Summer Camps
Lots of camps have been set up to try and aid young players and help them develop their game. The camps are run every summer in a number of places across the U.K. anybody can attend them no matter what their ability level is. The camps are run by ex-England players and coaches. Many of the current England players attend the camp on the last day to give out medals and certificates.
Award Systems
The Lacrosse All Star award scheme was devised by the British Lacrosse Coaching Foundation, it was mad to encourage young players to develop their skills and they also have their achievements individually recognised.
The scheme was designed to be used in schools, clubs and sports programmes. The participants are assessed by teachers, BLCF coaches and sports leaders.
See Appendix 1.
This flow diagram shows how the ELA are trying to increase lacrosse participation;
Sponsorship
The ELA is supported by many companies. The ELA have received £15000 from the Coca Cola Company to help improve their grass roots development programme.
The Daily Telegraph are also sponsors of the ELA they publish regular columns providing news and results.
All these companies donate money to the ELA which helps the run all the competitions throughout the year and helps to fund programmes like Centex. Clubs in the local area are funded by membership and playing fees.
T.S. Hattersley & Son, Ltd.
Lacrosse Works, 63, Weymouth Road, Eccles,
Manchester M30 8TH. Tel: 0161 789 1374. Fax: 0161 787 8632.
Provision for Pathways.
Centex is the centre of excellence for emerging England Lacrosse players. It’s run three times a year with the purpose of bringing together and developing players who show the potential to represent England.
The course is open for 14-19year olds; nomination for players to attend can be made by teachers, coaches or an experienced player from within the sport.
Centex was set up due to realization that England wasn’t producing enough world class players.
Centex is a non-profit making programme so this is where a lot of the sponsorship money goes.
Schools
Most players start playing lacrosse when at school. Pupils would try and become apart of their year group team every year. The highest level you can get to within school, is playing for the 1st team. There are annual County and National tournaments each year. There are many schools that play in the local area:
- St. George’s, Harpenden.
- St. Albans High School,
- North London Collegiate,
- Abbots Hill,
- Hailerbury,
- Haberdashers,
- Berkhamstead,
- PHC
- Lady Eleanor Holles
- St. Christopher’s and
- St. Margaret’s.
Clubs
Anybody can join a club at any ability. With your club you can further your ability and play in the annual clubs and college’s tournament. In the local area there are three clubs;
Harpenden Ladies Lacrosse Club,
Manager; Zoë Tabraham,
Playing Ground; St. George’s school, Harpenden.
Harpenden are one of the best clubs in Britain, in 2004 Harpenden won the clubs and college’s tournament.
Hitchin Lacrosse Club
Manager; Mr. A Burnett,
Playing ground; Blueharts Hockey Club, Hitchin.
Hitchin lacrosse club have a mixed team and a men’s team.
Hitchin Hacker’s Lacrosse Club,
Manager; Mrs. Halliwell,
Playing Ground; Blueharts Hockey Club, Hitchin.
This club was set up as a sister club to Hitchin and consists of only a women’s team.
County
To play for county you must be selected at the annual county tournament. Games for county include;
- Kent
- Inter-county tournament against Surrey and Essex.
- U15’s have a Westirnbirt tournament against all counties in England.
- U18A’s participate in clubs and college’s tournament.
Territorial
The country is divided into 5 sections;
- North,
- South,
- West,
- Midlands and
- East (our local area.)
You’re selected for territorial teams at your first county match. There is a tournament in which all territory sides play one another. From here you can be selected to play for an England squad.
National
The only way to get into the England squad now is through Centex. The English women’s side are one of the best teams in the world.
Senior
-
3rd in world, 1st in U.K.
Junior
-
4th in world, 1st in U.K.
Male Lacrosse
Club
Men’s lacrosse is a very fast growing sport. The sport is mainly club and university based. Clubs are trying to encourage younger players, by setting up junior teams.
Territorial
Men’s lacrosse is split into 4 areas;
- Cheshire,
- Lancashire,
- Yorkshire and
- South.
Each year these teams compete against Scotland, Wales and university teams at the British National Championships for the Nick Kehoe Trophy.
National
At the territorial tournaments is where male players are selected to trial for the national team.
-
At the moment England’s senior team is ranked 1st in Europe.
Professional
There isn’t a league in England which allows full time occupation in lacrosse. Even the England squad members have other jobs on top of playing nationally.
Mixed Lacrosse
This is the most popular sport at university level. It’s organised by the Mixed Lacrosse League. (MLL) it is now part of the ELA organisation.
Additional Agencies
ELA is the only body for English Lacrosse. There are no other additional agencies or bodies that is why sponsors are so gratefully received.
Disabled Participants
Disabled participants play a game called Floor Lacrosse this is a safer alternative to the traditional game. The sticks have cages attached to them to entrap the ball for manoeuvring on the court.
There is a free camp for children with disabilities to play lacrosse. The Ability Sports Association is a charity that sets up these camps. It depends on donations to continue to run. It recently received a grant from the Mall Foundation Charity Fund. Pop Lacrosse is also played in swimming pools for the disabled.
Lacrosse for the disabled isn’t carried on to an elite standard.
Evaluation
Lacrosse has an excellent development plan from schools through to national standard. This is done by starting participation of the sport early with Pop Lacrosse and Lax.
I think the fact that the game hasn’t changed that much from the original Native American game is good as it gives the game cultural history. Lacrosse has quite a high media coverage – (this may be due to England’s success in lacrosse as the country play to a very high standard.)
The sport has an excellent equity to it with the idea that anyone can play without any social exclusions.
However, I don’t think the sport caters well enough for disabled participants. Also through no fault of the ELA, lacrosse shouldn’t have to primarily depend on sponsors for funding.
Appendix 1
The system is for all ability players from beginners to top players. There are four levels which create a progressive approach and they’re easily integrated into the curriculum to learn skills and techniques for a game.
- Bronze- Basic skills, - passing catching and game play.
- Silver-Develops basic skills in playing situations, looks at individuals’ technique.
- Gold- Tests basic skills in pressured situations and in games, introduces more advanced skills, e.g. dodging, marking and shooting.
- Platinum- Each individual demonstrates mastery of basic and advanced techniques in game situations and show awareness of game tactics.
The recognition you receive for the Star Award Scheme is a certificate and an embroidered badge.
Bibliography
- Lacrosse A whole Sport Plan Magazine
- English Lacrosse Association Media Information Magazine
- 2005 Essential School Leavers Guide to University Lacrosse.