Which states have the most college lacrosse teams. How many NCAA men’s lacrosse programs are there in the US. Why is California losing its only NCAA men’s lacrosse team. What impact does this have on the sport’s growth in the West.
The Evolution of College Lacrosse: From East Coast Dominance to National Expansion
Lacrosse, often associated with East Coast prep schools, has a rich history dating back to the 12th century when Native Americans from Iroquois tribes in Upstate New York began playing the game. For centuries, the sport’s popularity remained concentrated in the East and Midwest regions of the United States. However, recent decades have seen a gradual expansion of lacrosse’s reach, particularly in western states.
This westward growth has faced challenges, as evidenced by the recent closure of California’s only NCAA men’s lacrosse team at Whittier College. To understand the current landscape of college lacrosse and its geographical distribution, it’s essential to examine the sport’s evolution and the factors influencing its presence across different states.
The Historical Roots of Lacrosse
Lacrosse’s deep-rooted connection to Native American culture and its early adoption by East Coast institutions have shaped its geographical concentration. The sport’s origins in Upstate New York and its subsequent popularity in mid-Atlantic states have created a strong lacrosse culture in these regions. This historical foundation has contributed to the sport’s slower spread to other parts of the country, particularly the West Coast.
Factors Influencing Lacrosse’s Expansion
- Cultural traditions and regional sports preferences
- Availability of youth lacrosse programs
- Access to lacrosse infrastructure and facilities
- College athletic department budgets and priorities
- NCAA divisional alignment and conference structures
The Current Landscape of NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Programs
As of 2024, the distribution of NCAA men’s lacrosse programs across the United States remains heavily skewed towards the East Coast and Midwest. However, the sport has made inroads into other regions, albeit at a slower pace. To provide a comprehensive overview, let’s examine the current state of NCAA men’s lacrosse programs by region:
East Coast Powerhouses
The East Coast continues to dominate the college lacrosse scene, with states like New York, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts boasting the highest concentration of NCAA programs. These states typically field teams across all three NCAA divisions, reflecting the sport’s deep-rooted popularity in the region.
Midwest Momentum
Midwestern states such as Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois have seen significant growth in college lacrosse programs over the past few decades. This expansion has been driven by increased youth participation and the sport’s inclusion in high school athletic programs throughout the region.
Southern Expansion
While not traditionally a lacrosse hotbed, the South has witnessed a steady increase in NCAA men’s lacrosse programs. States like North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida have emerged as key players in the sport’s southern expansion, with a growing number of Division I, II, and III teams.
Western Frontier
The West has been the final frontier for college lacrosse expansion, with fewer NCAA programs compared to other regions. Prior to Whittier College’s program closure, California had only one NCAA men’s lacrosse team. Currently, Utah hosts two teams, while Colorado leads the western states with six NCAA men’s lacrosse programs.
The Whittier College Closure: A Setback for West Coast Lacrosse
The shuttering of Whittier College’s men’s lacrosse program on April 22, 2024, marked a significant moment in the sport’s western expansion. As the only NCAA men’s lacrosse team in California, the Whittier College Poets had been a beacon for the sport on the West Coast since 1980.
Reasons Behind the Closure
The decision to end the lacrosse program at Whittier College was part of a broader restructuring of the institution’s athletic department. According to college officials, the following factors contributed to the closure:
- Financial constraints faced by small private institutions
- Disproportionate costs associated with maintaining certain sports programs
- The need to focus resources on more competitive and sustainable athletic programs
- Challenges in scheduling and travel for West Coast lacrosse teams
Impact on Players and the Lacrosse Community
The closure of Whittier’s lacrosse program has had far-reaching consequences for players, alumni, and the broader lacrosse community in California. Current players face the difficult decision of transferring to other institutions or giving up their collegiate lacrosse careers. Alumni have expressed heartbreak and concern over the loss of a program that has been integral to the college’s athletic identity for over four decades.
