SPARKS, Md. — In an effort to help keep youth players as safe as possible, all new and renewing coach members of USA Lacrosse will be required to complete an online course as part of the organization's abuse prevention training program. The new requirement goes into effect on July 1, 2022. Criminal background checks, completed every two years, have already been a requirement for USA Lacrosse coach members since 2018.

The following article is part of a content partnership with TrueSport, a positive youth sports movement powered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). TrueSport has partnered with more than 20 sport NGBs to promote a positive culture of youth sport with expert content and programming.

Returning to sport from illness of any kind can be tricky, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s only gotten more difficult. But even a simple cold or stomach bug can leave an athlete sidelined without a clear idea of when it’s safe or advisable to return to sport. 

The annual ceremonial kickoff to the lacrosse season will be back in person this year with the USA Lacrosse Convention taking place from Jan. 14-16 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Here are some highlights and key pieces of info for this year’s convention:

Dr. Trish Kelshaw, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of New Hampshire, has been involved in three research studies, funded in part by USA Lacrosse, to measure attitudes about women’s headgear among players, coaches, and officials. She presented her findings in a recent webinar hosted by USA Lacrosse.

The first, and smallest, of her three studies was a pilot study with high school players from one team in Virginia. Players were surveyed both before and after one season of headgear use (pre and post), with the following findings from the responses:

Lou Corsetti, USA Lacrosse’s director for the Southeast Region and a longtime lacrosse coach in Georgia, has been named as the recipient of APIVEO’s 2021 Brian Snitker Award as the organization’s youth coach of the year.

Based in Georgia, APIVEO (Always Play for Each Other) is an organization seeking to empower youth coaches by giving them simple, positive, and age-appropriate life and leadership lessons to share with their teams. 

SPARKS, Md. — The 2022 USA Lacrosse Convention, scheduled for Jan. 14-16 at the Baltimore Convention Center, will feature more than 100 live educational sessions for coaches, officials and program leaders to help get you ready for the upcoming season.

SPARKS, Md. — USA Lacrosse is pleased to announce that the Vail Lacrosse Tournament is joining its event sanctioning program.

Established in 1995, the Vail Lacrosse Tournament is known as the highest-altitude tournament in the country. The event draws nearly 2,000 players (girls and boys) and 3,000 spectators to the Vail Valley to enjoy the outdoors, beautiful scenery, special events and competitive lacrosse.

63-0.

An impressive undefeated streak that occurred in the early 1990’s. This record is held by none other than Venus Williams in the junior tennis circuit. At what seemed to be her “peak” and set her on the trajectory to turn pro, her father, Richard Williams, pulled her and her sister (Serena Williams) from tournaments and competition. A bold, controversial move in the name of allowing Venus and Serena to be kids, focus on their education, have fun, and develop their games.

The following article is part of a content partnership with TrueSport, a positive youth sports movement powered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). TrueSport has partnered with more than 20 sport NGBs to promote a positive culture of youth sport with expert content and programming.

This Monday, December 13, USA Lacrosse is hosting its newest webinar in the women’s headgear series, entitled “Perceptions of Headgear Use in Women’s Lacrosse.’ This virtual event will feature findings from recent research by Dr. Trish Kelshaw, PhD, at the University of New Hampshire.

The webinar is free and open to all but requires advance registration.