NEW YORK — Today, eight of the leading thought leaders of lacrosse in the United States announced the formation of ELEVATE28 and its mission to double the country’s participation in the sport to 4 million annual players by the end of the decade.

SPARKS, Md. — The USA Lacrosse Board of Directors, a group that helps set policy, strategy and financial oversight for the nonprofit governing body, has recently welcomed four new members. Rick Burton, Andrea Chen Lin, Juan-Pablo Mas and Shawn Nadelen each have started two-year terms as volunteers with the organization.

World Lacrosse, the international federation for lacrosse as recognized by the International Olympic Committee, issued an advisory to members on July 28, 2023 noting that events organized by International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) have no affiliation with World Lacrosse. These events are not recognized or sanctioned by World Lacrosse, nor any of its member governing bodies.

USA Lacrosse CEO Marc Riccio was featured on yesterday’s Front Office Sports Today podcast, talking about mission of the organization, the growth of lacrosse, the potential for Olympic inclusion and the potential for even more dramatic growth in the future.

Riccio demonstrated the growth potential with comments on high school lacrosse and the role USA Lacrosse needs to play in advancing the sport.

“If you build it, they will come.”

As someone who earns his living in California’s entertainment industry, hearing that popular movie phase from Stephen Fossati, founder of the Pacific Edge Lacrosse Association, seemed utterly appropriate. After all, a field of dreams can apply to any sport.

Athletes Unlimited announced on Tuesday morning that it will return to USA Lacrosse headquarters for the 2023 season. This is the third season for the women's lacrosse in this groundbreaking professional league and the 2023 lineup of players includes more than a dozen players that have own world championships for the U.S. women's national team.

Here's the full press release from Athletes Unlimited:

If you want to attract a crowd of young lacrosse players, is there a bigger draw than Charlotte North?

Absolutely not, but Courtney Benevides wasn’t necessarily looking to draw a crowd when she invited North to run a clinic for players in New Hampshire. Benevides, the incoming president of the Exeter (N.H.) Youth Lacrosse, was attending a clinic with her daughter in Massachusetts and decided she simply wanted to offer the same type of opportunity for players in her community.

Pardon the baseball analogy, but if you build it with Charlotte North, they will come.

The New Canaan High School boys’ lacrosse team is celebrating its 50th anniversary as the girls’ team and youth programs enter their 35th and 44th years, respectively.

To say that the high school and youth programs fit hand-in-glove may be an understatement.

“There’s lots of overlap, from people who serve on the boards of both to shared equipment, goals and uniforms,” said Mike Regan, president of the youth program, known officially as the New Canaan Lacrosse Association (NCLA). “We have constant communication.”

SPARKS, Md. — USA Lacrosse has announced it has extended its partnership with NCSA College Recruiting (NCSA) as the Official Responsible Recruiting Provider for USA Lacrosse. The three-year extension of the agreement originally signed in 2018 runs into 2026.

More than 90 teams representing 36 girls’ lacrosse club programs from around the country are locked in for the 2023 USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals this summer in Frederica, Del. The 14U age division is sold out and just two spots remain for the 13U and 15U age groups.

The USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals will be held July 11-12 at the DE Turf Sports Complex and will be run in partnership with STEPS Lacrosse and Top of the Bay for the third consecutive year. Teams can earn bids through historical performance or an application process.