1. Why should your
child play Lacrosse?!
An Introduction to the “Fastest
Game on Two Feet”
…and the fastest growing sport
in the United States
2. What is Lacrosse?
• Team Sport
o Spring season
• Both boys and girls versions of the sport
o 10 boys on the field
o 12 girls on the field
• Position for everyone
o Attack
o Midfield
o Defense
o Goalie
3. Lacrosse is for Everyone!
• Whereas other sports and positions have physical
limitations
o i.e. basketball, football, etc.
• Easy for lacrosse players to find their style of play
and use size and skill to their advantage
• Excellent conditioning
• Some contact, but primarily a finesse sport
4. Where does Birmingham
Fit in?
• Greater Birmingham Youth Lacrosse Assoc.
• Birmingham Magic – Varsity/Club team
• Phillips Academy – Junior High Team
• We need youth to pick up the Sport!
o The longer players have the stick in their hands, the more likely
they will be to succeed!
5. Benefits of LAX
• After-school activity
• Fundraising to defray costs
• Contribute and Be part of a team
• Summer programs?
• Equal opportunity sport
• Easy to pick-up!
• Football players? Offseason conditioning!
• Opens doors after high school
6. Lacrosse: The long run
• Fastest growing sport
• Started in Northeast
• Spreading south and across the country
o Practice yearlong here!
• Scholarships and help getting into college is
available to Lacrosse student-athletes
7. How fast is it growing?
Men’s Lacrosse - # of Programs nationwide
• DI – 2005: 57 2013: 63
• DII – 2005: 31 2013: 50
• DIII – 2005: 130 2013: 209
...and counting
8. How fast is it growing?
Women’s Lacrosse - # of Programs nationwide
• DI - 2005: 82 2013: 100
• DII - 2005: 35 2013: 91
• DIII – 2005: 153 2013: 242
…and counting
9. How fast is it growing?
Here’s your other options as far as greatest growth
rate over the past 5 years in the NCAA.
MENS: WOMENS:
Growth Rates of NCAA Sports Growth Rate of NCAA Sports
(in past 5 years) (in past 5 years)
1. Lacrosse........................22.4% 1. Lacrosse........................30.3%
2. Volleyball.......................13.9% 2. Golf...............................15.3%
3. Cross Country..................7.3% 3. Ice Hockey....................13.5%
4. Indoor Track....................6.4% 4. Indoor Track....................8.4%
5. Golf/Swimming.................4.7% 5. Cross Country..................6.9%
14. Close to home
ALABAMA
• Birmingham – Southern College
• Huntingdon College
Mississippi
• Millsaps College
Tennessee
• Vanderbilt University
• Rhodes College
• Sewannee – University of the South
• Tennessee Wesleyan
15. Close to Home
Georgia
• Reinhardt University
• Savannah College of Art & Design
• Shorter University
• Berry College
• Piedmont College
• Lagrange College
• Oglethorpe University
• Mercer University
Schools also in…
Florida, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, etc.
16. TITLE IX
Most schools with lacrosse have Men’s and Women’s
programs, however…
• Women’s collegiate lax growing even faster
• Schools looking for balance in athletics
Especially big time football programs have adopted
Women’s LAX
17. My Experience
• Youth lacrosse starting at age 7
• Modified lacrosse Junior Varsity Varsity
• Lacrosse is highly competitive in Upstate NY
• I was never recruited, walked on to DIII program
*Coaches recruit locally first!
• Started 4 years at SUNY Brockport
18. My Experience
At SUNY Brockport:
• “Student First, Athlete Second”
• Freshman Study Halls
• Study hall for any players with less than a B
average
• Traveled, free equipment, stayed active
• Helped me find major and excel in
classroom
*Student-Athlete recognition Junior/Senior Year
• Enhanced college experience… In a good
way!
19. What to take away?
• Lacrosse is a positive opportunity now and in the
future
No matter what level…
stay BUSY + stay ACTIVE + stay INVOLVED
= Student Success
• Chance to Shine
o We live in a region where Lacrosse is growing fast and players are
needed!
• Continue Education
o Use lacrosse to get you places!
20. All the information is there.
The benefits are clear. All we
have to do now is get a
lacrosse stick in their
hands, and let the kids take
care of the rest.
QUESTIONS???
