The State of Lacrosse features a state-by-state look at lacrosse growth in the US. In each post we'll interview individuals involved in growing lacrosse in their home state. Today we focus on Alabama and speak with Chris Cos and Dave Link. Coach Cos is the Head Coach of Hoover High School and also the author of the blog BamaLax. Dave is the President of the Alabama Chapter of US Lacrosse.
Tell us a little bit about growth in Alabama?
CC: The growth has been a little overwhelming, it is tough to find all the coaches needed to properly instruct our eager players. The Birmingham area has the most players (close to 1500) but Northern Alabama, (Huntsville) has been growing just as rapidly and now we have programs in South Alabama (Mobile) and Auburn It really has been amazing to be part of bringing lacrosse to the lives of so many kids and families.
DL: Lacrosse is still the fastest growing sport in Alabama – by a long shot. I think this will continue for decades, provided we can develop relationships with community and school leaders. Ten years ago, we had 1 high school team, 1 post-collegiate team, and Auburn and Alabama had struggling club teams. We had a handful of transplants who carried the sport on their shoulders – coaching, officiating, driving all over the state, begging community leaders to use an empty lot. And next month we’ll be inducting the first group of these pioneers into our Hall of Fame.
What region of the state has growth been the strongest?
CC: Birmingham has the most players and has won all of the 6 state championships at the high school level. Due to field and coaching constraints last year Birmingham didn't grow as much as previous years but we are seeing programs popping up all over which has been very exciting.
DL: For years Birmingham and Huntsville were the only pockets of lacrosse in the state, and with a 2-hour drive between the two cities, youth lacrosse was a big commitment for players, coaches and parents. But Birmingham now has a league that stands on its own – with several teams in age divisions from U9 to High School. And Huntsville will be able to stand alone in the next couple years. And, although it is nice for families not to have to drive every weekend, the two leagues will always play each other. There are some very healthy cross-state rivalries. Two years ago, youth lacrosse started in the Southern Alabama area with the Lower Alabama Lacrosse league, and this past Spring we launched the Auburn Youth Lacrosse League with 130 kids. Trussville, Tuscaloosa, and Mobile are areas of concentration for us in the coming year.
The State of Lacrosse: Alabama
Friday, July 29, 2011
Harlem Lacrosse & Leadership Corporation Video Clip
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Quick Hits:
-Why Hasn't the NLL worked in Baltimore?
-Lacrosse in Chad Ochocincos Future?
-No Thank you to Shot Clock
-Texas Lacrosse TV Coverage From the 80's
-Connecticut Tech Schools Forced to Drop Athletics
Posted in: Connecticut,High School,Maryland,New York,NLL,Professional,Rules,Texas,Urban Growth,YouthNewberry College (SC) Adds Women's Lacrosse
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
The addition of women's lacrosse is the first new sport added to the intercollegiate athletics program since the wrestling program was announced in 2004.
"Women's lacrosse is a very exciting sport and one which we're pleased to provide as a new opportunity for student-athletes to participate in," said senior vice president for institutional advancement and intercollegiate athletics Brad Edwards. "Women's lacrosse will bring another exciting, fan-friendly atmosphere to Setzler Field and we look forward to the community and our great supporters joining us there for the 2012 season."
Full Article
Quick Hits:
-Warrior Puts on a Free Lacrosse Clinic in Maryland
-Lacrosse is Coming to the Sugar Bowl
-Growing Lacrosse in Louisiana
-Title IX Violations Rampant At Community Colleges
-Lacrosse Going Through Growth Spurt in Minnesota
-Michigan Prepares for Divison 1
Charlotte Hounds Owner Interviewed By Fox Charlotte
Friday, July 15, 2011
NESN Video Covers MLL All-Star Game Success
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
MLL Commissioner Gross Talks Further Expansion
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Will Major League Lacrosse return to California? Or are more new teams headed to the Southeast?
MLL commissioner David Gross addressed members of the lacrosse media Wednesday in advance of Saturday's MLL all-star game in Boston, and among the topics he addressed was league expansion. The expansion Charlotte Hounds and Ohio Machine are set to join the league for 2012, and Gross said Wednesday the league plans in January to announce two more teams to begin play for the 2013 season.
This supports the expansion plan that Lacrosse Magazine reported last December, in which the league named 19 target expansion markets. North Carolina, home of the recently fan-named Hounds, and Columbus, Ohio, where the Machine will play, were two of those markets.
But where will the new teams for 2013 be located? Gross said that returning the league to California — the league had teams in San Francisco and Los Angeles from 2006-08 — is a possibility. So, too, is adding teams in the Southeast.
Full Article
Quick Hits:
-Lacrosse Growing in Victoria, Canada
-Challenges of Shot Clock Implementation
-More Shot Clock Madness
-New Zealand Lacrosse Hosting Asian Championships (video)
-Michigan (M) Joins the ECAC
-Rise of College Club Sports
-Big South Adds Davidson (W)
Houghton College (NY) Adds Men's and Women's Lacrosse
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
HOUGHTON, NY, July 5, 2011 – Houghton College is pleased to announce the addition of men’s and women’s lacrosse, golf, and tennis teams to the athletic department as part of the school’s transition to NCAA Division III and the Empire 8 Conference. These additions will increase the viability of Houghton’s move from exploratory membership to provisional membership in the NCAA, bringing Houghton athletics to a total of 16 teams.
With the addition of lacrosse, Houghton athletes will be participating in a sport that is one of the fastest growing in NCAA and has a rich tradition in the Western New York area. Rachael Snelgrove has been appointed as the head coach for the women’s lacrosse team, and she will handle the recruiting for both the men’s and women’s teams until a men’s coach is hired next year. The first season for both the men’s and the women’s teams will begin in the spring of the 2012-2013 school year
Full Article
Quick Hits:
-Lacrosse Seeing Growth in Western PA
-The South African Lacrosse Project
-Denver Outlaws Set MLL Attendance Record