MORAVIA, Costa Rica – The Panama men’s team earned its second consecutive World Lacrosse Sixes tournament title over the weekend at the Torneo Centroamericano Bicentenario Sixes Lacrosse with a 22-15 victory over Colombia in the championship game. Panama compiled a perfect 4-0 record during the four-day tournament, outscoring opponents by 85-39 to seal its second championship in three months following victory at the 2021 PALA Sixes Cup in September.

Overall, the Torneo Centroamericano Bicentenario featured 266 goals across 12 games utilizing the sport’s new shorter and faster format. It included three days of round-robin play, with the top team from each of the two groups playing for the championship on Sunday.

The championship match between Panama and Colombia included a tournament-high 37 goals in 32 minutes of play, with just two goals separating the teams entering the final 8-minute quarter. Both of runner-up Colombia’s losses came at the hands of Panama, including by a 15-10 margin during round-robin play.

Panama is new to the international scene, having become a World Lacrosse member last year. Meanwhile, Guatemala and Nicaragua were making their international debuts in the sport of lacrosse, and Mexico and Costa Rica were competing in their first international Sixes event.

Costa Rica captain Rubén Rodríguez said: “The Torneo Centroamericano Bicentenario was an amazing experience. On behalf of the Costa Rican team, thank you to the five other Latin American teams for coming to our country to play and to everyone who helped deliver such a well-organized event. Sixes complements field and box lacrosse by taking the best of both worlds. It is more versatile when teaching new and young players, while offering a fresh and compressed version of a magnificent game for experienced players, with lots of exciting offensive and defensive transitions and many goals.”

Romar Dennis of Panama, who is a midfielder for the Premier Lacrosse League’s Atlas LC, said: “This has been awesome; it’s one of the most fulfilling lacrosse events I’ve ever been to. I am really proud of my Latino heritage and being here and seeing how the game has spread all over different continents is very exciting.”

World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said: “Congratulations to the Costa Rica Lacrosse Sporting Federation on the successful staging of the first Sixes event in Latin America, and to Panama for a very strong winning performance. World Lacrosse Sixes continues to deliver on its promise of creating expanded competitive opportunities for a wider range of countries. Providing newer member federations the chance to compete early and often on the international stage will quickly lead to a deep global talent pool, and will attract further participation around the world as we seek to gain Olympic inclusion.”

Torneo Centroamericano Bicentenario Sixes Lacrosse Results

1.     Panama (4-0)

2.     Colombia (2-2)

3.     Mexico (3-1)

4.     Nicaragua (1-3)

5.     Costa Rica (2-2)

6.     Guatemala (0-4)

World Lacrosse Sixes 2021 Schedule

August 7-8 // The Fly // England

August 28-29 // Home Nations 6s // Scotland

September 3-5 // PALA Sixes Cup // United States

October 23-24 // Super Sixes // United States

December 2-5 // Torneo Centroamericano Bicentenario Sixes Lacrosse // Costa Rica

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, USA – World Lacrosse this week welcomed PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Sabah Cambrelen (USA) as the first Diversity and Inclusion Director to its board of directors during its regular meeting on Tuesday (November 16), and also confirmed the addition of three new member federations – India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The board meeting took place via videoconference, with Cambrelen in attendance for the first time following her unanimous election during the World Lacrosse General Assembly on October 31.

World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern said: “The World Lacrosse board of directors is excited to add Sabah Cambrelen to our leadership structure. Her incredible skills and experience in diversity and inclusion will help our burgeoning organization continue to improve in this area with the aim of becoming an industry leader.”

Cambrelen said: “I am thrilled to join the board of directors of World Lacrosse, which has expressed a deep commitment to becoming a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion. There is a great opportunity as the sport continues to expand, especially with the launch of the more accessible World Lacrosse Sixes discipline. I very much look forward to further advancing the efforts around the world to help advance inclusion, diversity and accessibility for this amazing game.”

The board also unanimously approved the reappointment of Andrew Harris (AUS) as chair of the Ethics Committee for a further period of three years following his initial one-year term and approved the establishment of a Sixes Rules Working Group, which will focus specifically on Sixes rules in a similar way that the other World Lacrosse rule sets are managed. The board also reviewed an update on organizational activities from CEO Jim Scherr and an overview of the 2022 critical strategic priorities.

The addition of India, Indonesia and Vietnam as Provisional Members – which was confirmed by World Lacrosse’s membership via a postal vote that ended November 13 – brings the organization’s global membership to 73, an increase of 30 in the last decade. Their applications followed the spirit of the new membership process that was approved at the 2021 General Assembly and developed by World Lacrosse’s Membership Working Group, which included representation from each of the governing body’s three continental federations: the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union, the European Lacrosse Federation and the Pan-American Lacrosse Association.

Bob DeMarco, World Lacrosse board development director, said: “We are incredibly pleased to officially welcome India, Indonesia and Vietnam to the international lacrosse community. This expansion in the Asia Pacific region, driven by the APLU, truly demonstrates the growing global desire for participation.”

The new membership process offers a consistent and streamlined experience for potential new members, and includes updated member categories and criteria:

• Continental Federation Member: Entity responsible for carrying out the purposes of World Lacrosse and supporting the national federations within a defined geographic region that includes multiple countries
• Full Member: National federation with proven ability to govern domestically and contribute to the continental or global development of the sport; Full Members have access to all World Lacrosse events, programs and services, and have voting rights on governance matters
• Provisional Member (formerly Associate Member): New and emerging national federation that is working to develop its domestic activities; Provisional Members have access to numerous programs and services to support their development
• Affiliate Member: Organization that has a demonstrated interest in aligning with World Lacrosse and supporting its initiatives; typically a non-sporting organization

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA – World Lacrosse Sixes – a shorter and faster-paced version of the sport that launched earlier this year – is set to be played among the world’s top teams for the first time this weekend at World Lacrosse Super Sixes in the Baltimore metro area. Elite men’s and women’s teams from Canada, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the United States will participate in the historic event October 23-24 at Tierney Field on the USA Lacrosse complex in Sparks, Maryland.

Super Sixes is the fourth in a series of five events for the new brand of the sport this year, and the first international Sixes competition for these teams*. The round-robin tournament will feature six games on both Saturday and Sunday, with all the action broadcast live on Lax Sports Network.

World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr said: “Following our launch of World Lacrosse Sixes less than six months ago, the new discipline has continued to gain popularity around the world due to its broader appeal, wider access and super-fast-paced format. Having the world’s top teams going head-to-head in Sixes for the first time will make for an incredibly exciting weekend in Baltimore, and will further showcase the sport on our journey to Olympic inclusion.”

