Jake Deane and Mike Gabel didn’t have a master plan when they started what became True Lacrosse. The duo was playing for the Chicago Machine of Major League Lacrosse when they began working with local youth players to help generate interest in the sport, but their efforts quickly expanded and led to the formation of True Lacrosse.

The following article appeared in the Northeast version of the April print edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine. Help fuel the future of the sport and have the magazine delivered right to your mailbox by becoming a USA Lacrosse member today.

Walt Eccles has watched some of the biggest moments in college lacrosse history from inside the Carrier Dome.

PHILADELPHIA and SPARKS, Md. – May 9, 2022 – The National Lacrosse League (@NLL) and USA Lacrosse today have announced a strategic partnership agreement to unify efforts to help the sport grow with a specific focus on box lacrosse.

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.

SPARKS, Md. — USA Lacrosse is proud to announce a new multi-year collaboration with Farmers Insurance as the “Official Insurance Provider” of the organization. 

Farmers® will offer an expansive portfolio of auto, home, renters, life, business and specialty insurance products that will be available to USA Lacrosse members.

SPARKS, Md. — USA Lacrosse has introduced two new membership categories — a 6U membership and a young adult membership.

The 6U membership is designed as an introduction to the organization and is discounted to a price of $15 annually. The young adult category is for individuals aged 19 to 22 and is discounted to the same rate as the high school category at $35 annually.

The name has changed. The logo has changed. But the mission to provide national leadership, structure and resources to fuel the sport’s growth and enrich the experience of participants remains the same.

SPARKS, Md. — Game On Mouthguards, the only mouthguard to have earned the American Dental Association’s (ADA) Seal of Acceptance, has been named as the “Official Mouthguard” of US Lacrosse and the U.S. National Team program as part of a groundbreaking, multi-year partnership.

SPARKS, Md. — US Lacrosse has renewed a partnership with PEARL to remain the “Official Ball” of US Lacrosse and the U.S. National Teams. This 2021 agreement designates PEARL as an official partner of US Lacrosse and the U.S. National Teams. This is the second renewal of the partnership originally signed in 2016.