Challenges Facing West Coast Lacrosse Programs
The closure of Whittier College’s lacrosse program highlights the unique challenges faced by West Coast teams in sustaining NCAA-level competition. These challenges include:
- Limited number of nearby opponents, necessitating extensive travel
- Higher operational costs due to travel requirements
- Difficulty in recruiting players from traditional lacrosse hotbeds
- Lack of established lacrosse culture and infrastructure in western states
- Competition for resources with more popular West Coast sports
How do these challenges affect the growth of lacrosse in western states? The scarcity of NCAA programs in the region creates a cycle that can hinder growth. With fewer collegiate opportunities, there’s less incentive for youth lacrosse development, which in turn limits the pool of local talent for college programs.
The Future of College Lacrosse: Trends and Potential Growth Areas
Despite the setback in California, college lacrosse continues to show potential for growth across the United States. Several trends and initiatives could shape the future landscape of the sport:
Emerging Lacrosse Hotspots
Which states are poised to become new centers for college lacrosse? While traditional East Coast strongholds maintain their dominance, states like Colorado, Texas, and Florida are experiencing rapid growth in youth lacrosse participation. This grassroots expansion could lead to increased demand for collegiate programs in these regions.
Division II and III Expansion
How might lower divisions contribute to lacrosse’s growth? As Division I programs remain concentrated in established lacrosse regions, Division II and III institutions may play a crucial role in expanding the sport’s geographical footprint. These divisions often have more flexibility in adding new sports programs and can serve as catalysts for lacrosse development in underrepresented areas.
Women’s Lacrosse Growth
What role does women’s lacrosse play in the sport’s expansion? While this article focuses on men’s programs, it’s worth noting that women’s lacrosse has seen significant growth at the collegiate level. The success and expansion of women’s programs could pave the way for increased support of men’s lacrosse in regions where the sport is less established.
Strategies for Sustaining and Expanding College Lacrosse Programs
To address the challenges faced by college lacrosse programs, particularly in regions where the sport is less established, several strategies could be employed:
Regional Clustering
How can programs collaborate to reduce costs? Encouraging the development of lacrosse programs in geographical clusters could help reduce travel costs and foster local rivalries. This approach has been successful in other sports and could be particularly beneficial for western lacrosse programs.
Partnerships with Youth Organizations
What role can youth lacrosse play in sustaining college programs? Strengthening ties between collegiate programs and local youth lacrosse organizations can create a pipeline of talent and foster community support. This grassroots approach can help build a sustainable lacrosse culture in regions where the sport is still growing.
Innovative Funding Models
How can colleges secure financial support for lacrosse programs? Exploring alternative funding models, such as endowments, corporate partnerships, or alumni-driven initiatives, could help sustain lacrosse programs facing budgetary pressures. Creative approaches to resource allocation may be necessary to support the sport’s growth in new regions.
The Role of Club Lacrosse in Collegiate Expansion
While NCAA programs face challenges in certain regions, club lacrosse teams continue to thrive on many college campuses. These club teams, like UCLA’s mentioned in the article, play a crucial role in maintaining lacrosse’s presence at institutions without NCAA programs.
Benefits of Club Lacrosse
- Lower operational costs compared to NCAA programs
- Greater flexibility in scheduling and travel
- Opportunity for student-led organization and management
- Potential stepping stone to NCAA status
How does club lacrosse contribute to the sport’s overall growth? Club programs keep the spirit of lacrosse alive on campuses and can serve as incubators for future NCAA teams. They also provide playing opportunities for students who may not meet NCAA eligibility requirements or prefer a less intensive commitment.
Transition from Club to NCAA Status
What factors influence a club team’s transition to NCAA status? Several factors can contribute to a club team’s elevation to NCAA status:
- Consistent competitive success at the club level
- Strong student and alumni support
- Adequate funding and resources
- Alignment with the institution’s athletic department goals
- Compliance with Title IX requirements
The path from club to NCAA status can be challenging, but it represents a potential avenue for lacrosse’s expansion in regions currently underrepresented at the NCAA level.
Lacrosse’s Cultural Significance and Potential for Growth
Beyond its status as a competitive sport, lacrosse holds significant cultural and historical importance. As North America’s oldest organized sport, lacrosse carries a rich heritage that could be leveraged to promote its growth and appeal to a broader audience.
Celebrating Native American Roots
How can lacrosse’s indigenous origins contribute to its expansion? Emphasizing the sport’s Native American roots and partnering with indigenous communities could help lacrosse connect with a more diverse player base and fan demographic. This cultural approach could be particularly effective in regions where the sport is less established.
