Lacrosse has grown steadily locally for the past 17 years

First published in the Lethbridge Herald Wednesday, January 8, 2020.

It is not unusual for local sport organizations to experience patterns of participation decline and growth.

The Lethbridge Lacrosse Association has seen consistent growth since it was re-established in 2002 when six fathers brought lacrosse back to Lethbridge after a 20-year absence. Known as the Lethbridge Lacrosse Association Pioneers, they were inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame as builders in 2011.

Lacrosse is North America’s oldest organized sport and Canada’s national summer sport, based on a game played by Indigenous communities.

Zane Chief Moon and Brady Weasel Fat, members of Team Alberta’s lacrosse team, will travel to Halifax next summer to compete in the 2020 North American Indigenous Games. This multi-sport event involves over 4000 Indigenous athletes and cultural performers from across North America.

The Lethbridge Lacrosse Association is host to one of Lethbridge’s largest annual sport events. The 18th Lethbridge Lacrosse Floorbusters Memorial Tournament takes place May 22 -24, 2020.

The 2020 Alberta Summer Games will host U14 Bantam Box Lacrosse teams open to male and female players. Zone 1 selection camps and tryouts take place in the spring. All games will be held at Nicholas Sheran Arena.

Players and coaches have begun to prepare for the 2020 season as the winter lacrosse registration opened January 2nd. Lethbridge teams compete in the Southern Alberta Lacrosse League every May and June and are consistently near the top of the standings.

The Lethbridge Lacrosse Association has divisions from ages 5 and 6 to ages 15 and 16 years of age. The Junior B Tier 1 Barracudas play in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League.

In 2014, the Junior B Tier 2 Barracudas had a remarkable 20-3 record season to win the Lethbridge Sport Council Amateur Team Achievement Award. The Barracudas advanced to become a Tier 1 team the following season.

The Lethbridge Lacrosse Association is always recruiting more youth to the game. Special attention is being payed to recruit more Indigenous youth and more girls for all age groups, no experience required.

To find out more about lacrosse visit www.lethbridgesportcouncil.ca/sport-directory

Watch for the Alberta Summer Games Volunteer Recruitment announcement coming mid-January. The Games take place from July 23 to 26 at venues throughout Lethbridge.

For more local sport information visit www.lethbridgesportcouncil.ca