Sixes blends many of the most popular aspects of traditional lacrosse disciplines, while introducing new elements that appeal to the next generation of athletes and fans. Major differences include a smaller field (70×36 meters), fewer players (12 per team, six-on-six competition), condensed game length (8-minute quarters), less stoppages in play and the addition of a 30-second shot clock. In addition to vying for inclusion on the Olympic program starting in 2028, World Lacrosse Sixes will be featured in other multi-sport events, including The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, next summer.

Tickets for Super Sixes range in price from $15-25 per day, with group tickets starting at $10. Weekend passes are also available. All tickets can be purchased here. 

Rosters for all six teams can be found here. The Haudenosaunee teams have also previously competed as the Iroquois Nationals.

*The Haudenosaunee women’s team participated in the PALA Sixes Cup last month, under the Iroquois Nationals name

World Lacrosse Super Sixes Schedule

Saturday, October 23 (all times local – EDT)
Canada vs. Haudenosaunee // Women: 12 p.m., Men: 1:15 p.m.
United States vs. Canada // Women: 2:30 p.m., Men: 3:45 p.m.
United States vs. Haudenosaunee // Women: 5 p.m., Men: 6:15 p.m.

Sunday, October 24 (all times local – EDT)
United States vs. Haudenosaunee // Women: 8:15 a.m., Men: 9:30 a.m.
Canada vs. Haudenosaunee // Women: 10:45 a.m., Men: 12 p.m.
United States vs. Canada // Women: 1:15 p.m., Men: 2:30 p.m.

World Lacrosse Sixes 2021 Schedule

August 7-8 // The Fly // England
August 28-29 // Home Nations 6s // Scotland
September 3-5 // PALA Sixes Cup // United States
October 23-24 // Super Sixes // United States
December 2-5 // Torneo Centroamericano Bicentenario Sixes Lacrosse // Costa Rica

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA — World Lacrosse took an historic step forward in its continued growth and development today, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Membership voted to grant Full Recognition to the international federation for lacrosse. The vote took place during the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games.

For World Lacrosse, the conferral of Full Recognition by the IOC is the fulfillment of a goal the organization first established for itself more than a decade ago and is a reflection of the vision and contributions of countless volunteers around the globe who have been steadfast in their commitment to support the continued growth of lacrosse by expanding opportunities for participation at every level.

“This is a momentous day for lacrosse enthusiasts around the world and a reason for our entire World Lacrosse family to celebrate,” said World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern. “We are deeply grateful to the Membership of the International Olympic Committee for today’s vote and the expression of confidence it reflects. With Full Recognition comes greater responsibility, and we are committed to serving as an active and engaged member of the international sport community and supporting our partners across sport.”

“We also offer our congratulations to the other international federations who, alongside World Lacrosse, also secured Full Recognition today. We are proud to be your partners and wish you the very best for continued success,” added Redfern.

“The evaluation process for Full Recognition has been intensive, but at every step in the process, the IOC has helped make World Lacrosse a stronger, more effective international federation, and we greatly appreciate the IOC’s ongoing support and encouragement,” said World Lacrosse Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. “While today’s decision represents a historic milestone for World Lacrosse, it is not the culmination of our journey. Rather, we will use this new status and the momentum it creates to find new ways to continue expanding opportunities for participation in lacrosse around the globe while supporting even greater growth.”

Two recent, major milestones in the pursuit of Full Recognition by the IOC were:

• November 30, 2018 — the IOC Executive Board grants Provisional Recognition to World Lacrosse
• June 10, 2021 — the IOC Executive Board approves a recommendation from the IOC Sports Department to grant Full Recognition to the international federation for men’s and women’s lacrosse

As part of the evaluation process for Full Recognition, the IOC Sports Department conducted a comprehensive review of more than 500 pages of material submitted by World Lacrosse before making its recommendation the IOC Executive Board.

The grant of Full Recognition by the IOC ensures World Lacrosse will maintain its status as a member of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations (ARISF). Additionally, World Lacrosse will continue to be eligible to receive financial support through the IOC Development Program and will continue to benefit from access to IOC meetings, educational seminars, publications and other resources.

Moreover, the conferral of Full Recognition means World Lacrosse and the game it stewards will continue to grow in stature and influence in the community of international sport.

Among the fastest-growing international federations in sport, World Lacrosse now represents 70 member-National Governing Bodies worldwide and has welcomed seven new members in the last 20 months alone. During the past three years, the international federation has significantly expanded the benefits and services offered to its members, particularly in the areas of sport development, coaching education and officiating education.

In May 2021, World Lacrosse formally introduced a new discipline of lacrosse — World Lacrosse Sixes — which is designed to:

• Support and encourage the continued growth of lacrosse worldwide
• Provide greater access to lacrosse by eliminating barriers to entry (eg: cost, team size, field size)
• Appeal to the next generation of sport participants and fans with a discipline that features tempo, speed, scoring and less specialization
• Over time, create greater competitive balance internationally by bringing more nations within reach of the podium at major international events
• And, fit within the 21st Century Olympic framework, where the International Olympic Committee and Host Cities are working to reduce the cost and complexity of staging the Olympic Games

The response to World Lacrosse Sixes has been overwhelmingly positive, with five international or domestic invitational events already scheduled for the latter part of 2021.

World Lacrosse is also undertaking a full review of its current World Championship structure, with an aim toward improving the experience for participating athletes while increasing the visibility and marketability of these signature properties.

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World Lacrosse took another major step  forward in its continued growth and development today, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved a recommendation from the IOC Sports Department to grant Full Recognition to the international federation for men’s and women’s lacrosse. 

One final step remains in the process in order for World Lacrosse to gain Full  Recognition, which is a vote by the IOC Membership accepting the recommendation of  the IOC Executive Board.  That vote could take place as early as July 2021 at the IOC  Session immediately prior to the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The grant of Full Recognition by the IOC would ensure World Lacrosse maintains its  status as a member of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports  Federations (ARISF). Additionally, World Lacrosse would continue to be eligible to  receive financial support through the IOC Development Program and would benefit from  access to IOC meetings, educational seminars, publications and other resources. 

In November 2018, World Lacrosse was granted Provisional Recognition by the IOC, a  significant first step toward gaining Full Recognition. Two years later, in November  2020, the IOC Sports Department initiated a comprehensive review and evaluation  process of World Lacrosse, which included a submission of more than 500 pages of  material and several virtual meetings with leaders in the IOC Sports Department.