Lacrosse as a Vehicle for Education and Personal Development
What broader benefits does lacrosse offer to student-athletes? Lacrosse, like many collegiate sports, provides opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and academic achievement. Highlighting these aspects could help garner support for lacrosse programs from educational institutions and communities.
International Growth and Olympic Aspirations
How might international expansion affect collegiate lacrosse in the U.S.? As lacrosse continues to grow globally, with aspirations for Olympic inclusion, the sport’s profile may rise domestically. This international growth could lead to increased interest and support for collegiate programs across the country.
The landscape of college lacrosse in the United States continues to evolve, with traditional strongholds maintaining their dominance while new regions slowly embrace the sport. The closure of Whittier College’s program highlights the challenges faced by lacrosse in expanding beyond its East Coast roots. However, the sport’s rich history, cultural significance, and potential for growth suggest that collegiate lacrosse will continue to adapt and find new footholds across the nation.
As the lacrosse community reflects on the loss of California’s only NCAA men’s program, it also looks to the future with hope and determination. The sport’s resilience, coupled with innovative approaches to program development and support, may yet see lacrosse firmly establish itself from coast to coast in the years to come.
California’s only NCAA lacrosse team is shuttering. Here’s why
Just the image of a lacrosse player, stick held high, charging helmet-first across the field evokes “East Coast boy’s prep school.”
And that mid-Atlantic bias has existed for almost as long as lacrosse — dubbed the oldest organized sport in North America — has existed.
Since Native Americans from Iroquois tribes in Upstate New York began playing the game in the 12th century, lacrosse has been popular in the East and Midwest, but not so widespread in the West.
Lacrosse’s popularity in western states has accelerated in more modern times, but now, with the shuttering of the only men’s National Collegiate Athletic Association team in California, that slow march is at a standstill.
The Whittier College Poets put down their sticks for good on Saturday, April 22.
The loss of Whittier College men’s lacrosse, an NCAA team since 1980, means there are no NCAA men’s teams left in California, according to Matt Holmes, NCAA’s assistant director of media coordination and statistics. In the West, there are two teams in Utah and six in Colorado, he added.
And sure, the Poets play UCLA for its final match, but that California team is a club team, not an NCAA team.
The loss of lacrosse — coupled with Whittier College’s decision to end its football program — is poignant and pervasive for those close to the program.
“It’s kind of hard to get your head around,” said Rock Carter, executive director of Whittier College athletics.
Carter is making Saturday special for the Poets and their fans. In addition to the Purple and Gold tailgate, there will be an alumni gathering before the 1 p.m. game at Memorial Stadium, and there will be a special dedication for the seniors. And, no doubt, there will be tears.
“Lacrosse has a very strong following here,” Carter said by phone the day before the final game. “They’ve been the face of the athletic department.”
And, that’s because, unlike for other Whittier College sports, there are no NCAA men’s teams to play that don’t require rounding up some 40 players onto an airplane.
Four Whittier College lacrosse players enjoy their freshman year on campus in 1993. Joe McCarthy (from left), Geoff Ianiri, Brad Downey (an All-American in 1996 and 1997) and Reid Rokitta. (Photo courtesy Joe McCarthy)
The financial situation at Whittier College has been in the spotlight ever since the school announced the end of its 115-year football program last fall.
That decision launched an alumni campaign to oust President Linda Oubré, claiming its her mismanagement that is behind the college’s troubles. Oubré strongly denies the allegations and said she has Board of Trustee approval and that she’s doing the tough job many at small private institutions are charged with during tough economic times.
The decision to discontinue football and men’s lacrosse, in addition to men’s and women’s golf programs, said Oubré at the time, was a difficult one. The college’s Board of Trustees came to it after a three-year review period.
In a statement on the Whittier College website, Oubré and Miguel Santana, board chair at the time responded to concerned alumni about the closures:
“The Poet programs sunsetting at this time are disproportionately more expensive to sustain than other sports that have thrived and remained competitive within our SCIAC conference. ”
The college’s goal, continued the statement, is to focus on the 18 other NCAA teams that can be supported on campus and via conference play.
Still, the rationale for letting go of the program doesn’t take the sting out of the situation.
For former Whittier lacrosse player Joe McCarthy (1997), first hearing of the program’s demise was rough.
