From the CEO: Resilient and On the Rise

This column in the November edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Marc Riccio is the CEO of USA Lacrosse.

Four years into leading USA Lacrosse, one thing is clear: Our sport is both resilient and on the rise. We’ve faced real challenges, but the progress is undeniable. Here’s where we stand:

REBUILDING THE PIPELINE

COVID left a gap. Thousands of kids who would have started playing in 2020 and 2021 never got the chance, and that absence is now visible in some middle and high school rosters. But we moved quickly to rebuild the base. Today, more children ages 10 and under are playing lacrosse than ever before.

The key? Coaches. Without them, kids don’t play. We relaunched our education curriculum to be nimble, mobile, fun and safety-first. USA Lacrosse has strengthened itself as the gold standard in coach training, and we’re on track for 80,000 certified coaches by decade’s end. More trained coaches means more kids stay in the game.

We’ve also reset how young players are introduced to lacrosse. Kids under 10 don’t need helmets, pads and a full field. They need small spaces, simple rules and lots of touches. It’s fun, less expensive and develops skills faster.

THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

Not everything has been solved. Too often, the “college dream” gets sold to parents of 7-year-olds. That’s wrong. At those ages, the only goals should be fun, friends and a love of the game.

Single-sport specialization is another issue. Injury rates — especially ACL tears among girls — are alarming. Research shows that kids need rest and should play multiple sports to stay healthy.

HIGH PERFORMANCE: THE BOX GAP

At the elite level, the U.S. has never been stronger. Fourteen national team programs, all ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the world — a first. Yet the margins at the top are shrinking.

The difference? Box lacrosse. In Canada, players touch the ball thousands more times because they grow up in the box. The result is sharper skills and tighter competition. To keep our edge, U.S. boys and girls need more box and small-area play.

WHAT’S NEXT

The path forward? Simplify the game for newcomers, expand access and keep building community programs. We need more coaches, more unstructured play and more sixes (6v6) at young ages.

Collaboration is also key. From youth leagues to the pros, we all share the same goals. USA Lacrosse is convening these groups more than ever, and we’ll double down in the years ahead. Add in new data-driven insights — including our upcoming “State of the Game” initiative — and we’re poised to lead with clarity.

Lacrosse has proven it can adapt and grow. The foundation is strong, the pipeline is filling and the future is bright.