This is a tremendous vote of confidence by the International Olympic Committee  Executive Board in the direction of our sport and our international federation, and we  are deeply grateful for the consideration. As an international federation, we have ambitious goals for the continued  growth of our game around the world.  Equally, we are committed to being a trusted and  valued partner to the IOC and other international federations across sport.  Today’s vote  by the IOC Executive Board is an indication we are on the right path. In addition to expressing our appreciation to the IOC Executive Board, we congratulate our partners in international sport who also received favorable reviews today

World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern

At every juncture – first for Provisional Recognition and now for Full Recognition – the  IOC evaluation processes have made us a better, more effective international  federation. The  evaluations are rigorous, but they show us what we can achieve as an organization by  placing sport at the service of humanity. While today’s decision by the IOC Executive Board represents yet another important  milestone for World Lacrosse, we will not rest or stand still. This is a catalyst that will  drive and shape our efforts to continue expanding opportunities for participation in  lacrosse and improving our capabilities as an international federation.

World Lacrosse Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA – World Lacrosse is today introducing the
name, brand identity and first phase of technical resources for the new 6 v 6 discipline
that has been developed through a comprehensive consultation, trial and refinement
process involving players, coaches, officials and leaders of lacrosse around the world.

The new discipline of lacrosse will be formally known as World Lacrosse Sixes. On a
more conversational or familiar basis, the new discipline will be referred to as Sixes.

“This is the beginning of an exciting, new era for World Lacrosse and lacrosse players around the globe,” said World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern. “As the newest offering from our international federation, World Lacrosse Sixes is an ideal complement to our existing field and box disciplines. Sixes blends many of the most popular aspects of the field and box games and introduces new elements that appeal to the next generation of sport participants and fans.

“Many of the most successful international federations in sport are introducing smaller-sided variations of their traditional offerings in order to meet the interest and demand of today’s athletes, and that’s what Sixes helps us achieve,” added Redfern.

“Throughout the development of this new discipline, the voice and perspective of athletes has helped shape every major decision that was made” added World Lacrosse Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. “Today’s introduction is just the beginning. We will continue to modify and refine this discipline, leaning heavily on input from those for whom it was designed while expanding the technical resources available to players, coaches, officials and league administrators. We will also introduce an international calendar of events, culminating with a World Championship, through which players from around the world will be able to showcase their skills in Sixes.”

Development of World Lacrosse Sixes

As part of the Strategic Plan approved by the World Lacrosse General Assembly in 2018, a Working Group was appointed to explore the development of a new discipline that would be complementary to the existing field and box disciplines while positioning World Lacrosse and its member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations to achieve the following objectives:

• Support and encourage the continued growth of lacrosse worldwide
• Provide greater access to lacrosse by eliminating barriers to entry (e.g., cost, team size, field size)
• Appeal to the next generation of sport participants and fans with a discipline that features tempo, speed, scoring and less specialization
• Over time, create greater competitive balance internationally by bringing more nations within reach of the podium at major international events
• And, fit within the 21st Century Olympic framework, where the International Olympic Committee and Host Cities are working to reduce the cost and complexity of staging the Olympic Games

Under the leadership of World Lacrosse Vice President Steve Stenersen, the Blue Skies
Working Group began Phase One of its work in July 2018, seeking input and direction from stakeholders around the world. Throughout a two-year consultation and development process, trials of the new discipline were conducted, with feedback provided by players, coaches and officials. On November 15, 2020, the World Lacrosse General Assembly approved the initial set of Official Playing Rules for the new discipline, which were developed by the WL Technical Committee under the direction of Don Blacklock.

“Our goal was to create an innovative new discipline that helps to scale international participation growth and position lacrosse for inclusion at the highest levels of international sport competition,” said Stenersen, who chairs the Blue Skies Working Group. “Creating a hybrid version of our existing field and box disciplines with smaller squad sizes was quickly embraced as a common solution to achieve both objectives. Through an exhaustive and inclusive two-year process that benefitted from the input of hundreds of athletes, coaches and officials across our membership, World Lacrosse Sixes was born.

“Just like those of our current field and box disciplines, which will remain essential components of our international competition platform, the rules of World Lacrosse Sixes will continue to evolve and refine over time based on the input of stakeholders throughout the world,” added Stenersen.

World Lacrosse Sixes Brand Identity

The World Lacrosse Sixes brand identity was developed by Zag, an internationally respected brand development agency based in London that works with some of the most recognized brands in sport and entertainment, including FIFA, Under Armour, Tottenham Hotspur, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the New York Yankees, Disney, Yamaha and Kellogg’s. Overseeing the brand development work on behalf of Zag was Fred Popp, who brought more than 20 years of experience and success working with brands in international, Olympic and professional sport to the assignment, and on behalf of World Lacrosse, Chief Brand and Communications Officer Darryl Seibel.

The World Lacrosse Sixes brand identity has been developed to capture and convey the essence of the new discipline:

• A modern interpretation of a game built upon time-honored traditions and values
• A universally accessible discipline of the game that is unbound by borders
• An exhilarating, action-packed offering designed to appeal to 21st Century sport participants and fans with tempo, speed, scoring and less specialization

The brand identity is built upon a hexagon motif applied at the speed of Sixes and features bold colors and innovative design elements.

“World Lacrosse set out on a mission: It wanted to expand the way lacrosse was adopted, played and lived,” said Popp. “In a way, this ambition reflects the change sport is undergoing with the need for democratic, accessible, media-friendly disciplines. When it crafted World Lacrosse Sixes — a new code of the traditional game — World Lacrosse adopted the zeitgeist of sport for all.”

As part of the brand development process, Zag conducted research with National Team players, recreational players and fans of lacrosse around the globe. Among the key research findings:

• 84% of those polled see the new World Lacrosse Sixes format as positive
• 82% want to play the new discipline
• 87% want to watch the new discipline
• Importantly, within the survey group, more than 97% of National Team athletes expressed support for the pursuit of Olympic inclusion by World Lacrosse

What Makes World Lacrosse Sixes Different

Among the major differences players will find in World Lacrosse Sixes are:

• :30 second shot clock
• Games are played in 4, 8-minute quarters
• Goalies initiate play after goals are scored; draws / faceoffs occur only at the start of each quarter
• Field size is 70×36 meters
• Flow of the game emphasizes tempo, with fewer stoppages in play
• Everyone plays both sides of the field (defense/offensive); substitutions are made on the fly
• Rosters are comprised of 12 players, which leads to more playing time and more touches on the ball
• In the women’s game, defensive players cannot be penalized for entering the shooting lane of an offensive player; offensive players will be penalized for taking a shot without regard for other players.

World Lacrosse Sixes Is Already Taking Off

Prior to today’s formal introduction of World Lacrosse Sixes, the new discipline is already being embraced and introduced for domestic competition by the following World Lacrosse members:

Australia Lacrosse Association
China Lacrosse Association
Costa Rica Lacrosse
England Lacrosse
German Lacrosse Association
Hong Kong Lacrosse Association
Iroquois Nationals/Haudenosaunee
Japan Lacrosse Association
Korea Lacrosse Association
Luxembourg Lacrosse Federation
Philippines Lacrosse Association
Lacrosse Scotland
Uganda Lacrosse Association
USA Lacrosse

In addition, World Lacrosse is now working with its member-National Governing Bodies
and Continental Federations to introduce a series of international events featuring the
Sixes discipline, culminating with a World Championship several years from now. An announcement of the 2021 and 2022 series of events is expected in the next 90 days.

