Nick Phillips, third-year president of Norwalk Junior Lacrosse (NJL) in Connecticut, says there is a little secret to making a new player feel like he or she is connected to lacrosse. It’s based on the same concept as Christmas morning.

“Give them new equipment,” Phillips said. “Used equipment is fine, but new equipment really helps players feel like they belong. Every child who is new to our sport feels more special with a new stick or a new helmet.”

For Jen Nardi, executive director of the Brooklyn Crescents Lacrosse Club, the goals of her organization can be summarized in four words: Access. Opportunity. Instruction. Competition.

“We strive to make lacrosse accessible to all boys and girls in and around New York City,” Nardi said. “We’re trying to introduce the game to children by putting a lacrosse stick in their hand for the first time and then providing quality instruction from volunteers who love lacrosse.”

If you're the parent or caregiver to an athlete with a disability, it can be a daunting process to help them pursue the sports that they're interested in, and it may be tempting to shy away from putting youth with disabilities into traditional sports programs at all. However, youth sport can be incredibly beneficial for a young person's development and well-being, regardless of their ability. 

Dr. Michele LaBotz, a TrueSport expert and sports medicine physician, offers some guidance for caregivers about how to navigate sport if your aspiring athlete has a disability.

USA Lacrosse has named Dejon Hush of Seattle, Washington as recipient of the organization’s 2023 Gerald J. Carroll, Jr. Exemplary Coaching Award.

Through the years, Hush has served as a coach on many levels in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from youth to college. He currently serves as boys’ head coach at Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle.

Welcome to a new series of articles highlighting members of our staff and the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and opportunity within our sport. First up is Bailey Speight, our manager of sports science.

Personal Journey: Can you share with us your journey and what led you to become part of USA Lacrosse?

Vanessa Dias knows the power of inclusion because she sees it every day in her own family.

As the mother of a special needs daughter, she has witnessed the magic in her own backyard when her two older sons, Rowan and Christian, incorporate their younger sister, Elle, into their games. Often, it’s been lacrosse.

“That’s a powerful moment when I see my boys, who love lacrosse, trying to help their sister,” Dias said.

It was a viral moment that captured all the positive attributes of sports.

Teamwork, sportsmanship, perseverance, confidence, collaboration, and fun were all on display last week in a game between Maryland boys’ high school rivals, Saints Peter & Paul and Severn School.

Caleb Krewson of SSPP took possession at midfield, raced downfield while dodging defenders, circled around X, and took a shot at the Severn goal. He missed, but a teammate grabbed the rebound and put the ball back on Krewson's stick. After another crease roll, he buried the shot in the upper corner.

As the assistant coach at Johns Hopkins in the early 2000s, Seth Tierney played a key role in recruiting Baltimore native Kyle Harrison to Homewood. There were a lot of things that Tierney didn’t know during the many afternoons he spent at Friends School watching Harrison playing in games, but there was one thing he was pretty sure about.

As the third-annual National Celebrate Lacrosse Week raced toward the finish line Sunday, USA Lacrosse's Matt Hamilton completed his road-trip, traveling the country to take in the sights and sounds as thousands of kids picking up a stick for the first time.

Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (WLUSA), the governing body of wheelchair lacrosse in the United States, hosted its annual national championship last week, with 10 participating teams from across the country helping to make the 2023 event the biggest one in the organization’s history.

The Milwaukee Eagles (Division A) and Houston Apollos (Division B) claimed championships following the three-day tournament that concluded Sunday at Buffalo RiverWorks, an events and entertainment center located on the banks of the Buffalo (N.Y.) River.