SPARKS, MD. - USA Lacrosse and Franklin Sports have formalized their strategic partnership to help more young athletes discover and enjoy lacrosse through officially licensed USA Lacrosse equipment, instructional content and grassroots programming.
The organizations collaborated to develop boys' lacrosse sticks and girls' lacrosse sticks for players at every level, with a focus on lowering the barrier of entry for families entering organized lacrosse for the first time.
Prior to this agreement, the partnership has supported participation through grassroots programming for years. Co-branded lacrosse sticks, balls and goals are included in USA Lacrosse physical education grant packages, which help schools introduce the sport through teacher training, curriculum resources and Franklin equipment. Since 2024, the USA Lacrosse PE Grant Program has reached more than 50,000 elementary and middle school students across California, Colorado, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas and Washington, with plans for further expansion in 2027.
“Lacrosse's fastest growth is happening at the youngest ages, and families need a simple, trustworthy way to get started,” said Will Blake, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for USA Lacrosse. “This partnership brings together USA Lacrosse's youth-development expertise and Franklin Sports' product and retail capabilities. The result is quality equipment with strong value that families can easily find where they already shop, along with resources that help new players learn the game and build confidence.”
“We're proud to expand our relationship with USA Lacrosse through a shared commitment to enabling access while building lifelong fandom through youth participation,” said Chris Rodday, Head of Brand Partnerships at Franklin Sports. “What began as custom product support for USA Lacrosse's equipment grants has grown into a broader strategic partnership connecting youth programming, product development, instructional content with retail distribution. Together, we can support today's athletes, introduce more young players to the sport and help fuel lacrosse's growth as it prepares to take center stage at LA28.”
USA Lacrosse and Franklin Sports have also developed instructional videos that teach fundamental skills and help new players build confidence from day one. Together, the organizations will continue supporting initiatives that expand participation and introduce lacrosse to new communities nationwide. Sticks and other officially licensed products are available through FranklinSports.com, USALacrosse.com, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Amazon and other retailers.
About Franklin Sports
Founded by Irving Franklin in 1946, Franklin Sports is a Stoughton, Massachusetts-based sporting goods brand that manufactures and sells over 10,000 products across many different categories. Franklin Sports is proud of its partnerships with Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League, National Hockey League, Major League Volleyball, USA Pickleball, Women’s National Basketball Association, National Women’s Soccer League, Hasbro and many others. Franklin is a multigenerational, family-owned business with a rich history and trusted reputation as a quality sporting goods brand - from recreational sports all the way up to the professional level. At Franklin Sports, the team believes that sports make life better. For more information on Franklin Sports, please visit www.franklinsports.com or follow Franklin on Instagram @franklinsports, @franklinsportseqp, and @franklinpickleball, Facebook, and X @franklinsports.
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is certified by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the sport in the United States. USA Lacrosse works to fuel the growth, enrich the experience, and field the best national teams, supporting more than 425,000 members across the country.