World Lacrosse Sixes will be the discipline featured during The World Games 2022 in
Birmingham, Alabama, USA, July 7-17, 2022.

World Lacrosse Offers Technical Resources

Among the technical resources being introduced today by World Lacrosse for players,
coaches, officials and administrators are:

• World Lacrosse Sixes Official Playing Rules
• In-person coaching clinics delivered alongside Sixes events
• Introductory e-learning course for officials
• Introductory e-learning course for players and coaches

These resources have been designed to ensure participants feel confident taking the field. The World Lacrosse Sixes webpage (www.worldlacrosse.sport/sixes) features materials designed for players who are new to the game of lacrosse, as well as for participants who have experience playing the field or box versions of the game. World
Lacrosse will continue to update the Virtual Training Center and NGB Toolkit on its website to best support the continued growth of the World Lacrosse Sixes discipline.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – As the global pandemic brought about by the COVID-19 virus continues to disrupt the international sport calendar, World Lacrosse has, regrettably, made the decision to postpone its two World Championships originally scheduled for 2021 by one year and will instead stage the events in 2022.

In a unanimous decision by the World Lacrosse Board of Directors, taken December 8 during its regular monthly meeting:

1. The World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship is being postponed from 2021 to 2022. The event will still be held in Towson, Maryland, USA at Towson University. The dates for the rescheduled event are to be confirmed, but likely will be late June / early July 2022.
   
2. The World Lacrosse Men’s U20 World Championship is also being postponed from 2021 to 2022. It is expected the event will still be held in Limerick, Ireland at the University of Limerick. The dates for the rescheduled event are to be confirmed, but likely will be late July / early August 2022.

To make certain athletes who otherwise would have been eligible to compete in the event had it been held in 2021 still have the opportunity to do so, the upper age limit for eligibility will be raised, on a one-time basis, to U21.

With these changes, the sequence of international events for World Lacrosse and its members in 2022 likely will be:

Late June / Early July 2022: World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship Towson, Maryland, USA

July 7-17: The World Games 2022 Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Late July / Early August 2022: World Lacrosse Men’s U21 World Championship Limerick, Ireland

The changes to the international calendar were first shared with the World Lacrosse membership and participating teams on December 8.

In making the decision, the World Lacrosse Board of Directors examined the continued impact, uncertainty and disruption to preparations for these events brought about by the global pandemic, along with input provided by its member-National Governing Bodies and participating teams regarding athlete health and safety, team training, travel and other logistical considerations.

These are extremely difficult decisions, particularly given the need to provide our members with as much advance notice as possible whilst managing the risk and uncertainty brought about by the pandemic. Given the full range of considerations, this is the right decision for World Lacrosse and our members. An extra year to prepare means the participating teams will be able to train with certainty in knowing these events will take place in 2022, and athletes can now focus on preparing with confidence for their moment on the global stage.

Sue Redfern, World Lacrosse President

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World Lacrosse Senior-Level Men’s World Championship To Be Held In 2023

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA – World Lacrosse announced today that its senior-level Men’s World Championship, originally scheduled for 2022, is being moved back one year to 2023 in response to other changes in the international sport calendar, to better accommodate athlete availability and to ease financial burden on its member-National Governing Bodies.

With the Tokyo Olympic Games being moved to 2021, The World Games – in which women’s and men’s lacrosse both will be featured for the first time — has been moved to 2022. As a result, the World Lacrosse Board of Directors today approved a recommendation from Management to move the senior-level Men’s World Championship back one year to 2023. The event will take place in Los Angeles, California, USA in the July-September timeframe.

With the change, the revised World Lacrosse major event calendar for the next four years is as follows:

2021 World Lacrosse Men’s U20 World Championship
June 17-26, 2021
Limerick, Ireland

2021 World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship
July 7-17, 2021
Towson, Maryland, USA

The World Games
July 7-17, 2022
Birmingham, Alabama, USA

2023 World Lacrosse Men’s World Championship
Dates TBD
Los Angeles, California, USA

In other action taken today by the World Lacrosse Board of Directors:

• The Board endorsed a series of recommendations from the Blue Skies Working Group related to further revisions to the World Championship event calendar and age classification structure for future World Lacrosse events, including a permanent change in the upper age limit for the age-group Men’s and Women’s World Championships to U20. Those recommendations will now be shared directly with World Lacrosse member-National Governing Bodies for further review and input, including a webinar later in June addressing the recommendations, before final action is taken.

• The Board approved creation of a COVID-19 Relief Grant Program, through which World Lacrosse member-National Governing Bodies may apply to receive grant funding to support budget relief due to lost revenue or other direct impacts resulting from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The process to apply for a grant and award criteria will be shared with World Lacrosse member-NGBs in the coming days. Consideration will also be given to the creation of a separate grant program for Continental Federations.

• Finally, the Board received an update on planning for the 2020 World Lacrosse General Assembly, which will be held October 18 in a virtual format.

Media Contact: Darryl Seibel
Email: dseibel@worldlacrosse.sport

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA — World Lacrosse and the Limerick 2020 Organizing Committee are confirming today that the Men’s U19 World Championship, originally scheduled for July 9-18, 2020 in Limerick, Ireland, will not be held in 2020.

The potential health risks and uncertainty posed by the global pandemic brought about by the COVID-19 virus are simply too great to proceed with the event as originally scheduled.

World Lacrosse has initiated a consultation process with all 20 member-National Governing Bodies that had planned to participate in the event to assess a full range of options for the Championship. In addition, later this week, World Lacrosse will host two virtual “town hall meetings” for representatives from its member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations to obtain further feedback and recommendations regarding the Men’s U19 World Championship and other international lacrosse activities.

World Lacrosse and the Limerick 2020 Organizing Committee will have an announcement in April addressing future plans for the Men’s U19 World Championship.

In addition, the World Lacrosse General Assembly, originally scheduled for late July, will not be held in Limerick this year. World Lacrosse is currently exploring alternatives for the annual meeting of its membership, but there will be a General Assembly in 2020.

Importantly, World Lacrosse would like to thank its National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations for their continued input and support, and the wider international lacrosse family for following the advice of public health authorities and doing our part, as a sport, to help combat the global pandemic.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA — The World Lacrosse (WL) Board of Directors met today in special session, via teleconference, for an update from the WL COVID-19 Task Force and to continue its detailed review of the impacts and alternatives for international lacrosse events as a result of the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern appointed the WL COVID-19 Task Force earlier this month to gather the latest information and resources from leading public health authorities around the world and to assist World Lacrosse member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations, as requested, with information and guidance. The Task Force is led by World Lacrosse Chief Medical Officer Dr. Karen Sutton.

