introduced to Lacrosse

-The History of CityLax in NYC

-Growth in Park City, Utah

-Lacrosse Showcased in Knoxville

-Crooked Arrows Movie Set for May Release

-Lindenwood Hitting the Road in First Season

Posted in: College,Division III,Georgia,High School,Illinois,Missouri,Movies,Tennessee,Urban Growth,Utah,Youth

Robert Morris University (IL - NAIA) Adds Lacrosse, Hires Coach

Chicago, IL – Robert Morris University has announced the hiring of Drew Stevenson to coach the school’s first ever Men’s Lacrosse program. The program is scheduled to begin competition in the spring of 2013.

Drew Stevenson’s lacrosse coaching philosophy is summed up in just a few words – Family – Academics – Commitment – Discipline. Now he is embarking on a new challenge to instill this philosophy and develop the Men’s Lacrosse program at Robert Morris University in downtown Chicago.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Crooked Arrow Full Trailer Released

-North American Lacrosse League Splits in Two

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-Gainsville, FL Has Their First Lacrosse Specific Store

Posted in: Florida,Illinois,Industry,Movies,NAIA,NALL,Professional,Rules

W. Lax Among Sports Being Considered for Reduction Of Out-Of-Season Practice/Competitions

All NCAA Division 1 sports face a 10% reduction in competition, but the sports targeted for major cuts through elimination of spring competition are soccer, volleyball, women’s lacrosse, field hockey, softball and cross country. Division 1 football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, and men’s lacrosse would not be affected by the elimination of non-championship season competition. Nor would Division 2, Division 3 and NAIA schools be affected.

Non-championship season competition refers to non-countable games, basically springtime development games. All of the extended football, baseball and basketball season is constituted as regular season competition and counts on their record. Soccer already has one of the shortest competitive seasons in the NCAA and by eliminating the developmental games, the NCAA further marginalizes the sport.

Read More

Quick Hits:

-UCLAs Daily Bruin Article MCLA Program

-Clayton Kershaw Takes Jab At Lacrosse During Cy Young Acceptance Speech

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-NLL Reaches Deal with CBS Sports Network

-D3 Tournament Expands

-Rabil Makes Guest Appearance on Tony Kornheizer Show

Posted in: California,Division III,MCLA,Media,Movies,NLL,Postseason,Rules,TV Coverage

Lacrosse Movie 'Warriors Heart' Trailer Released

Quick Hits:

-NCAA Approves Changes to D-II Postseason

-1st Year Program Fla Tech Hosts Battle at the Beach

-Southwestern (TX) Add's Women's Lacrosse

-Alderson Broaddus Names First Head Coach

-St. Andrews Moves from NCAA DII to NAIA

-MLL and CBS Sports Network Agrees to Broadcast Deal

-NFL's Clay  Matthews Trys Lacrosse in Commercial

Posted in: Coaching Hires,Commercials,Division II,Division III,Florida,MLL,Movies,NAIA,North Carolina,Postseason,Professional,Texas,TV Coverage,West Virginia

Video of Lacrosse in Uganda

Quick Hits:

-Should Cutting the Palms Out of Your Gloves Be Legal?

-City is Losing Bet on Baseball

-MLL Expansion Draft Details

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-Lacrosse Film A Warriors Heart Getting Great Reviews

-Grow the Game: Operation Mexico

-Push for HS Lacrosse in One Minnesota Town

-New Report Shows Lacrosse Growth in England

-Illuminating Stick Heads in MLL's Future?

-MLL Semi's Played in Hurricane

Posted in: Conferences,England,Equipment,High School,International,MCLA,Mexico,Minnesota,MLL,Movies,Professional,Rules,Uganda

Ohio Machine to Play at Selby Field at OWU

Delaware, OH is positioned to become a professional sports town as the city is expected to host a new Major League Lacrosse franchise.

The league has scheduled a press conference Tuesday morning at Ohio Wesleyan UniversitybizWatch Ohio Wesleyan University Latest from The Business Journals 3 Ohio colleges ranked among nation's bestOhio Wesleyan joins crowd accepting Columbus State gradsCentral Ohio colleges abound with changes at top Follow this company in Delaware, with sources telling me the outdoor pro league will announce that the Ohio Machine will play at the school’s 9,100-seat Selby Field next year.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Now Charlotte's NALL Team is Doing a Naming Contest

-Jerusalem Defeats Tel Aviv in First Ever Lacrosse Game on Israeli Soil

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-Title IX a Roadblock to M. Lacrosse Growth?

-Lax at the Olympics....in 1928

Posted in: Facilities,Gender Equity,International,Israel,MCLA,MLL,Movies,NALL,Ohio,Olympics,Professional,South Carolina

Lacrosse Featured on Spike TV's 1000 Ways to Die

Beware, lacrosse stereotypes ahead

Jock Shock
Get More: Jock Shock

Quick Hits:

-Introducing Lacrosse to Cuba

-Crooked Arrow Lacrosse Movie Starts Filiming

-Growth on the West Coast of Canada

-Adding Women's Lacrosse on UGA's Radar

-Federation of International Lacrosse Recognizes Uganda

-Discussing MCLA Head Coaching Job Security 
(we've touched upon this before)

-Defining the Difference Between MCLA D1 and D2

-Connor Martin Spends Time With Harlem Lacrosse

-and Rabil Does East Boston with Metro Lacrosse

Posted in: Canada,Coaching Hires,Cuba,Division I,Georgia,International,Massachusetts,MCLA,Movies,New York,Stereotypes,TV,Uganda,Urban Growth

Lacrosse Has Positive Results in Inner City D.C.

