BALTIMORE – Based upon recommendations made by the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Review Committee, the US Lacrosse Board of Directors has modified the annual nomination and selection process for hall of fame induction to insure the selection of the absolute "best of the best," within the context of an individual’s era of participation. The review process remains consistent with the way 13 other sports Halls of Fame select their inductees, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the National Hockey Hall of Fame.
The updated process will be fully implemented starting with the selection of the 2009 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame class. Nomination forms that are currently on file at the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame will be reviewed with the new criteria.
"The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Review Committee undertook a comprehensive review of the existing selection process in relation to the processes used by other sports Halls of Fame," said Craig Brown, Review Committee chair. "The Review Committee’s recommendations were intended to insure that the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame nomination and selection process keeps pace with the evolution of the sport of lacrosse and results in the selection of the absolute best of the best for induction into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame."
A summary of changes in the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame nomination and selection process:
• Minimum eligibility criteria have been instituted to better establish a clear line of eligibility for inclusion on the ballot.
• Minimum accomplishment criteria have been established to further determine qualifications.
• Categories for election have been modified to include: players, coaches and contributors.
• The ballot and selection committee structure has been altered to incorporate a two committee ballot and voting structure.
• The Hall of Fame will also recognize outstanding teams and individuals, including the establishment of a new lifetime achievement award.
• Recognized as a critical characteristic of eligibility, all final ballot candidates must possess character beyond reproach with the possibility of submitting to a criminal background check.
"The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame nomination process has gone relatively unchanged since the selection of its inaugural class in 1957," said Josh Christian, managing director of programs and services at US Lacrosse. "Those that have been involved in the process for the last 50 years should be commended and it is now our goal is to continue to successfully bestow the game’s highest honor. The new nomination and selection procedures build upon the strengths of the current process and offer the appropriate modifications to allow for the growth of the game as we move forward."
The National Lacrosse Hall of Fame has annually inducted individuals based on outstanding lacrosse achievement and/or contribution since 1957. The mission of the Lacrosse Hall of Fame is to honor men and women, past and present, who by their deeds as players, coaches, officials and/or contributors, and by the example of their lives, personify the great contribution of the sport of lacrosse to our way of life. For full details on the new nomination and selection process, please visit http://www.uslacrosse.org/museum/halloffame.phtml.
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse has more than 250,000 members around the country. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org.
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