Monday Lax Links

-The Establishment of Lacrosse in Scotland

-Partnership Grows Pro Lacrosse in Mexico

-Growing Lacrosse in Japan

-PLL and WPLL To Partner 

-Boo Corrigan Named AD at NC State

-Lacrosse Growing in Popularity will be a TSAA Sport

-Ohio Machine Connecting with Local Businesses

-St Bonaventure's Grows from the Ground Up

-What Utahs First D1 Lax Game Means

Posted in: Business,California,Division I,High School,International,Japan,Mexico,MLL,New York,NLL,North Carolina,Ohio,PLL,Scotland,Tennessee,Utah,WPLL

University of Pittsburgh Add Women's Lacrosse

PITTSBURGH—University of Pittsburgh Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced today that Pitt Athletics will add women's lacrosse as a varsity sport. The program will play its inaugural season against NCAA Division I competition in the 2021-22 academic year. Pitt will be the ninth Atlantic Coast Conference institution to sponsor the sport at the NCAA Division I level.

The program will be fully funded with the NCAA maximum of 12 scholarships and play its games at the Petersen Sports Complex. "On behalf of our University and Department of Athletics, we are extremely excited to announce the addition of women's lacrosse as a Division I sport at Pitt," said Lyke, who in 2014 chaired the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Committee. "We are grateful for the support of our Board of Trustees and Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. Their belief in the vision and future of Pitt Athletics has been vital.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Lacrosse Emoji Goes Live

-LIU Post and Brooklyn to Merge, Men's Lacrosse Elevated to D1

-Ecuador and Ukraine Admitted to FIL

-NJIT Admitted to NEC As Associated Member

-LIU Consolidation Catches Some Off Guard

-Lacrosse Growing in Washington State Community

-MLL and NLL See Value in Home Team Model

-Madison, WI's Lord of Lacrosse

-Everything You Need to Know About the PLL

-Rabil Starts His Own League 

-Wall Street Backing New Pro League

-WPLL To Take Japan Tour

Posted in: Conferences,Division I,Division II,Ecuador,Japan,MLL,New Jersey,New York,NLL,Pennsylvania,PLL,Professional,Social Media,Ukraine,Washington,Wisconsin,WPLL

Sunday Lax Links

-Denver Outlaws Start MLLs First Japanese Player

-The Jamaican Lacrosse Movement

-Muslim Lacrosse Player Finds New Confidence

-What's Killing Youth Soccer Also Affects Other Sports

-Youth Lacrosse Grows in Fulton County, GA

-Pro Coach Brings Expertise to Fleming Island, FL

-Rochester City Youth Catch Lacrosse Bug

-Substitution Rules Modified in Women's Lacrosse

-Pennsylvania Native Savors Playing with Team Slovakia at FILs

-Lacrosse Community Project Benefits Cleveland

-Long Island Teen Restarts Youth Lacrosse Clinics

-Sports Grant Could Help Lacrosse Grow in Tennessee Community 

-Men's Lacrosse Considers Continuous Shot Clock

-MLL Announces All-Star Game Locations for Next 3 Seasons

Posted in: FIL,Florida,Georgia,International,Jamaica,Japan,MLL,New York,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Professional,Rules,Shot Clock,Slovakia,Tennessee,Urban Growth,World Championships,Youth

Wednesday Lax Links

-Colby Sawyer and Regis Join the GNAC

-Digging Deep for Diversity

-UWLX Runs Equipment Clinic

-PITT Plans Indoor Lacrosse Facility...but No D1 Plans

-Facility Keeps Bowling Green Lacrosse Alive

-Why Diversity Matters

-Academy of New Church Helps Grow Game in PA

-Growing Game on Staten Island

-From Japan, With Lacrosse

-Grands Rapid, MN High Schools Adding Lacrosse

-Marcus Holman Talks About Growth of Lacrosse

Posted in: Conferences,Cut Sports,Diversity,Division I,Division III,High School,International,Japan,Maryland,MCLA,Minnesota,MLL,New York,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Urban Growth,UWLX,Youth

Northland College (DIII WI) Adding Lacrosse

Northland College will be adding men's and women's lacrosse starting in the spring of 2016, and the school will also be building a new multi-million dollar stadium to house the lacrosse and soccer programs. Construction on the stadium will begin this summer with the expectation that it will be finished by the end of the year.

