Coronavirus Update - 19.03.21

England Lacrosse are continuing to work with Government agencies as we prepare our return to play guidance for the next phase of the Government’s roadmap, lifting covid restrictions on 29 March. 

As stated in the roadmap, it is expected that organised outdoor sport will be permitted with certain restrictions in place for lacrosse to return on this date.

Further information with regard to this phase is expected to be announced on Monday 22 March by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). 

In order to keep the lacrosse community updated and informed, England Lacrosse has outlined the following communication plan for the much anticipated return to lacrosse:

• Week commencing 22 March - England Lacrosse return to play guidance released

• Monday 22/Wednesday 24 March (Time TBC) - Webinar for Regional Association Chairs

• Thursday 25 March (6pm) - Webinar for club/team COVID Officers

If you are a COVID Officer and want to attend the webinar on 25 March, please sign up below.

Coronavirus Update - 4 March

England Lacrosse were delighted to see the Government’s announcements last week outlining a roadmap out of national lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions and the long-awaited, and much needed, return of grassroots sport starting Monday 29 March.

It is great news that the country will once again be permitted to pick up a lacrosse stick and step out onto the field but there are still many unknowns and uncertainties surrounding the Return to Play (RTP). As well as waiting for further guidance from the Government surrounding grassroots sport, we are also awaiting further updates around what people will be able to do with regards to travel, sporting facilities and additional rules for the playing of sport. 

The detailed government guidelines will affect the level to which the game can return and as soon as we have these updates from Government and Sport England, we will publish our guidance for lacrosse to return to playing.

Since the Government announcement last week meetings with the Chairs of the Regional Lacrosse Associations have taken place to discuss the RTP of lacrosse and to keep them updated with what we know so far and ensure that lacrosse can start as quickly and as safely as possible.

School sport will restart from Monday 8 March which will include lacrosse being played for the first time in 2021 but this will exclude travelling to play external fixtures.

The rest of the game will be targeting a restart from Monday 29 March. However, we are still unsure of what level of return this will be and what restrictions may be in place. We are awaiting an update of Sport England’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) as well as a detailed RTP outline which we expect to receive any time up to the 26th of March. 

England Lacrosse staff are attending an update session on the guidelines for RTP on Monday (8 March) and this will assist in understanding what the key issues are and what restrictions may be used to address them. 

Our England Lacrosse Medical Panel will meet during the week of 22 March to discuss any and all RTP guidelines prior to their release to the wider game to ensure they allow participants to play lacrosse safely.

Once this meeting has been held, we will then release the approved detailed guidance enabling lacrosse to return from the 29th of March.

Upon publishing the guidance, England Lacrosse will then hold a series of webinars to various parties within the game to keep them informed and answer your questions. We expect these webinars to be held in the week beginning 22 March.

Finally, we will draw up our own RTP roadmap detailing dates in March, April, May, and June in preparation for the easing of restrictions.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began almost a year ago, the lacrosse community has been amazing, respecting all guidance as and when it has come into force, and we thank you for that and this loose roadmap to RTP will undoubtedly bring some hope as well as a light at the end of a very long tunnel.

COVID-19 Guidance Update - 22 February

England Lacrosse welcome today’s Government announcements, outlining a roadmap out of national lockdown and COVID-19 restrictions and the long-awaited, and much needed, return of sport.

We are currently looking at all the new information, as well as liaising with Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), and we hope to clarify our guidance soon.

Since the coronavirus pandemic began almost a year ago, the lacrosse community has been amazing, respecting all guidance as and when it has come into force, and we thank you for that and today’s announcements will undoubtedly bring some hope as well as a light at the end of a very long tunnel.

England Lacrosse thanks those who attended COVID-19 guidance update webinars

England Lacrosse would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to attend either, or in some cases both, of England Lacrosse’s COVID-19 webinars on the evening of Thursday 3 December.

We enjoyed the opportunity to discuss with you the present situation and answer your questions.

For anyone who was unable to join either webinar, a recording was made of each one.

Government guidelines have placed a fresh emphasis on the following areas: social interaction, sanctions for non-compliance, and spectators.

Please read our Return to Play Help Page for more information on these areas. 

As is set out in the Government guidance, we would like to highlight the following statements:

• Social interaction can only take place in line with legal gathering limits and other relevant restrictions when not playing. Observing the rules during play but then disregarding them after (e.g., by socialising in breach of the wider restrictions) is unlawful, irresponsible and jeopardises both public health and the case for safe sport to continue.   

• You are advised not to travel into or out of tier 3 areas, including for sport, unless this is necessary to enable individual exercise (or exercise for people from the same household or support bubble). Where this is necessary (for example to access a green space for a run or cycle), you should only travel a short distance and stay as local as possible. Travel is also permitted where it is necessary to enable sport for disabled people, sport for educational purposes, or supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, to take place, but should still be minimised and kept to short distances only. 

•  In tier 2 areas: you should aim to reduce the number of journeys you make, where possible. 

