US Lacrosse believes there are many reasons to play youth sports, including athletes enjoying a wide range of physical, emotional, and social benefits. But abuse, on any level and in any form, can not be part of the equation. 

It was for that very reason that US Lacrosse, in 2018, instituted a mandatory national background screening for all adult coach members. To demonstrate our commitment to the importance of this issue, US Lacrosse has absorbed the cost of these background checks since the beginning, yielding no direct cost in the membership fee of coaches.

There’s nothing more gratifying for a parent than to see your child happy. Watching them on the lacrosse field can be one of the greatest experiences you’ll have. But how can you help them enjoy that experience?

We asked our more than 176,000 Instagram followers that very question recently and here’s some of the feedback lacrosse parents shared with their fellow parents. You might even see a response or two from their kids on how you can help, and maybe a tongue-in-cheek response for some levity.

SPARKS, Md. — Steve Stenersen, the CEO of US Lacrosse since the organization’s inception in 1998, announced today his intention to depart the organization by the end of 2021. The decision is the outcome of a multi-year series of strategic conversations between Stenersen and the US Lacrosse Board of Directors about succession planning and organizational evolution.

A proud past and a bright future

Lacrosse showcases the best of sports — speed, athleticism, skill, heart, determination — and it’s a recipe for a lifelong love affair. The first girls’ lacrosse program in the United States was established nearly a century ago and the sport continues to thrive. No other sport is growing faster at the high school or college level, resulting in countless opportunities for young women to make their mark.

Physical literacy begins as early as infancy, but it is not a finite process. Achieving physical literacy occurs on a continuum, as the skills that are considered "age appropriate" continue to get more complex as kids grow older and the level of competition in sports progresses.

Physical literacy skills are related to age but are not dependent on age. Some kids will develop certain movement skills earlier than the norm, others will develop skills later. 

SPARKS, Md. — The National Team Development Program (NTDP), an extended pathway for elite high school players to lay the foundation for eventual participation on the U.S. national teams, is back in 2021. US Lacrosse has announced the process and dates for the 2021 program.

Get the most out of the game

We support leagues and programs that keep the game safer, fair and fun. Our aim is simple. We deliver resources to the lacrosse community that creates the best atmosphere for players of all ages, backgrounds, sizes and skill levels to thrive. From coach and official education to safety research to showcasing the sport’s best players with our national teams, USA Lacrosse works with the community to provide leadership in all key aspects of the sport. We invite you to experience the joy the sport has to offer.