The project, which will be built on the land the existing soccer field occupies, will include a new 1,000-seat grandstand, press box, concession stand, Wi-Fi, and an artificial turf playing surface. Money for the new stadium was donated by Northland College trustee and alumnus Craig Ponzio. “This is a proud moment for Northland and for our athletes and fans,” Northland College President Michael Miller said. “Personally, I can’t wait to sit with fans and watch games from the grandstand.

Full Article

Quick Hits:

-Bringing Back Wisconsin Baseball Unlikely

-Women's Lacrosse Enjoying Explosive Growth in Bay Area (video)

-High School Lacrosse Growth in Michigan (video)

-Syracuse Benefits From Games National Growth

-IMG Lacrosse Arrives on the Scene

-Lacrosse Growing Among Youth in Northwest Arkansas (video)

-Serbia Lacrosse Set to Compete in first International Event 

-Central Maine Seeing Lacrosse Growth

-Lacrosse Players Land Good Jobs in Japan

Posted in: Arkansas,California,College,Division I,Division III,Florida,High School,Japan,Maine,Michigan,New York,Serbia,Wisconsin,Youth

Tuesday Lax Links

-University of Montevallo (AL) Names First Ever Women's Lacrosse Coach

-Vancouver Youth Introduced to Lacrosse

-Boston Cannons to Play at Gillette Stadium 

-Montevallo Looking Forward to Start of Lacrosse Program 

-Jefferson Academy (CO) to Add Lacrosse

-Villa Maria College (NY) to Begin Athletic Programs

-New Benefits to Athletes Trigger Talks of Cutbacks

-Tampa Youth Sports Program to Offer Lacrosse

-HighschoolOT.com To Start Covering Lacrosse

-Tokyo 2020 to Work With IOC on Potential New Olympic Sports

-Limbo the Name of the Game for Non-Revenue Sports

-Kent State Hires Firm to Asses Athletic Program, Cuts on the Table

-WINNERS Lacrosse Introduces Lacrosse to Inner City D.C.

Posted in: Alabama,Canada,Colorado,Cut Sports,Division II,Facilities,Florida,High School,Japan,Media,MLL,Washington D.C.,Youth

Kyle Harrison Talks Lacrosse Growth

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Quick Hits:

-The Shanghai Cup Features a Game vs. China and Japan

-Japan Wins the Asia-Pacific Lacrosse Championships

-Men's Health Magazine Features Stony Brook Lacrosse

Posted in: China,International,Japan,Media,Urban Growth

Intramural Lacrosse

For lacrosse to penetrate the main stream sport conscious, the addition of the sport to college intramural offerings is a must.  While a handful of schools such as Providence College offer lacrosse as an intramural sport, and some such as UMass have offered it in the past, it is not a common phenomenon nationwide.  Surprisingly, lacrosse stronghold Johns Hopkins does not offer it, however IM Lacrosse is somewhat common in Canada where the culture is based more on the indoor game.

Intramurals in general are for the casual and non-committal sports participant.  However, current models for intramural lacrosse require participants to provide their own sticks, therefore catering to individuals who are already hooked on the sport or at least have some previous experience.  IM Lacrosse should be an opportunity to expose the sport to new participants, but to do this Intramural Departments would need to purchase their own sticks for use by their students. 

Another problem is that there is no nationally agreed upon playing rules for intramural lacrosse. NIRSA has set national intramural rules for many sports offered by Universities, lacrosse not being one of them.  Since intramural lacrosse currently has no agreed upon rules, schools are left on their own to set guidelines, giving students inconsistent experiences from school to school. 

Unless the demand is there, which it likely isn't at this time given the amount of varsity and club options out there, Intramural Departments will likely continue leaving IM Lacrosse as a niche phenomenon with student supplied equipment.  However, twenty years from now your dorm may have an organized lacrosse team rather than football team.

Quick Hits

-HS Lacrosse is growing in Naples, FL

-Article on Mississippi HS Lacrosse Team

-Promotional Video for Japanese Lacrosse Team

-Cut Lacrosse Program at Movarian College Seeks Support

-MCLA Lacrosse Makes Local News Broadcast in Indiana

-Interview with Michigan Head Coach John Paul, Discusses Future Varsity Status

Posted in: College,Cut Sports,Division III,Florida,High School,Indiana,International,Intramural,Japan,MCLA,Mississippi,Pennsylvania,Viewpoint