Came across this article on lacrosse and thought it was pretty accurate based on what I know. As Deadspin details, the sport is no longer regional. The sport is the fastest growing sport in America (I suppose that depends on how you measure it) and has witnessed particularly strong growth in the Midwest and the West Coast. Still the pinnacle of the sport is the college game. And I'm not sure if the sport will ever make the leap to a "successful" pro league. Sure there are pro leagues, but until you have consistent TV coverage, I'm not sure you can really call it successful.

http://deadspin.com/5959185/no-lacrosse-is-not-a-regional-game-watch-how-its-conquering-america

I coach my daughters and son... and am amazed at how many parents are getting their kids into the game. Our organization is having trouble getting enough coaches, fields, and permits to service the amount of kids interested in the sport. And which sport is suffering as a result? Baseball. I'd say 99% of parents I talk to said they are switching form baseball to lacrosse.

Played in High School and some club level in college. Blast to play. Really a combination of hockey and soccer in terms of movement, responsibilities etc. I'm surprised it's growing as much as it is

_________________
Team Cutler.

They started it big out here where I live. Even at the youth level they are bugging my 7th grader to play indoor as well as outdoor.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Evanston Township High School had the first lacrosse program in Illinois. It was Murney Lazier's way of having spring football practice which was illegal. In fact, at Evanston they used to call lacrosse "spring football".

_________________
The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

The east coast, rich, party boy, popped collar douchebags are going to have to find a new sport or just consolidate their efforts to crew.

_________________
That's my purse! I don't know you!

I get where you are going... and I can't necessarily disagree with the stereotype based on the colleges which are good at this game... but times are definitely changing. The broader availability of low cost equipment I think is changing that.

By the way, do ya know who the best lacrosse player ever was? He set almost every record at Syracuse and a variety of major rule changes were enacted because of his amazing play.

Jim Brown

This sport is not much safer then football.

_________________

True that. Especially at a young age when the ball is on the ground more. Concussions are a big deal in this sport as well. It's a contact game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOdzEfC0kxI

Its a game whose history is based in a Native American war game. It's violent. Concerns over concussions is probably the only thing that will stop the growth of this sport in this country. Frankly, I think the game needs to adapt to discourage the "snot bubble" hits. I also think it is stupid that they allow gradeschool kids to hit at all. They should play an hybrid version of the women's game until they can at least catch and throw consistently.

I believe I douchebagged it within the last 1-2 years.

The same kind of kid who played organized hockey in my youth is playing lacrosse in this generation.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

I was at Lyons Township when Murney was there at the end, and yeah Lacrosse was Spring football. But really it was for the football players too lazy for track. Once he left they got forced back into track.

. . . and they were undefeated for quite some time . . . until another high school formed a team.

Isn't there a Pro Indoor LaCrosse League?

I don't know anything about the sport. Once you scoop the ball up,than what?

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Women's lacrosse is getting huge too. The program I'm involved with tripled in size in two years. Also, Northwestern's lacrosse dynasty is getting girls of all ages up at Evanston for the games. It's a great field overlooking Lake Michigan. I'm always surprised to go up there and seeing a ton of grade school and high school girls at the games.

Just surprised?

Yep. There is a pro league, but its tiny. But I think Box Lacrosse (another version of lacrosse that is indoor on a smaller field) is a bit more popular.

The game looks like hockey, but the play is actually much more similar to basketball (setting picks and utilizing a motion offense).

Check out this Loyola Maryland (NCAA champions last year) vs Denver... it was a good game and you get a good feeling what the sport looks like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjOR8O8Mgcg

Dude, I have 3 daughters... my mind doesn't go there, sicko.

I will,thanks. Being a Cubs fan,I'm always looking for other sports options.

_________________
favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Pretty sure you had to have played on my brother's team. Were you on the first one in STC?


But yea, the growth is crazy. Just in St. Charles, my brother was on the first team ever, and by the time I went through high school our team actually competed. Now I guess the St. Charles teams are pretty good and there are even kids' leagues and stuff. Really really crazy to see where it is today.

The amazing part is that it is growing so fast for being so boring to watch.

_________________
You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

So is a lacrosse growth basically like a tumor, or do I have to load up some Kindergarten Cop audio clips for this one?

_________________

Very fun to play, and more interesting to watch than baseball... but I guess so is watching paint dry.

Go to 4:10 on the video, you'll see a perfectly designed play. There are some amazing moves, shots, hits in this game... arguably much more strategy than hockey.

Very true, even when I was playing I didn't love watching it. Only games I watch now are the college championships.

I love sports played only in affluent homogeneous enclaves. It gives the well to do child a positive feeling of athleticism...and yes, I can say this as a person who played rugby.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

That might have been true 10 years ago. But lax equipment cost came down making it more affordable than hockey.

I was running down there this past summer whenever they were having a camp. It was absolutely huge. There were girls all over Floyd Long Field and more inside the stadium.

_________________
The Court will accord substantial deference to the government's immigration policies, particularly those that implicate matters of national security.

My point has nothing to do with affordability.

I compare it to when St. Ignatius people tell me they are good at crew.

_________________
O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Yeah... i feel ya. This was a sport that was considered an East Coast only sport... more specifically Long Island and Maryland. Its just amazing that the organizations in California, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois have grown so quickly over the last couple years.

Locally, kids programs in the west and south suburbs like Downers Grove, Lombard, Westmont, Plainfield, Oswego, Fox Valley and South Elgin are taking off. Traditionally the North Shore (New Trier and Lake Forest) and private schools (Ignatius and Loyola) have had the programs... now it is spreading like wildfire. Stroll into your local Dick's Sporting Goods and you'll find a selection of lacrosse equipment that is equal to what they'd have in Bethesda, Maryland or Garden City, Long Island. The biggest problem is the availability of coaches and the lack of infrastructure (well run organizations and field availability). Naperville just put in 8 high quality lacrosse fields, so perhaps the region is adjusting to the new demand.