During its teleconference today, the World Lacrosse Board of Directors took the following action:

1) The Board reaffirmed its position that the highest priority for any international lacrosse event affiliated with World Lacrosse is to protect and preserve the health and safety of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators.

2) The Board reviewed a status update and accepted a recommendation from Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr that it make a determination in April regarding the status of the 2020 World Lacrosse Men’s U19 World Championship and 2020 World Lacrosse General Assembly. Both events are currently scheduled to be held in Limerick, Ireland in July 2020. Scherr will work with the COVID-19 Task Force, Local Organizing Committee Chair Michael Kennedy of Ireland, members of the World Lacrosse Management Team and World Lacrosse member-National Governing Bodies in order to prepare a recommendation for the Board’s consideration.

3) The Board approved a recommendation from Scherr to implement a temporary freeze on hiring and to delay certain expenditures, all of which will be reevaluated in April. Last week, World Lacrosse made the decision for its staff to work remotely and to suspend all nonessential travel.

4) The Board expressed its profound gratitude to medical professionals, crisis response personnel and volunteers around the world who are working, day and night, to provide critical care to those afflicted, and its solidarity with the global community of sport to play our part in combatting this global pandemic.

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World Lacrosse invites lacrosse players from across the globe to showcase the very best of their lacrosse skills, creativity and finesse in this international wall ball contest! Contest ends on April 3, 2020.

Make sure to follow the rules below for your opportunity to win a Harrow apparel and gear pack. Creativity is highly encouraged!

World Lacrosse Wall Ball Contest

 

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@worldlacrossesport invites #lacrosse players from across the globe to showcase the very best of their lacrosse skills, #creativity and finesse in this #international wall ball #contest! Contest ends on April 3, 2020.⠀ ⠀ Make sure to follow the rules below for your opportunity to win a Harrow apparel and gear pack. Creativity is highly encouraged! ⠀ ⠀ World Lacrosse Wall Ball Contest⠀ ⠀ Wall Ball Contest Rules⠀ ⠀ Here’s how to enter:⠀ ⠀ 1. Make sure you follow @worldlacrossesport on Instagram if you’re not already doing so!⠀ ⠀ 2. Post a #video of you (you must be in the video) practicing wall ball with your lacrosse stick in the most creative of places, spaces and walls. Video should not exceed 30 seconds and you must tag @worldlacrossesport in order to qualify.⠀ ⠀ 3. Bonus points if you include your friends, squad or team in the (make sure to tag them).⠀ ⠀ 4. The contest runs from now until April 3, 2020.⠀ ⠀ 5. A panel of judges will select the three most creative submissions from all eligible submissions during the contest window (February 26 through April 3, 2020) based upon the following criteria: ⠀ ⠀ The video demonstrates the practice of lacrosse wall ball skills in a manner, atmosphere and backdrop that is creative and unusual.⠀ Entries must be original, unpublished and not copyrighted by any third party ⠀ Use good judgement. Do not damage property or take any unnecessary risks!⠀ Use good taste and keep it classy.⠀ Use your best lacrosse skills — let’s showcase the very best in lacrosse skill development and have fun doing so!⠀ ⠀ 6. The decisions of the judges is final. They know what they’re doing!⠀ ⠀ The #Prizes ⠀ ⠀ Grand Prize and Silver prize winners will have their choice on sizing, backpack or duffle and preferred style. ⠀ ⠀ Top winner: Backpack or Elite Duffle, zip-up, tank-top or t-shirt, shorts, socks, six-pack of balls, pop socket⠀ Silver Winner: Havoc Backpack or Elite Duffle, zip-up, water bottle, six-pack of balls, pop socket⠀ Bronze Winner: Havoc Backpack or Elite Duffle, water bottle and pop socket⠀ ⠀ Prizes will be sent from the US on April 6th. Please allow 10-15 days for international shipping.

A post shared by Lacrosse All Stars (@laxallstars) on Mar 4, 2020 at 5:36pm PST

Wall Ball Contest Rules

Here’s how to enter:

1. Make sure you follow @worldlacrossesport on Instagram if you’re not already doing so!

2. Post a video of you (you must be in the video) practicing wall ball with your lacrosse stick in the most creative of places, spaces and walls. Video should not exceed 30 seconds and you must tag @worldlacrossesport in order to qualify.

3. Bonus points if you include your friends, squad or team in the video (make sure to tag them).

4. The contest runs from now until April 3, 2020.

5. A panel of judges will select the three most creative submissions from all eligible submissions during the contest window (February 26 through April 3, 2020) based upon the following criteria:

• The video demonstrates the practice of lacrosse wall ball skills in a manner, atmosphere and backdrop that is creative and unusual.
• Entries must be original, unpublished and not copyrighted by any third party
• Use good judgement. Do not damage property or take any unnecessary risks!
• Use good taste and keep it classy.
• Use your best lacrosse skills — let’s showcase the very best in lacrosse skill development and have fun doing so!

6. The decisions of the judges is final.  They know what they’re doing!

The Prizes

Grand Prize and Silver prize winners will have their choice on sizing, backpack or duffle and preferred style.

• Top winner: Backpack or Elite Duffle, zip-up, tank-top or t-shirt, shorts, socks, six-pack of balls, pop socket
• Silver Winner: Havoc Backpack or Elite Duffle, zip-up, water bottle, six-pack of balls, pop socket
• Bronze Winner: Havoc Backpack or Elite Duffle, water bottle and pop socket

Prizes will be sent from the US on April 6th. Please allow 10-15 days for international shipping.

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, USA — World Lacrosse is closely monitoring developments related to the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including the response and recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and leading public health authorities around the world.

We strongly encourage our member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations to do the same by regularly visiting the WHO web site, which provides useful recommendations and practical advice on how best to help contain the spread of the virus:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

At present, one international lacrosse event affiliated with World Lacrosse, the Hong Kong Lacrosse Open, has been cancelled. The event was originally scheduled for April 2020.

Thus far, no other World Lacrosse events or meetings have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the spread of the virus, including the 2020 World Lacrosse Men’s U19 World Championship and World Lacrosse General Assembly, scheduled for July 2020 in Limerick, Ireland.

The Board of Directors of World Lacrosse reviewed the situation during its monthly call on March 3 and the leadership of our international federation will continue to monitor the situation closely and respond accordingly. Equally, we will work closely with the leadership of our Continental Federations to determine if the environment is safe for the Continental Championship events that are scheduled for later this spring and summer.

