History

US Lacrosse represents the United States as a member of the International Lacrosse Federation and the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations, the international governing bodies of men's and women's lacrosse, respectively.

International competition has been a tradition in men’s lacrosse since 1860, when the Montreal (Canada) Lacrosse Club competed against a team of Caughnawaga and St. Regis Native Americans before the nineteen-year-old Prince of Wales, who went on to become King Edward VII. The first women’s lacrosse game was played in 1890 at the St. Leonard’s School in Scotland.

Men’s lacrosse was an Olympic exhibition sport at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, the 1908 Games in London, the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, the 1932 Games in Los Angeles, and the 1948 Games in London. In 1984, an international exhibition series was held in conjunction with the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. An effort to include lacrosse exhibition at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, was unsuccessful.

World Championships

The Men’s World Lacrosse Championship, initiated by the International Lacrosse Federation in Toronto, Canada, in 1967 is now held every four years. Melbourne, Australia, was the sight of the 1974 Series, followed by Stockport, England, in 1978, Baltimore, Md., in 1982, Toronto in 1986, Perth, Australia, in 1990, Manchester, England, in 1994 and Baltimore in 1998. The 2002 ILF World Championship was held in Perth, Australia, and won by the U.S. over Canada. The 2006 ILF World Championships will be held in Ontario, Canada. A quadrennial Under-19 Men’s World Championship was initiated in 1988 in Adelaide, Australia, and since has been held in Long Island, N.Y., in 1992, in Tokyo in 1996, in Adelaide, Australia, in 1999 and in Towson, Md. (USA) in 2003.

The International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Association, established in 1972, governs international women’s competition. The IFWLA World Cup was first held in Nottingham, England, in 1982. It was then held in Swarthmore, Pa., in 1986, Perth, Australia, in 1989, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1993, and Tokyo, Japan, in 1997. The 2001 IFWLA World Cup was held in High Wycombe, England. The 2005 IFWLA World Cup was held in Annapolis, Md. (USA). An Under-19 Girls World Championship was first held in Haverford, Pa., in 1995, then held in Perth, Australia in 1999 and in Towson, Md. (USA) in 2003.

In addition to international championship play, many men's and women's teams throughout the world conduct international tours each year. Teams traveling abroad range from youth programs to adult club teams.

The International Lacrosse Development Committee, a joint committee of the ILF and IFWLA, coordinates assistance for developing lacrosse nations throughout the world. US Lacrosse Executive Director Steve Stenersen has chaired this committee since 1993.

Australia - Australian Lacrosse Counsel (http://www.alc.lax.org.au)

• The latest statistics available indicate that over 30,000 men and women of all ages actively participate in lacrosse.
• Substantial spectator support indicates growth of lacrosse interest.
• Lacrosse is played under a club format as field, box or soft lacrosse. Youth programs exist for players between the ages of 8 - 14.
• All programs receive substantial government funding.
• Australia competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Australia will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

Canada - Canadian Lacrosse Association (http://www.lacrosse.ca)

• Lacrosse is the official summer sport of Canada.
• 81 percent of the lacrosse competition consists primarily of box lacrosse, but field lacrosse and inter-crosse are played as well.
• The latest statistics indicate that over 200,000 men and women of all ages participate in lacrosse.
• Substantial spectator support indicates growth of interest.
• Lacrosse is played under a club format. In some cases the game is associated with colleges, universities and secondary schools.
• The Canadian Lacrosse association receives some government funding as do several provincial associations.
• Canada was the runner-up in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Canada will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

Czech Republic - Czech Lacrosse Association (http://www.lacrosse.cz)

• The game of Inter-Crosse, a non-contact introductory version of lacrosse, has been introduced.
• More than 3,000 players compete in field, box, Inter Crosse and "Czech Lacrosse" leagues in and around Prague.
• The Czech Republic competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• The Czech Republic will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

England - English Lacrosse Union (http://www.englishlacrosse.co.uk)

• The latest statistics available indicate that approximately 25,000 men and women of all ages actively participate.
• Substantial spectator support indicates growth of interest.
• Lacrosse is played under a club format. In some cases the game is associated with colleges, universities and secondary schools.
• All programs receive substantial government funding.
• England competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• England will host the 2001 Women's World Cup in High Wycombe, England.

