USA Lacrosse recently launched one of its newest membership initiatives, hosting growth summits in New Jersey and Texas targeted to regional youth lacrosse leaders. The one-day summits are designed to bring together key stakeholders – coaches, parents, and program leaders - in each region to broadly discuss strategies that support the responsible growth of the game.
“Our focus with these summits is increasing participation in community-based and recreational youth lacrosse,” said Stephanie Mullette, vice president of membership & regional growth at USA Lacrosse. “The events are designed to provide coaches, program leaders, and community advocates with an immersive gathering that offers both strategy and support to help build stronger, more inclusive local rec programs.”
Hosted in December, the Northern New Jersey summit was supported by two of USA Lacrosse’s larger member organizations in the region – the New Jersey Junior Lacrosse League and Jersey Girls’ Lacrosse Association – and featured keynote speaker Dr. Anthony G. Delli Paoli, an associate professor at Rutgers University. His message focused on building resiliency in young athletes.
“Focusing on developmental skills builds resilient athletes,” said Delli Paoli, who also serves as director of Rutgers’ Youth Sports Research Council. “It’s the number one criterion that gets them coming back and playing again and again. Conversely, the pressure to win at all costs directly leads to burnout and dropout.”
He encouraged coaches and program leaders to emphasize the right priorities in youth lacrosse.
“When kids are encouraged to take risks, to learn from mistakes, to work hard and see their work pay off, they develop intrinsic motivation and a true love for the game,” Delli Paoli said. “If you can achieve that, that’s the real win.”
Delli Paoli shared survey results from the Youth Sports Research Council that cited “having fun” as the number one reason children participate in sports. Children identified the elements of a fun environment as having a chance to try hard, having positive teammates and friends who provide encouragement, receiving positive coaching with clear communication, and learning and improving in skills.
The number one reason why kids quit youth sports? It’s not fun anymore.
Earlier this month, the summit in Austin, Texas addressed some of the issues that are of the most interest to local stakeholders in the Lone Star State. Player retention was one of the key discussion points.
“It won’t work if it’s not fun,” said Tolga Ozyurtcu, a professor in Sport Management and Sport Studies at UT Austin who served as one of the Austin Summit presenters. “I don’t think that’s oversimplifying it. Will this make the kid more likely to come back tomorrow? I don’t think this is soft, or anti-competitive. I think this is deliberate, purposeful, and essential. I think a lot of us know it, but we kind of lose sight of it.”
He reminded the coaches and program leaders that this approach is foundational in all youth sports. Building space for connection is important because kids consider the emotional and social elements of youth sports as being more important than performance and outcomes.
“Fun is not frivolous. Fun is functional,” he said. “If the kid comes back, we can teach. If the kid comes back, we can get better, we can grow, and we can win.”
Ozyurtcu also reminded coaches that in youth sports, another key strategy for success is to keep it simple.
“If you can’t fit the coaching plan on an index card, you’re doing too much,” he said. “Try to have one teaching theme per practice because that theme gives you clarity. Having too many cues and too much information doesn’t work. We know in our hearts that we can only do so much at one time.”
Mullette reminded attendees that USA Lacrosse is committed to creating a lacrosse community in which all members and stakeholders will have a true joy for the game.
“For a future that includes everyone, we must reinvest endlessly, improve together and celebrate as one,” she said.
USA Lacrosse’s growth summits will continue throughout 2026, with the next gathering scheduled for Houston in February. For more information about lacrosse in your area, contact a USA Lacrosse regional manager.