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The Organizing Committee for the 2022 World Lacrosse Men’s World Championship has
announced it is withdrawing its bid to host the event in Coquitlam in July of 2022. An official letter
providing the notice of withdrawal as host of the event has been sent to World Lacrosse, the
international federation for men’s and women’s lacrosse, and the Canadian Lacrosse Association,
which oversees lacrosse in Canada.

The announcement is being made jointly today by the Coquitlam Organizing Committee for the
2022 World Lacrosse Men’s World Championship, the Canadian Lacrosse Association and World
Lacrosse.

“With mixed emotions, I wrote to the Canadian Lacrosse Association and World Lacrosse this
week on behalf of our organizing committee to inform them of this decision,” said outgoing
Tournament Chair Cliff Pascas. “Our driving impetus for this decision is the opportunity to allow
for the game to receive maximum exposure in a major market as lacrosse looks to return to the
Olympic Games.”

The organizing committee has learned that another organization with additional capacity and the
ability to stage the event in a major media market has expressed interest in hosting the
tournament. More details will be provided by World Lacrosse in the near future.

“Our committee believes we would have done a first-class job hosting this tournament, but with
the opportunity ahead and a company with a full-time staff capacity and access to a major
population center, we feel it is in the best interest of the sport to allow it to stand on the biggest
stage,” Pascas added. “We all love the sport of lacrosse, and we recognize the tremendous
opportunity that exists to have a World Championship played in a major television market at this
time in the history of the sport; this is a potential watershed moment.”

“We are proud of our previous efforts to host two successful Under-19 men’s lacrosse
championships in 2008 and 2016 in Coquitlam, and we have every confidence we would have
done well in hosting the senior men’s tournament in the summer of 2022,” Pascas said. “We are
happy to support in transition to ensure success in 2022 in a new market and we wish the very
best to the next host and to all participants in the event.”

“Canada is one of the founding nations in the Creator’s Game, and the Canadian Lacrosse
Association has always supported its members in their efforts to host the lacrosse World
Championships,” said Joey Harris, President of the Canadian Lacrosse Association. “The
Coquitlam Organizing Committee is by far one of the top groups in Canada and they have had
much success in bringing the lacrosse World Championships to our country in past years. We believe that would have again been the case in 2022. With that said, we fully support the decision
made by Cliff Pascas and his organizing committee for all the reasons he has stated. It is a great
opportunity to reach more people around the world and showcase this great game the Indigenous
people gave not only Canada—Canada’s National Summer Sport—but now the world.”

“There is absolutely no doubt the organizing committee in Coquitlam, led by Cliff Pascas, would
have delivered an outstanding World Championship in 2022, as was the case in 2008 and 2016,”
said World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern. “As our sport continues to grow worldwide, and as
we pursue the ambition of one day securing a return for lacrosse to the Olympic Games, we must
be responsive to unique opportunities that will allow us to showcase our great game and bring it
to new and larger audiences — whilst never losing sight of our history and the partners who have
elevated our game to unprecedented heights. In the leadership of the Coquitlam Organizing
Committee, and the Canadian Lacrosse Association, we have partners who will continue to be at
the forefront of our efforts to grow the sport of lacrosse globally and reinforce the lasting values
of this great game. We thank both organizations for enabling our sport to take advantage
of this unique opportunity.”

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TJ Buchanan, a widely-respected leader in lacrosse with more than a decade of experience in the design and delivery of educational resources for athletes and coaches is joining the staff of World Lacrosse as its first-ever Director of Sport Development.

TJ Buchanan, who has held leadership positions in athlete and coach development with U.S. Lacrosse — the U.S. National Governing Body for the sport — since 2008, is beginning his duties with the international federation this month.

In his new role with World Lacrosse, Buchanan will report to Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr and work closely with Bob DeMarco, who oversees sport development on behalf of the organization’s Board of Directors, and Rick Mercurio, who serves as Chair of the World Lacrosse Development Committee, to design and implement strategies, tools and resources to further the growth of lacrosse worldwide.

Buchanan’s appointment was announced today by Scherr and follows an international search that produced a large number of outstanding candidates. Buchanan will be based in Pennsylvania.

TJ Buchanan is the third senior-level appointment for World Lacrosse this year, as Scherr and President Sue Redfern continue strengthening the organization’s capabilities through the development of a full-time staff. In January, Chief Brand and Communications Officer Darryl Seibel and Director of Development Aimee Dixon joined the World Lacrosse staff.

“I am both excited and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the development of lacrosse internationally,” said Buchanan. “I believe the sport has made tremendous strides toward globalization and look forward to working with our current 62 member-nations as well as emerging nations to provide the best experience possible for all participants.”

“TJ brings a wealth of experience and an impressive record of success in the areas of athlete and coach development to our organization, and we are exceptionally pleased to welcome him to World Lacrosse,” said Scherr.

Members: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Haudenosaunee Nation, Israel, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, USA, Wales Associate members: Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Ecuador, Estonia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, Uganda, Ukraine Allied: APLU, ELF, FIIC, PALA

“Our ability to support, and accelerate, the growth of lacrosse worldwide is directly linked to the design and delivery of educational resources that support athletes and coaches in their own skill progression,” added Scherr. “TJ’s appointment, along with the work being led by Bob DeMarco, Rick Mercurio and the Development Committee, will enable our organization to more effectively serve our member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations while fulfilling this critical objective.”

Buchanan’s work with U.S. Lacrosse has impacted more than 250,000 youth players and 40,000 coaches. In 2008, he was appointed as one of 25 National Coach Development Trainers for the National Governing Body. He has conducted over 100 Coach Development Clinics to provide coaches with the training and resources necessary to support athletes in reaching their full potential.

From 2012-15, Buchanan served as Program Manager, Coach Development for U.S. Lacrosse, where he was responsible for the design and development of the Coach Development Program content and curriculum for three levels of development, across both the men’s and women’s games, as well as specialty curricula. This included print and digital media, e-learning and live instructional clinics for coaches.

Beginning in 2015, Buchanan served as Technical Director, Athlete Development for U.S. Lacrosse, where he was responsible for all facets of the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model. This included research, design and delivery of the model and its educational resources via print and digital media, live instructional clinics for coaches, and camps and clinics for athletes.

Buchanan is a Level 3-certified coach and coach developer for men’s and women’s lacrosse.

About World Lacrosse

World Lacrosse (formerly the Federation of International Lacrosse) is the international governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. World Lacrosse is responsible for the governance and integrity of all forms of lacrosse and provides responsive and effective leadership to support the development of the sport around the globe. World Lacrosse was granted Provisional Recognition by the International Olympic Committee in November 2018.

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Less than six months after securing Provisional Recognition from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the international federation for men’s and women’s lacrosse is taking yet another significant step forward in its development with the introduction of a new name, logo and brand platform.