“Heartbroken is the easy word,” McCarthy said by phone.
McCarthy, who played lacrosse for three years under Coach Doug Locker, said he understands the challenges and budget constraints going on in higher education today, but he’s still skeptical the school made the right decision.
Those 40-some lacrosse players who have to travel for games? Well, that’s 40 more students to boost enrollment, too.
“That traveling (for games) is one of the best advertisements for Whittier College that the school has,” McCarthy said. “If you are an East Coast kid, would you rather play lacrosse in upstate New York or in Southern California?”
The dismantling of the program does leave Whittier men’s lacrosse freshman, sophomore and juniors without a home, Carter said. The college is sure to lose athletes, he said, but he didn’t know how many would transfer.
Carter said he was sad, sure, to see the program come to an end. But, he was trying to stay positive, he added.
“It was a decision that the institution made that they think will better our college,” Carter said.
To those 40-some athletes, Carter was grateful, saying they’ve given value to the department and have created a wonderful culture on campus.
“They’re great ambassadors to Whittier College,” Carter said. “There’s a lot we’re gonna miss about that.”
NCAA: College Lacrosse Continues Its Exponential Growth
Posted on by newwavelax
It’s no big news that lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in the nation, but according to the annual NCAA Sports Sponsorship and Participation Rates Report released last week, it’s also the fastest-growing college sport by a long shot.
Growth across men’s and women’s lacrosse across all NCAA divisions markedly exceeded all other sports from 2000-2014. Participation in women’s lacrosse increased by 109% (going from 225 teams to 470), followed by indoor track (59%), ice hockey (58%), outdoor track (52%) and golf (48%). At the Division I women’s level, sport sponsorship is up 49% since 2000, increasing from 71 to 106 teams. Thirty one women’s lacrosse teams (+26 net growth) were added across all divisions in the 2014-15 year, tied with outdoor track and field for most teams added in the NCAA.
On the men’s side, total lacrosse participation is up 95% (going from 203 teams to 350) over the same 14 year time period, followed by volleyball (54%), indoor track (40%), outdoor track (35%) and soccer (32%). Division I sponsorship has grown by 24%, moving from 55 to 68 teams, and experiencing a net growth of +11 in sport sponsorship this year alone. In Division III, the number of men’s lacrosse athletes is almost equal to the number of men’s basketball participants, falling short by just 28 individuals.
New NCAA participation report out. Fastest growing NCAA sport? #ncaaLAX https://t.co/X8ngkLZI8A pic.twitter.com/FHe5sqigv1
— NCAA Research (@NCAAResearch) October 29, 2015
A total of 57 teams have already announced new men’s and women’s lacrosse programs slated to begin in the 2016, 2017, or 2018 seasons. Notable debuts of 2016 are Hampton (Va.), the first Division I historically black college to sponsor men’s lacrosse since 1981, along with Radford, Army, and Central Michigan women’s teams. Cleveland State men’s and Butler women’s teams headline the 2017 additions.
Earlier this month, Arizona State announced its new women’s program and a new Pac-12 women’s conference was announced for 2018, bringing the total to three of the Power Five conferences now sponsoring women’s lacrosse. With the addition of Arizona State women’s lacrosse, the new Pac-12 conference will have six teams, which is the minimum number to qualify for a conference championship and NCAA tournament automatic qualifying bid. The Pac-12 also announced that it is the first major conference to incorporate student-athletes into its voting governance structure. The addition of this Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) follows a 2014 decision by the Pac-12 CEO Group to design a groundbreaking reform package that better supports student-athletes and provides a model for college athletics.
NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Participation
Division | Teams | Athletes | Avg. Squad | % of Total Members |
---|---|---|---|---|
Division I | 106 | 3,172 | 29.9 | 30.7 |
Division II | 94 | 2,157 | 22.9 | 29.1 |
Division III | 270 | 5,665 | 21.0 | 59.9 |
Total | 470 | 10,994 | 23.4 | 42.0 |
NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Participation
Division | Teams | Athletes | Avg. Squad | % of Total Members |
---|---|---|---|---|
Division I | 68 | 3,109 | 45.7 | 19.7 |
Division II | 59 | 2,346 | 39.8 | 18.3 |
Division III | 223 | 7,710 | 34.6 | 49.4 |
Total | 350 | 13,165 | 37.6 | 31.3 |
So where is lacrosse going from here? The growth of lacrosse has been steady since 2000 and shows no signs of slowing. Lacrosse Magazine recently wrote about 25 more Division I men’s and women’s teams that could possibly be next. It certainly is an exciting time for both men’s and women’s lacrosse & we can’t wait to see where it goes.
