In 2021, less than a year removed from high school, Rowan Phelps knew how she could best give back to her alma mater, and more directly, to students like herself that love lacrosse. She took it upon herself to coordinate the application for a USA Lacrosse equipment grant that could help launch a girls’ lacrosse team at Musselman High School in Inwood, West Virginia.

As a longtime coach with Shaker Heights Youth Lacrosse, and more recently, as president of its leadership board, Matt Kelly has continually been surprised by the lack of diversity within the program. At best, the number of minority participants has been less than 10-percent annually.

That figure is all the more surprising to Kelly given that Shaker Heights has traditionally been one of the most diverse communities among the suburbs around Cleveland, Ohio. That diversity has just never been mirrored on the lacrosse field.

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.

NEW YORK — Inscribed high on the granite walls of Gotham Hall are the following words, “Waste neither time nor money, but use both for your own and your neighbor’s good.”

SPARKS, Md. — Two of the best coaches in the history of lacrosse, Jenny Levy and Bill Tierney, will be honored at the 2nd annual USA Lacrosse Foundation Gala on June 7 at Gotham Hall in New York City. Members of the 2023 U.S. men’s national team will also be celebrated as they get ready to compete for the world championship this summer in San Diego.

The USA Lacrosse Foundation Gala debuted last year, honoring former U.S. team players Kyle Harrison, Paul Rabil and Crista Samaras, and helped raise over $650,000 to help USA Lacrosse grow and develop the sport.

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.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. USA Lacrosse is doing its best to make sure that impression is a lasting and positive one for new players all over the country. 

A recent Try Lax: Sankofa Series clinic with the Harlem Jets is a prime example of that work. It’s a perfect marriage of two USA Lacrosse initiatives coming together to drive the growth of the game. See the video clip below or visit our YouTube page for the full video.

Natnael Menbere is proof that you don’t have to fit a certain mold to play lacrosse. All you need is opportunity.

Born in Ethiopia, Menbere immigrated to the United States at age five and discovered the unfamiliar sport of lacrosse while in the third grade.

“At first, I thought it was cricket, and I didn’t want to play,” Menbere said. “But once I understood the game, I fell in love with it.”

Now a sophomore at Seattle Preparatory, Menbere has emerged as one of the best high school players in the Pacific Northwest.

In many ways, AJ Rover is a typical nine-year-old. He likes riding his bike, hanging out with friends, and watching MythBusters or Wipeout on TV.

He has also been playing lacrosse for four years and competes as a member of Peachtree City Lacrosse in Georgia.

“I love being part of a team and making friends,” said AJ, who rotates between attack and midfield. “We have fun.”

AJ’s love for the game motivated him to do something unique for a kid his age – make a contribution to the USA Lacrosse Foundation in each of the past two years.

Last year, the Oakland Lacrosse Club and the Oakland Unified School District announced a bold plan to bring varsity girls’ lacrosse programs to all eight high schools in the district. The recently completed 2022 season included programs at four of the schools and plans are in the works to have the remaining four schools on board by 2024.

A sizeable grant from USA Lacrosse is helping to supplement strong fundraising efforts by the Oakland Lacrosse Club to make this vision a reality.