The announcement was made today by World Lacrosse President Sue Redfern and Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr at SportAccord 2019, the largest annual gathering of leaders from across Olympic and international sport. It was particularly significant for the announcement to be made in Australia, a country with a proud tradition of success in international men’s and women’s lacrosse and a two-time host of the Olympic Games (Sydney 2000 and Melbourne 1956).

The new name, logo and brand platform will add further momentum to the already rapid growth lacrosse is enjoying worldwide, while generating increased awareness and support for the federation, its 62-member National Governing Bodies and its Continental Federations. Lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and membership in the international federation has more than tripled since 2000.

This is a tremendously important and exciting day for our organization and for lacrosse enthusiasts around the world who, through their participation and commitment, are lifting our game to unprecedented heights  In particular, I’d like to thank our Board of Directors and membership for their vision and support in setting out this dynamic, new direction.

Sue Redfern stated about the direction of World Lacrosse. She continued:

Coming just months after being honored by the IOC with Provisional Recognition, the introduction of our new brand platform is yet another important milestone for our organization. In introducing our new World Lacrosse name, logo and brand elements, we have attempted to capture the many unique attributes that make lacrosse special — the rich heritage and traditions of our game; the excitement and energy of lacrosse; its growing, global appeal; and, the unique spirit of camaraderie shared by lacrosse enthusiasts the world over. As expressed in our brand messaging, for all of us who care about this great game, we are excited to Experience What’s Next.

World Lacrosse CEO Jim Scherr added:

The future for lacrosse has never been brighter, and our new name, logo and brand platform have been designed to capture the spirit of optimism and excitement that permeates our sport. Today’s announcement is just the beginning. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue sharing elements of our new brand platform, beginning with our brand style guide, in order to provide stakeholders across the sport with a powerful set of tools and resources to work together in sharing the wonderful stories and attributes of this game.

The name World Lacrosse captures the bold vision and ambition of the federation to continue expanding participation in lacrosse around the globe; to do so in a manner consistent with the Olympic ideals; and, to fulfill its responsibility as an active and engaged partner in the lacrosse and international sport communities. It also aligns with a direction taken by other leading federations in international sport, such as World Sailing and World Archery.

The World Lacrosse logo is emblematic of the rich heritage of the game, which is a gift from the Iroquois Nation and is revered for its healing qualities and power to unite people in a celebration of competition, camaraderie and excellence. The shape of the logo represents a handmade wooden lacrosse stick. The globe in the center, angled at the actual position of the earth at 23.5 degrees, represents the global appeal of lacrosse, but also hints at the uncharted territory and opportunity for continued growth. The colors depicted in the globe pay tribute to the importance of the Olympic Ideals and reflect the aspiration of World Lacrosse to one day secure inclusion for lacrosse in the Olympic Games — the pinnacle of athletic achievement.

In addition, World Lacrosse is announcing today that its new web site address is:
WorldLacrosse.Sport

As a proud member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), World Lacrosse is delighted to join other international federations in utilizing the new .sport domain created by GAISF.

The brand development process was led by Adrenalin, an award-winning brand development and creative agency with clients in international, professional and intercollegiate sport — including lacrosse. Adrenalin was appointed in December 2018 following a review of proposals from a number of outstanding agencies. Within the federation, the process was directed by Chief Brand and Communications Officer Darryl Seibel, who began his role with the organization in mid- January.

Dan Price, Principal and President of Adrenalin, remarked:

The leadership of World Lacrosse came to us with a vision for their new identity system and worked with us to make it a reality I speak for our entire team, Rick Fillmon, Jessica McGurn and all those involved, when I say it was a true pleasure turning their vision into a world-class identity system that represents World Lacrosse as they elevate the sport of lacrosse around the world.

The brand development process included individual interviews with stakeholders from across the sport, along with a workshop in January with members of the federation’s Board of Directors and Athletes Advisory Commission.

In April, the membership of the federation (full members) voted in favor of a recommendation from the Board of Directors to adopt the proposed new name for the organization — World Lacrosse.

As part of the brand rollout, later this month, World Lacrosse member-National Governing Bodies will receive a comprehensive brand style guide, which provides guidance on how to implement the new family of logos and messaging that celebrates the unique values and attributes of the sport.

Finally, World Lacrosse is announcing today that it has established its new organizational headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA — a city often referred to as Olympic City USA. Colorado Springs is home to more than 50 national and international sport organizations, including the United States Olympic Committee and the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

The World Lacrosse headquarters is located at:

1295 Kelly Johnson Blvd, Suite 260
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 80920

+1 719 374 5546

For more information, please contact Darryl Seibel.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This job has been filled.

The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is the international governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. The FIL is responsible for the governance and integrity of all forms of lacrosse and provides responsive and effective leadership to support the sports’ development throughout the world.

The FIL is seeking to hire a qualified individual for the position of Director Sport Development. Along with the necessary professional skills, the candidate should be good with people, enjoy a job with variety, challenge, and be comfortable working in a small office environment. Travel and weekend work will be required. The position is permanent, full-time, with competitive compensation and company-supported health, dental, and life insurance benefits. Candidates will be considered based on a combination of their education, skills, experience, and demonstrated work ethic. Desired start date March 18, 2019. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

PURPOSE AND REPORTING

POSITION TITLE: Director Sport Development

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”)

LOCATION: Colorado Springs, CO or East Coast, United States

PURPOSE: The Director of Sport Development will be responsible for leading and managing the development of the sport for the organization.

DELIVERABLES: The deliverables for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Identify forms of lacrosse members can add to their program offering and assist them with the implementation process. Develop and implement programs to increasing the number of international officials, coaches and volunteers.
• Develop standards for FIL membership that include specific requirements for member countries to maintain good standing.
• Develop and implement a process to evaluate membership status and make recommendations to ensure compliance with FIL requirement standards. Follow-up with members as needed.
• Formulate best practices educational materials and conduct training seminars to assist member nations in meeting and complying with standards.
• Conduct annual surveys and implement effective communication tools that members can use to request FIL available resources to further develop lacrosse in their country.
• Maintain an accurate data of information relative to membership programs, events and athlete participation numbers. Report this data as needed to the FIL Chief Executive Officer and the Development Committee.
• Periodically review and update all administrative documents relative to Development Committee initiatives.
• Assist member countries with regional and local events.
• Identify prospective new member countries and conduct a feasibility and sustainability analysis to ensure effective investment of FIL resources.
• Provide the necessary guidance and resources to ensure successful startup of new member countries and their NGB’s utilizing a “Toolbox” to monitor and evaluate progress relative to governance/management, business development and sport development.
• Continually assess existing Continental Federation alignment and make recommendations to enhance services to the Federation members and coordinate their efforts to better meet the FIL mission, goals and objectives.
• Assist the FIL Development Committee with planning, marketing and conducting clinics.
• Manage the FIL grant programs and coordinate with the Development
• Committee the application process, the selection of recipients and distribution of grants. Responsibility includes maintaining accurate records for reporting and evaluation grant effectiveness.
• Extensive knowledge of the sport of Lacrosse
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and interpersonal savvy
• Results-driven
• Superior project management skills
• Organizational and political agility
• Influencing and partnering
• Unquestionable personal code of confidentiality, ethics, integrity, discretion and trust

