Health and Safety
As the winter months approach and colder weather overtakes much of the country, US Lacrosse acknowledges that organized indoor lacrosse activities will become more prevalent, and that these activities will include formal Box Lacrosse tournaments and events.
In light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as US Lacrosse’s growing commitment to box lacrosse, the national governing body offers these recommendations in support of risk mitigation.
Wherever possible, it’s preferable to have event operators host Box Lacrosse events in an outdoor setting.
To enhance player safety, US Lacrosse has long advocated for the presence of an automated external defibrillator (AED) at all lacrosse practices and games. Fortunately, an AED was on-site at last Friday’s high school game in Baltimore between Loyola Blakefield and McDonogh.
Late in the first quarter of the game, Loyola Blakefield’s Peter Laake, a freshman defenseman, was struck in the chest with a shot. He collapsed on the field and immediately received medical attention.
In response to recent questions about the use or requirement of mask wearing in lacrosse, US Lacrosse is reiterating its Return to Play guidance, as established by medical advisors, on this issue.
US Lacrosse’s guideline does not mandate the wearing of protective (fabric or medical) masks or helmet shields while playing lacrosse, although it does allow for either or both to be worn at the discretion of the athlete or local region requirements.
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.
Last week, US Lacrosse hosted its latest ‘Return to Play’ webinar, with health and medical experts providing guidance to help the lacrosse community navigate a safe return to the field for the spring season.
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.