North Middlesex Youth Lacrosse Association: Fill & Download for Free

Most of the world’s lacrosse is played in the United States and Canada. The game originated in North America as a native sport predating European settlement. Game rules were variable, as were the area of play and the number of players, with some “games” featuring up to 1,000 men.After rules were normalised and a field game created, lacrosse began to be adopted by the immigrant or European population in Canada in the mid to late 1800’s, and in this organised field version quickly became popular in the northeast US as well, where the sport also has a long history of play by native Americans.The game has been carried around the world by Canadian and American players, both those who tour, play games, and conduct clinics internationally, and those who have settled in other countries and teach, coach, and promote the game.American lacrosse is typified by the sport’s greatest rivalry, between Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. The two powerhouses have played over 115 games since their first meeting in 1885. Hopkins, the premier university program in lacrosse with 44 national titles, has been active in building the sport as well, having represented America in the 1928 and 1932 Olympic Games, and spreading the sport to Japan in the 1970’s.The US has by far the most players on the field, since lacrosse is a popular and fast-growing sport at both the high school and college levels. Over 750,000 children played lacrosse in 2015 with over 2,500 high schools fielding teams. An additional 36,000 athletes competed at the college level that year.As an organised sport, lacrosse was long associated only with the northeast US, but in recent decades has spread across the country. The hotbeds remain primarily in the northeast but even the top university programs now recruit nationally.The United States lacrosse team won the 2018 world championship in Israel on July 21, 2018. The US and Canada dominate the sport at the international level.The international governing body of lacrosse is the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL), which promotes the sports and conducts championships for males and females in various age group categories. The men’s world championship is held every four years and rotates among member countries.In 2018, Team USA defeated Canada, 9–8, to earn its 10th men’s world championship in the sport in 13 tries; Canada won the other three, winning in 2014, 2006, and 1978. No other nation has won the title, which is contested every four years.Israel hosted the 2018 world championships, the first nation besides the US, Canada, England, and Australia to host the competition.Canadian great Gary Gait of Vancouver, British Columbia, at the 2006 World Championships, won by Canada.The sport of lacrosse is played in many other countries. The first outside of North America to become established were Australia and England, both of whom became engaged as early as 1876.Australia also has nearly a century and a half of indigenous play in the sport. After America and Canada, it has enjoyed the greatest degree of success in international play of any nation.Lacrosse in Australia is a minor sport, with a long and proud history dating back to 1876, with a small but dedicated community of participants and volunteers. The established centres for Lacrosse are in the greater metropolitan areas of Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. In these cities there are organised weekend field lacrosse competitions for men and women at senior and junior levels, played over the winter months (April until September). In the off-season, there are informal box lacrosse and sofcrosse competitions, though the majority of players in Australia are mostly of the field lacrosse type. Some lacrosse is also played in Sydney, Newcastle, South East Queensland, Townsville, Cairns and Hobart, it is very much at the developmental level.Australia has an important presence in the international scene, consistently finishing in the top three of the men's world championships, though have never won the trophy. At the 2014 World Lacrosse Championship, Australia finished outside the top three for the first time at the senior level, finishing in fourth spot (behind Canada, the United States and the Iroquois Nationals). They have also been the runner-up at the first three Under-19 Men's World Lacrosse Championship.England is also a fixture in international lacrosse, and is particularly dominant in the European game. According to Wikipedia,Lacrosse in England is an amateur sport played mainly by community based clubs and university teams. Lacrosse was introduced to England in 1876 by William George Beers and other Canadians who toured the country playing exhibition matches. A second tour was arranged in 1883; by then England had 60 clubs playing regular fixtures in Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Middlesex and Yorkshire.[1]The first national governing body for the men's game, the English Lacrosse Union, was formed in 1892. A Ladies' Lacrosse Association followed in 1912, and the separate men's and women's organisations merged in 1996 to form the English Lacrosse Association (ELA). The ELA oversees both the men's and women's national teams.England dominates the European Lacrosse Championships, held every four years, having won 9 of the 10 titles contested since the competition began in 1995.Germany beat England for the 2001 championship and is typical of the many nations where lacrosse is now being played: a relatively recent beginning, the establishment of coaches and teams in key cities, and a continual feed of support from North America, as attested in this excerpt from a report from Mark Schindler regarding the progress of the game in Germany.Germany has a vibrant youth and adult lacrosse community already, dating back to the early 1990’s when they fielded their first men’s national team. But not unlike the new pockets of talent in the US, youth lacrosse in Germany is outgrowing the number of quality coaches and officials who can provide the framework for the game.The level of talent was varied, with clubs from Berlin and Hamburg distinguishing themselves from the others – obviously drawing from a larger talent pool and benefiting from more experienced coaches. Over 40 players attended our clinic for the U12 players, an age group that the national federation is hoping to include in next year’s season.The most interesting aspect to the entire trip, the clinics and tournament included, was that the atmosphere always had a decidedly “lacrosse” feel to it. What does that mean? Aside from the expats who spoke English and reminisced of lacrosse in the States, the culture and energy of the events was no different than at home.Little kids from various teams shot on empty goals between games. Older players listened to music or flirted with players from other teams. Some parents stood back in the shade while others hovered over their kids on the steaming turf to make sure that everything went as (they) planned. Some players wilted after 30 minutes and others were only just getting started after 2 hours of training.Kids are kids, and lacrosse is lacrosse.The Federation of International Lacrosse includes 60 nations as of 2018, including 46 that fielded men’s teams in the championship, and each of them has a story something like Germany’s.The charter members in 1972 included the US, Australia, England, Scotland, and Wales, with Canada aboard in 1974.From the FIL website, these nations and their date of membership are:AfricaKenya | 2016Uganda | 2011AmericasArgentina | 2002Bermuda | 2006Canada | 1974Chile | 2017Colombia | 2013Costa Rica | 2008Guatemala | 2010Haiti | 2016Iroquois Confederacy | 1988Jamaica | 2013Mexico | 2009Peru | 2012Puerto Rico | 2016United States | 1972AsiaChina | 2016Hong Kong | 2002Japan | 1990Korea | 2000Malaysia | 2014Philippines | 2014Qatar | 2017Singapore | 2013Taiwan | 2014Thailand | 2010EuropeAustria | 2005Belgium | 2010Bulgaria | 2008Croatia | 2016Czech Republic | 1992Denmark | 2003England | 1972Estonia | 2013Finland | 2002France | 2008Germany | 1994Greece | 2017Hungary | 2010Ireland | 2002Israel | 2011Italy | 2004Latvia | 2004Luxembourg | 2017Netherlands | 2001Norway | 2008Poland | 2008Portugal | 2009Russian Federation | 2011Scotland | 1972Serbia | 2010Slovakia | 2004Slovenia | 2005Spain | 2004Sweden | 1994Switzerland | 2008Turkey | 2010Wales | 1972OceaniaAustralia | 1972New Zealand | 2002