QUALIFICIATIONS: The qualifications for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Extensive Knowledge of lacrosse and the infrastructure of the sport. Passion for the business of sport.
• Proven strategic leadership skills.
• Proven experience in sport development preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects, tasks and priorities.
• Exceptional negotiation skills.
• Exceptional organizational and computer skills.
• Ability to relate to a diverse potential group of individuals and organizations.
• Ability to manage staff, budgets and resources in a small organizational setting.
• Ability to collaborate with other departments/organizations.
• Ability to work long and irregular hours.
• Ability for extensive travel.
• College degree or equivalent experience required.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES:

• Willingness to work independently with the best business practices in mind.
• An enthusiasm for coaching, teaching and the development of people.
• Optimism and energy for FIL’s Olympic vision and the future of the sport.
• An open and collaborative nature
• Extensive knowledge of the sport of Lacrosse
• Integrity and honesty
• Exceptional work ethic
• Strong verbal and written communications skills and interpersonal savvy
• Results-driven
• Superior project management skills
• Organizational and political agility
• Influencing and partnering
• Unquestionable personal code of confidentiality, ethics, integrity, discretion and trust

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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) is pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached between the Canada Lacrosse Association (CLA) and National Lacrosse Team Players’ Association (NLTPA) that permits Canada to defend its world championship title at the 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship in Netanya, Israel, July 12-21. The agreement between the players and member federation is confidential and was reached this past weekend.

The differences between the elite players of the NLTPA and the CLA have been settled with a shared vision on the promotion and growth of Lacrosse in Canada and support of world-wide efforts to grow the game. The Board of Directors of the CLA and the players are set to meet separately later this week to ratify the agreement for each party.

On behalf of FIL and the lacrosse community, it is exciting to see Canada and its athletes agree in principle for Canada to field a full team at the 2018 World Championships. This agreement is extremely important for the continued growth and recognition of Lacrosse throughout the world as we build our presence for inclusion in a future Olympic Games.

– Sue Redfern, FIL President

The 2018 FIL Men’s World Championships will feature 46 countries in Netanya, and will be telecast on Sport 5 in Israel, ESPN, and streamed world-wide. The United States and Canada are the only two countries to win the FIL Men’s World Championships. Canada claimed the gold medal at the 2014 FIL Men’s World Championships by outlasting the United States, 8-5, in Denver, Colorado.

The initial Men’s World Championships was a four-team invitational tournament in 1967. Since 1974, the FIL Men’s World Championships has been conducted every four years. The 2014 FIL Men’s World Championships featured 38 countries.

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Puerto Rico became the Federation of International Lacrosse’s (FIL) 56th member nation as a result of a postal vote of federation members in October 2016.

—Bob DeMarco, FIL Development Committee Chair

“Congratulations to Puerto Rico, the 56th member of the Federation of International Lacrosse,” said Bob DeMarco, FIL’s Development Committee Chair. “We are excited and looking forward to working with your talented and energetic team to help grow the game in your country.”

FIL Director of Development, Tom Hayes, was pleased to see Puerto Rico become a member. “FIL welcomes Puerto Rico into the membership of lacrosse playing nations. We’re thrilled to be a part of the growth of lacrosse in Puerto Rico and the region.” Puerto Rico joins Bermuda, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico as member nations in FIL’s Central America and Caribbean region.

Former Liberty University club lacrosse teammates Nathan Lowmaster and Miguel Lozada are co-founders of Puerto Rico Lacrosse (PRLAX). Lowmaster acts as current President, and Lozada serves as Secretary of PRLAX. “This is the result of many ‘what if’ conversations,” said Lowmaster, “and those conversations spawned endless efforts to bring the dream of Puerto Rico Lacrosse to reality.”

PRLAX’s acceptance as a FIL member is the culmination of those efforts. “We are honored and humbled to contribute to the growth of lacrosse across the globe. The FIL has pioneered a tremendous task that we’re excited to partner with,” said Lowmaster.

“Team Puerto Rico,” as Lowmaster describes them, is the four-member board and coachthat drive the PRLAX bandwagon. Joining Lowmaster and Lozada are PRLAX Vice-President Luis Gonzalez, Treasurer Yarizbeth Ortiz, and Coach/Administrator Joffre Salazar – known to everyone connected to the organization as simply, “Coach Sal.”

“Everything resulted from lacrosse in the United States,” explained Lowmaster.

In the past decade alone, over half a million Puerto Ricans have moved to the mainland United States to escape a weak economy and gain better opportunities. As a result, there are many first, second and third generation Puerto Ricans playing the sport of lacrosse at the youth, high-school, collegiate and professional level across the U.S. Organized inner-city lacrosse programs have grown over the past few years making lacrosse a legitimate choice for many Puerto Ricans. With so many Puerto Ricans already involved in the sport here in the U.S., it was all about building relationships.

“Puerto Ricans get a stick in their hands in Brooklyn, Baltimore, Miami – and the next thing you know they’re traveling back to their homeland and introducing the sport to friends and family,” Lowmaster said.

According to Lowmaster, since forming PRLAX a little over four months ago, the non-profit governing body for lacrosse in Puerto Rico has received hundreds of membership requests, emails, and phone calls about how Puerto Ricans that currently play or coach the game in the U.S. can get involved. “Even non-Puerto Ricans are hyped about the game’s introduction in Puerto Rico,” said Lowmaster. “The fact that the interest was so great led us to hosting events, our first being in Brooklyn, NY. That event was a tremendous success as Puerto Rican lacrosse players came together to network, compete, and discuss the growth of lacrosse in Puerto Rico.”

PRLAX’s next event will be in Delray Beach, Florida in January. Lowmaster’s enthusiasm is contagious, “We will ‘rally the troops’ to continue the explosive interest in lacrosse in Puerto Rico, and to bridge the gap between stateside Puerto Ricans and Puerto Ricans that live on the island.” Interested parties should contact info@puertoricolax.com for more information about the Delray Beach event.

PRLAX has also conducted clinics in Mayaguez and San Juan, and hosts weekly open instructional clinics with Coach Sal.

“I think the future of lacrosse in Puerto Rico is very bright,” concluded FIL’s DeMarco.

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