One day in the spring of 2018, JR Wright was having pizza with his uncle Richard, director of the Sheridan Recreation District, which oversees youth sports in the Northern Wyoming community of 18,000 people. Richard was lamenting the drop-off in youth sports participation when JR casually suggested the strategy of introducing some new programs, like lacrosse.

Phillip Blacha never played lacrosse, but as a fan, he just knew that if he could get teams started at Aiken (S.C.) High School, where he serves as athletics director, his athletes would quickly take to the sport.

Unfortunately, Blacha faced the same obstacle as many others; the start-up costs associated with lacrosse. Seeking to supplement the school district’s funding and the money raised through fundraisers, Blacha applied for a USA Lacrosse equipment grant in 2021. To his surprise, Aiken received a boys’ team grant, providing full equipment for 24 players.

Roberson Middle School in Houston, Texas is not your typical public school.

As a “school of choice” in the Spring Independent School District, students must submit an application, pass an audition/interview, and have teacher recommendations just to be considered. Those who meet the requirements then enter into a lottery for selection.

This article appears in the December edition of USA Lacrosse Magazine.

Kent Collier wielded a mini-STX stick equipped with a bright red head as he performed a series of introductory drills. He dug his shoes into the synthetic green turf that protruded from a patch of dirt facing train tracks.

Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson and then-USA Lacrosse president and CEO Steve Stenersen had just unveiled the new field at Urban Community School in Ohio City, the blossoming neighborhood on Cleveland’s west side.

(Oct. 1, 2021) — Beginning today, USA Lacrosse is accepting applications for the second round of its 2021-22 grant offerings, which provide resources to groups and organizations to support local lacrosse development and opportunities. 

As part of this Round 2 (Standard) cycle, USA Lacrosse will be accepting grant applications (called proposals) for the following initiatives: TryLax, Physical Education, First Stick, AED, National Diversity Grant, Urban Lacrosse Alliance, Sankofa Clinic Series, Box Lacrosse, and Officials Development.

USA Lacrosse will hold a three-part “Back to School” professional development series aimed at physical education instructors beginning July 28. The free one-hour sessions will be held each Wednesday evening from July 28 through August 11 beginning at 7 p.m. (Eastern). 

Here’s a synopsis of the sessions:

Sport Sampling for Educators
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 | 7:00pm EST