SPARKS, Md. – The U.S. Youth National Teams will get a taste of the USA-Canada lacrosse rivalry with the inaugural Rivalry Challenge at USA Lacrosse Headquarters from Sept. 18-21. This historic event will mark the first time the U.S. Youth National Teams will match up against their counterparts from Lacrosse Canada, the governing body for the sport in Canada.
The nine-team competition features the U15, U17 and U19 teams from the USA, Canada East and Canada West in a unique format with all of the teams competing in both traditional field lacrosse and the sixes discipline of the sport designed for the Olympics.
“The Rivalry Challenge will celebrate the history of lacrosse in the USA and Canada,” said Amy Markwort, manager of the National Team Development Program. “There’s tremendous respect for each other in this rivalry and we’re excited to give our young players the chance to both have this experience and explore different disciplines of the sport.”
“The Rivalry Challenge is a pivotal step in the growth and development of our national team pathway,” said Terry Rayner, executive director of Lacrosse Canada. “Bringing together our Canada East and Canada West development teams to compete at this level provides invaluable experience for our athletes and coaches. It’s an opportunity to measure ourselves against top-tier international talent, build unity within our program, and inspire the next generation of Canadian lacrosse players as we build towards the Olympics.”
The U.S. Youth National Teams are part of the National Team Development Program, which serves as a pipeline to the U.S. National Team Program. Launched in 2019, the National Team Development Program annually encompasses approximately 1,500 athletes and offers them high-level training and instruction while evaluating them for inclusion for the U.S. Youth National Teams.
Regional ID Clinics for the U.S. Youth National Teams are currently underway at the U15, U17 and U19 age groupings at locations around the country.
Following the Regional ID Clinics for the U17 and U19 age groupings, approximately 350 players will be invited to USA Lacrosse headquarters for national combines. The girls’ combine is set for July 28-31 and the boys’ combine will be held Aug. 4-7.
Following those combines, 24 players will be named to the U17 and U19 U.S. Youth National Teams for each gender. At the U15 age group, players will be selected directly from the Regional ID Clinics and virtual applications for the U.S. Youth National Teams.
In addition to the Rivalry Challenge, the U17 and U19 U.S. Youth National Teams will compete in the Brodgen Cup from Oct. 23-26 at USA Lacrosse headquarters against teams from the Haudenosaunee Nationals and Team Ontario.
To be eligible for the 2025 National Team Development Program, individuals must be born on or between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2012.
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With more than 425,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