Germany (http://www.dlaxv.de)

• The game of Inter-Crosse, a non-contact introductory version of lacrosse, and field lacrosse are played.
• The latest statistics show that over 200 men and women of all ages actively participate in lacrosse.
• The German Lacrosse Association has registered the Berlin Lacrosse Club as a non- profit organization.
• Germany competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Germany will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

Iroquois Nationals (http://www.iroquoisnationals.com)

• Represent the Six Nations (Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk and Tuscarora) of the Iroquois in the United States and Canada.
• Lacrosse serves as a social, cultural and spiritual fabric to the 40,000 Iroquois who live in sixteen communities throughout New York, Ontario and Quebec.
• Lacrosse has been a cultural bridge for the Iroquois, allowing an ancient tradition to bring the Iroquois modern recognition.
• The Iroquois Nationals competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.

Japan - Japanese Lacrosse Association (http://www.lacrosse.gr.jp)

• The latest statistics available indicate that approximately 13,000 college and high school students, both men and women, actively participate in lacrosse; 98% of which play field lacrosse.
• The game is almost exclusively associated with college clubs except for several high school and company teams.
• The JLA is an independent organization, receiving no government funding.
• The JLA has recorded over 12,000 spectators at championship games.
• Japan competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Japan will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

Korea - (http://www.lacrosse.or.kr)
(Myung-Jin Kim, Executive Director, Korean Lacrosse Association: mjkim405@hotmail.com)

• Approved for ILF membership at ILF meetings in the summer of 2000.

Scotland - Scottish Lacrosse Association (http://www.scottish-lacrosse.org.uk)

• Statistics show that there are over 13,000 lacrosse participants, most of which are under the age 14.
• Men's and women's field lacrosse has been introduced.
• Scotland competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Scotland will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

Sweden - Swedish Lacrosse Association (Hans Johnson: rolle1@bigfoot.com)

• The game of Inter-Crosse, a non-contact introductory version, is being played.
• Sweden competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.

United States -US Lacrosse (www.uslacrosse.org)

• Latest estimates suggest that there are approximately 300,000 active men’s and women’s players, at all levels, throughout the country.
• Organized play, at youth, high school, college, club and masters levels, exists in virtually every region of the country
• US Lacrosse, the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse, has a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the sport in the United States.

Wales - Welsh Lacrosse Council (Derek Kelly: derek.kelly@bt.com)

• Women's lacrosse has been played for a number of years.
• Men's lacrosse has recently been introduced.
• Wales competed in the 1998 Men's World Championship held in Baltimore, Maryland.
• Wales will compete in the 2001 Women's World Cup in England.

Developing Lacrosse Nations
Argentina
Austria
Belgium (Bart Van de Kerckhoven: kerckhob@realsoftware.be)
China
Denmark (Kristian Gotsch: kristiangotsch@yahoo.com)
Finland (Antti Salomaa, antti.salomaa@poyry.fi)
France
Holland
Hong Kong (Albert Lai, Hong Kong Lacrosse Association: hylai@graduate.hku.hk)
Hungary
Ireland
Italy (Robert Corna: corndogproductions@yahoo.com)
Lithuania
New Zealand (Mark Freemon, Lacrosse New Zealand: freemon.nzla@xtra.co.nz)
Pakistan (Mukarram Ali, Lacrosse Federation of Pakistan: alimukarram@hotmail.com)
Poland
Portugal
Singapore - Singapore Lacrosse Association
South Africa (Andre M. Gachter: gachteram@corning.com)
Spain (Karl Seitz: madridlacrosse@yahoo.es or karldseitz@yahoo.es)
Switzerland 

(this page last updated in May, 2001)