Quick Hits:

-Michigan Expects Team to Mature Fast

-Crooked Arrows Lacrosse Movie Website

-Attendance Down For Championships

-ACC Dominates Championship Weekend

-Several Factors Still Holding Back Lax

-Youth Lacrosse Explodes Across N.J.

Posted in: Attendance,Conferences,Division I,Michigan,Movies,New Jersey,Urban Growth,Washington D.C.,Youth

Notre Dame Western Most #1 Team In NCAA Lacrosse History

SOUTH BEND — Welcome to the western frontier of the men's college lacrosse civilization.

A wilderness, of sorts.

Notre Dame is one of the remote outposts in the sport's wild west. Only Air Force and Denver are more distant from the center of the universe.

Lacrosse is as East Coast as that thin, foldable New York-style pizza and crab cakes. It comes with an attitude and a bias against anything that doesn't conform.

All that causes Kevin Corrigan little angst. The Irish lacrosse coach for the last 23 years, Corrigan has made a career out of riding in the face of the bias.

Focus. Do the work, day-to-day. Believe in the system.
The system has worked pretty well lately. Two years ago, an undefeated regular season and No. 2 national ranking were spoiled by a first-round elimination in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, struggles through the regular season were followed by a magical run through the tournament that ended in an overtime loss to Duke in the national championship game.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

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-Be Thankful Lax Can Have a Growth Blog.  Here's the Alternative

Posted in: College,Cut Sports,Division I,High School,Indiana,Massachusetts,Montana,Movies,Parity,Youth

New MLL Charlotte Team President Speaks

Jim McPhilliamy has reason to be excited about a new Major League Lacrosse franchise in Charlotte, N.C. And, he has reason to believe the sport will succeed.

"The sport's growing tremendously here. Everybody's out throwing a ball around. There are nets everywhere," he says. "It's growing like wildfire."

Senior sports management executive Jim McPhilliamy led the efforts to bring the team to Charlotte. McPhilliamy will be the team president of the currently-unnamed franchise in Charlotte, he said over the phone late last week.

Charlotte and Columbus, Ohio, were tabbed by the league for expansion in 2012, Inside Lacrosse reported and the league later confirmed.

Full Story

Quick Hits:

-Hamilton Nationals Hire Coach

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-Kyle Harrison in Finland

-French National Team Prepares for World Championships

-CBS College Sports to Broadcast Patriot League Lacrosse

-Mercer Impressive in First Ever Exhibition

Posted in: Canada,Coaching Hires,College,Division II,Division III,Finland,Georgia,Idaho,International,MCLA,MLL,Movies,North Carolina,Professional,South Africa,TV Coverage,Wheelchair Lacrosse

Winthrop University to Add Women's Lacrosse

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Winthrop University Board of Trustee members voted Nov. 5 to add a women’s lacrosse team to its Division I program.

President Anthony DiGiorgio said a new coach would be hired next spring and a team assembled to play by spring 2012. “We’ve heard on our recruiting trips in the Northeast that this is a sport that high school students would like to participate,” said DiGiorgio. “Female lacrosse players nationwide have among the highest academic success rates. These athletes would like to continue playing at college, and they want to play at a good school.”

Winthrop added women’s soccer in 2003 because of a similar trend.

Lacrosse is gaining popularity in the South as other nearby universities have added the sport. DiGiorgio said the addition of women’s lacrosse at Winthrop would create increased opportunities for women’s participation in intercollegiate scholarship sports as defined in Title IX.

Link

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-US Lacrosse Awards Grants to Help Growth

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Posted in: College,Division I,International,Movies,Ohio,Russia,South Carolina,Urban Growth

MCLA Player Scores 3 Goals For MLL's Outlaws

Are MCLA players the key to a successful westward MLL expansion?



Interview w/ Connor Martin

Martin is the 4th MCLA player to play in the MLL (G-Alex Smith - CSU/Denver, FOGO-Brekan Kohlitz - Michigan/Washington, G-Chris Bluse - Colorado/Chicago) and the first to actually get a point.

Quick Hits:

-New MTV Movie Will Highlight Lacrosse

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-Netherlands Near FIL Upset Bodes Well for Future

Posted in: College,Colorado,Division I,Georgia,International,MCLA,MLL,Movies,Netherlands,Professional,Rhode Island

Summer Links

Summer is mostly a slow time of the year for lacrosse news (with the exception of the MLL) but we will continue to post news related to lacrosse growth as we get it.

-Lacrosse Growing in St. Louis Area

-City Lax Brings Lacrosse To Inner City Denver

-Did a Big East Schedule Affect Syracuse Negatively?

-Toe to Toe, a Movie About Lacrosse, Released Online

-BRIDGE Team Competes in Ohio

Posted in: Colorado,Conferences,Division I,Missouri,Movies,Ohio,Urban Growth

Piedmont College Announces The Addition of Men's Lacrosse

Piedmont College a Division III school located in Demorest, GA has announced the addition of Men's Lacrosse to it's varsity offering.  The college is already planning a new practice facility and renovated locker room facilities for the team.  Piedmont has been rumored to be on the verge of adding Men's Lacrosse for several years now and it has been said that the school actually made the announcement in 2005 before rescinding.


Also

-ESPN Attacks On Lax (MediaWeek)

-Lacrosse movie 'Crooked Arrow' targets 2011 release

Posted in: College,Division III,Georgia,Media,Movies