Longtime USA Lacrosse volunteer Andrew Lee began a two-year term as chair of the organization’s Board of Directors in August. It’s not a stretch to say that he was born for this role.

In addition to serving in board roles for other nonprofits and businesses over the past two decades, Lee, who is half Seneca, has a special connection to lacrosse and its Native American heritage.

Beginning Friday, 75 of the best high school girls’ lacrosse players from across 19 different states will gather at USA Lacrosse headquarters for a unique weekend of training and educational activities. 

What makes this weekend so unique? Almost every participant, from coaches to officials to players, represents or supports lacrosse diversity.

Nation United, an organization committed to inspiring and showcasing diversity through elite level lacrosse, is hosting its fourth annual summit at USA Lacrosse, featuring an agenda loaded with on and off the field activities.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to facilitate a wheelchair lacrosse coach development clinic in New Hampshire. Our goal was to help local leaders gain the knowledge and confidence to start their own wheelchair lacrosse team. 

Last year, the Oakland Lacrosse Club and the Oakland Unified School District announced a bold plan to bring varsity girls’ lacrosse programs to all eight high schools in the district. The recently completed 2022 season included programs at four of the schools and plans are in the works to have the remaining four schools on board by 2024.

A sizeable grant from USA Lacrosse is helping to supplement strong fundraising efforts by the Oakland Lacrosse Club to make this vision a reality.

SPARKS, Md. — USA Lacrosse is now accepting applications for its national grants, which provide resources to local groups and organizations to support and promote lacrosse opportunities. Available grants include equipment grants, player clinic grants, and financial grants.

All organizations seeking support, regardless of the amount or type requested, are required to complete a formal grant application. 

TOWSON, Md. – The 14-year-old girl came to the sideline in tears, clutching her arm to cover the bruise. She sought the shade and anonymity of the pop-up canopy behind the bench. Jazmine Smith yanked her back into the sunlight.

“Look at me,” Smith said. “What’s your ‘I am’ affirmation?”

Sobbing, the girl said softly, “I am powerful.”

“Say it again,” Smith said.

Her voice still shaking, the girl replied, “I am powerful.”

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a law best known for banning gender discrimination in the classroom and on campuses, as well as its key role in safeguarding gender equity in athletics. Like any good birthday celebration, this 50th anniversary marker provides an opportunity to reflect on its “life” — the accomplishments and the failures of the last 50 years, and the aspirations for the years ahead. If we were to ask 100 different women at a party to stand up and share their stories of Title IX, each would have a different one to tell.

Independence Day—one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States (and no, not the movie where Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith saved the world from aliens in 1996)—is usually the main summer holiday staple after Memorial Day. However, a new federal holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day, was signed into law on June 17, 2021 making it the 11th federal holiday signed into law and the first one since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established in 1983. But, what is Juneteenth commemorating the independence of?

A brief history lesson...

WASHINGTON — The Tewaaraton Foundation has announced the recipients of the 16th annual Tewaaraton Native American Scholarships, presented by USA Lacrosse. Awarded to male and female students each year, the scholarship honors high school students of Haudenosaunee heritage who exemplify high character, leadership, and academics both on and off the lacrosse field.

What started as a conversation at LaxCon in 2020 become a reality last week in Detroit.

On May 7, two high school girls’ teams from different states that both feature rosters with a majority of players of color met on the field. Both programs are members of USA Lacrosse’s Urban Lacrosse Alliance.