For a comprehensive look at the NCAA Sports Sponsorship & Participation Rates Report, visit NCAA.org.
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Tags: college, girls lacrosse, grow the game, NCAA, recruitingCategories: college, girls lacrosse, grow the game, NCAA, recruiting
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US college sports
US college sports
The United States of America is a sports nation.
Sports, both professional and amateur, play a huge role in the life of American society.
The main base of amateur sports in the USA are educational institutions – schools and colleges. College sports in the US are incredibly popular.
The beginning of such an incredibly popular college sport in the USA was laid in 1843, when a boat club was organized at Yale University. In 1844, the same club was created at Harvard University.
The history of college sports in the USA dates back to 1852, when the first rowing competition between the teams of Harvard and Yale universities took place. It was as a sports organization that the “Ivy League” (“The Ivy league”), which has become the popular name of the eight most prestigious universities in the United States today, appeared.
The US collegiate sports system consists of three associations officially approved by the Governing Body: the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NAIA), and the National College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a national collegiate athletic association founded on February 3, 1906 as the Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Since 1910 – NCAA. The NCAA is made up of 1,281 different college and university sports organizations in the United States and Canada. The association is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana headquarters.
The NCAA comprises 23 sports and is divided into Divisions 1, 2, and 3. The first division significantly surpasses the second and third in terms of the number of sports, the level of sports results, funding and the seriousness of the attitude of athletes to training.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association “administers championships in common US team and individual sports such as American football, boxing, golf, track and field, baseball, softball, and basketball. College basketball teams in the United States (since 1891) are most often in the NCAA.
In addition, the NCAA hosts competitions in the “original” sports that are popular in the United States and relatively uncommon in other parts of the world. Among them are lacrosse (a team game invented by American Indians, which is played with a small ball and racquet clubs), bowling.
Since the 50s of the 19th century, baseball has been very popular in US universities – a team sports game with a baseball ball and a bat (lapta in Russia) – a North American development of the older English lapta, popular in Great Britain and Ireland.
Later athletics, rugby, American football became popular. American football is by far the most popular college sport, a transformation of British rugby, football that developed from early forms of rugby and soccer.
On average, US universities participate in 20 sports. This is approximately 400,000 students. They are assigned to university teams officially registered with the student sports association. About two million more American students play sports, being members of unaffiliated clubs.
University sport in the USA is a real school of “team spirit”.
American college sports are very organized. Studying at the university and collegiate sports in the USA are inextricably linked concepts. With unsatisfactory academic performance, a student may not be allowed to train, to play. American student athletes have no special privileges.
The level of varsity sports in the United States cannot be compared with the level of college sports in any country in the world. Being a student-athlete in the USA is comparable to playing professional sports, only instead of wages, the student receives payment for his studies at the university. Outstanding student players have earned themselves not only sports fame, but also the right to a “sports” scholarship of several thousand dollars.
Sports in US universities is one of the main marketing tools to attract students. In order to attract the strongest athletes, sports programs are financed. More than a thousand educational institutions in the United States are looking for boys and girls in their sports teams to glorify the university. The basis of amateur sports of the highest achievements in the United States is precisely collegiate sports.
Collegiate sports in the US have given rise to professional sports for athletes such as Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, John Isner, Rine Lochte, Rebeca Soni and many more.
The scale of university sports in the USA is colossal. Popularity and achievements in some sports are comparable to the popularity and level of achievements in professional sports, and national student championships are comparable to the Olympic Games. The strongest student sports teams perform at the highest level.
University sporting events are of great interest to the US population. The best college teams in popular sports in the United States are packed to capacity in excess of 100,000 spectators. Special stadiums designed for games between university teams are built on each campus. Millions of fans across America queue for hours to buy tickets. Often there is not enough space for everyone at the stadiums – then bivouacs are set up nearby.