SPARKS, Md. – USA Lacrosse is teaming up with Scoops Lacrosse to spark a love for the game among its youngest players. Through a new partnership, kids aged 3-7 can dive into Scoops’ fun, high-energy programs designed to make every scoop, pass, and goal an unforgettable first step into the sport.
Founded by former college lacrosse player Matt Belson, Scoops Lacrosse brings high-energy activities that leaves kids smiling and feeling good about themselves. It’s a recipe to fuel the growth of lacrosse, falling directly in line with the USA Lacrosse mission.
“This partnership redefines how a national governing body can grow its sport,” said Will Blake, Vice President, Commercial, USA Lacrosse. “By franchising our introductory programming with Scoops, we’re not just putting our logo on a curriculum—we’re investing in a scalable, age‑appropriate platform that introduces lacrosse to children as young as three and keeps them engaged for life.
“This model marries mission with market: it expands access, doubles participation in local rec programs, and builds a sustainable pipeline for high school, college and beyond. We believe this first‑of‑its‑kind collaboration will set a new standard for how sports organizations can accelerate growth while upholding the highest standards of coaching and athlete development.”
“At Scoops, everything we do is about growing the game and spreading the love of lacrosse,” said Belson, aka Coach Bels, founder and Chief Scoops Officer of Scoops Lacrosse. “This partnership lets us reach more families and fire up the next generation of lacrosse rock stars. We’re all about helping kids build confidence, make connections, and have a blast every time they hit the field. That’s what growing the game the right way looks like.”
"We at Scoops are absolutely thrilled to partner with USA Lacrosse,” said Pete McIntire, CEO of Scoops Lacrosse, another former lacrosse player who joined the company early in its growth and has played a key role in expanding the program’s reach and helping shape its mission. “This collaboration is a game-changer because it directly addresses the need for age-appropriate opportunities for the youngest players in our sport. Our mission is to make lacrosse more accessible and ensure that young kids receive excellent coaching right from the start. We believe this partnership will introduce more children to this amazing sport, setting them up for a lifelong love of lacrosse."
USA Lacrosse, and its Elevate28 partners, have a publicly stated goal of aiming to double participation in the sport nationally by 2030. There are currently more children under the age of 10 playing the sport than ever before. This multi-year agreement provides another powerful pathway to welcome new players who will grow with the game through USA Lacrosse community and club programs.
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 fuels the growth, enriches the experience, and fields the best National Teams, supporting more than 425,000 members across the country.
