You may assume that athletes simply develop leadership ability by participating in sports, and it’s true that statistics suggest participation in youth sport is one of the top predictors of leadership capability. In fact, 94 percent of female CEOs were student-athletes.

SPARKS, Md. – Several current and former members of the USA Lacrosse Sports Science & Safety Committee were involved in a recently published study that offers consensus recommendations in the event of a suspected spine injury in lacrosse.

The paper, “Prehospital care of suspected spine-injured lacrosse athletes: a systematic search, evidence review, and consensus recommendations,” was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Among the key recommendations coming out of the study:

Fueled by impressive early season showings, the defending champion UCLA Bruins and 2024 national semifinalist Georgia hold the top two positions in the first WCLA Top 20 ranking of the regular season. Both teams sport 7-0 records following perfect performances in tournaments they hosted.

SPARKS, Md. – USA Lacrosse has added two locations in California to its lineup of Regional ID Clinics for the 2025 National Team Development Program.

USA Lacrosse will host Regional ID Clinics for U17 and U19 boys and girls in the San Jose and San Diego areas. The San Jose clinics will be held on April 26 at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif. The San Diego clinics are set for April 27 at San Diego State University.

Ira Blumenthal, a native New Yorker, has been around the game of lacrosse for his entire life. As a retired consultant with Coca-Cola, he has spent the past 30 years in Atlanta, helping to grow the game at different levels. Through all his experiences, Blumenthal says he’s never met a person with more passion for lacrosse than Mark Ryan.

The strangest part of that is that Ryan has never played lacrosse.

Every year, USA Lacrosse creates online charts that compare the variances in the boys’ and girls’ youth rules for different age groups. These free resources are now available for the 2025 season to assist players, coaches, and officials in properly applying the youth rules based on level of play.

From field size to equipment, from restart rules to checking, the charts outline the recommendations from USA Lacrosse for various age groups (6U & 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U).

No. 7 Virginia Tech Club and No. 8 BC Club are among the Top 10 teams playing in Georgia's Big Dawgs Classic this week.

Sun Devils Turning Up the Heat

With three straight trips to the USA Lacrosse WCLA National Championships over the past three years, No. 11 Arizona State has enjoyed its most successful stretch in club history. ASU also seems poised for another strong spring after a 3-1 start at last weekend’s Santa Barbara Shootout, including wins over No. 17 Colorado and WWLL rival Cal Poly. Their only blemish was a competitive 12-9 loss to top ranked UCLA.

While it's not a perfect comparison, the WCLA (Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates) and NASCAR do share one thing in common… both organizations launch each new season with their largest event of the year.

For NASCAR, that’s the annual Daytona 500, which brings more eyeballs to the racing circuit than any other event. Similarly, the WCLA launches each February with the Santa Barbara Shootout, which will have more participating teams than any event of the women’s club season.

Sports are so much more than games. Athletes of all ages and levels learn lifelong skills while getting a healthy dose of exercise and endorphins. Participating in team sports can be a great contributor for building good character and good health.

There is always a degree of risk involved with playing sports, such as sprains, strains and concussions. Most sports injuries are minor to moderate. But rare situations that involve the heart can create life-or-death emergencies.

SPARKS, Md. – Due to extensive interest in its newest age grouping, USA Lacrosse has added two additional locations for its U15 National Team Development Program Regional ID Clinics.

USA Lacrosse will host Regional ID Clinics for U15 boys and girls in Philadelphia and Rochester, N.Y. The Philadelphia clinics will each be held on June 1 at Steelyard Sports in King of Prussia, Pa., and the Rochester clinics will be held on June 23 at RIT.