• Sporting activities are permitted despite wider restrictions because of the benefits of sport and physical activity for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. If people act irresponsibly when participating in sport (including off the pitch, and when socialising before and after activity) they jeopardise public health and undermine the case for safe sport to take place. 

• National governing bodies should ensure that clubs/leagues/providers are running their activities safely, and should take action to address any issues, including putting in place additional measures or suspending players/teams/leagues/clubs which do not adhere to guidance. If there are serious or consistent concerns with a particular sport which the NGB cannot or does not address, the NGB’s approval may be revoked so that the sport cannot take place. 

We all have a responsibility to ensure Phase 4 Return to Play guidelines are adhered to, in addition to the points highlighted above.

We have created a COVID-19 Guideline Breach document to assist the game.

England Lacrosse Girls National Academy Back with a Bang!

Last weekend marked the first Girls’ National Academy sessions since the country was put into lockdown due to coronavirus at the end of March.

Despite some players missing out due to the Government’s 14-day quarantine rules after returning from overseas, 58 girls were still able to enjoy a two-day COVID-secure session at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus.

With the usual residential side of the sessions being cancelled to reduce the risk of spreading the virus, many of the girls travelled from all over the country each day as they were so keen to get back on the lacrosse field!

Players were asked not to travel to the Academy sessions if they were feeling unwell and, upon arrival, they had their temperatures checked while their family members remained in their cars.

They were then placed into three discrete groups operating in their own ‘bubble’ and with their own coaches.

Further, clear protocols had been set up to help reduce the risk of transmitting the virus with numerous hand sanitising stations, regular breaks to sanitise equipment, and a strict no sharing of equipment policy.

After months being forced to improve their ‘wall ball’ skills in their own back gardens, the girls came to the sessions with enthusiasm and determination and were keen to impress after such a long time away.

One parent, whose daughter was taking part in the National Academy session, remarked how brilliant it was to see her daughter playing lacrosse again.

“My daughter returned home exhausted but full of enthusiasm - it was nice to see that again.

“During the past five months, she has been working for our care home business and we are super proud of her, but is was tough on a 16 year old, so it was great to see her fired up and enthusiastic again”! 

England Lacrosse National Performance & Talent Development Manager, Jane Powell, hailed the first Academy session after lockdown a huge success.

“It was great to see the Talent Pathway restarting and the level of skill and ability that we have in the girls ‘ game has continued to develop in lockdown thanks to individual motivation but also a physical programme that was sent out and had obviously been followed by the majority of the girls”.

A number of the girls are now moving on to University and England U23 Team Assessments and we wish them well as they enter the next stage in their lives and continue to play lacrosse.

England Lacrosse COVID-Secure Summer Camps a Success!

The England Lacrosse girls’ summer camp programme for 2020 finished last week, with over 450 girls attending some 22 day camps across four weeks throughout July and August.

In mid June, we announced that we’d been working since the prevalence of the coronavirus outbreak to plan a summer camp programme which could be delivered with the Government COVID-19 restrictions. 

We decided that, with social distancing restrictions in place and in order to maintain a fun and engaging curriculum, camps would run on a 2-day programme schedule with no form of residential camp.

We gained approval to follow the Department for Education’s (DfE) guidelines that detail protective measures for out-of-school holiday camps and ensured all protocols were in place to keep our girls and coaches as safe as possible.

Upon arrival, girls were directed to our dedicated summer camps team who checked and noted everyone’s temperature.

As per the Government guidelines, the camps operated a ‘pod’ system with campers being allocated a ‘pod’ based on age, ability and friendship requests.

Campers remained in these ‘pods’ in their allocated pitch space for the two days and were overseen by their own pod-specific coach.

Time spent doing activities inside was kept to a minimum to further reduce the risk of possibly transmitting the virus.

One camp host, Charterhouse School, said they were delighted with the way the summer camps went ahead this year.

“Despite the inevitable concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, we were very impressed with the comprehensive measures put in place and the professionalism displayed by the team on the ground delivering the course.  

“There were plenty of coaches on hand to welcome the players and explain to them exactly what was expected of them from a social distancing and hygiene perspective, and as ever, the overall organisation was smooth and professional”.

England Lacrosse are extremely pleased that so many girls were able to get back onto the lacrosse field after such a long time away and delighted the guidelines in place were adhered to and kept everyone safe while at the camps!

Lacrosse Clubs around the Country Enter Phase 4 in Return to Play!

On Saturday 1 August, lacrosse entered Phase 4 in its Return to Play Roadmap after proposals were approved by the Department for Culture, Media, & Sport (DCMS), meaning we can now play using modified rules for training and competitive play!

It is important to note that this is not a return to normal lacrosse activity, and there are a number of necessary modifications in place to mitigate the transmission risk of COVID-19; these modifications can be found HERE.

Official stuff aside, let’s take a look at what some teams have been getting up to over the past couple of weeks since the Phase 4 rules came into force!

SPENCER

Both the women’s and men’s teams at Spencer Lacrosse Club have started training again after over five months away!

ENGLAND SENIOR WOMEN

With just over 300 days to go until next year’s World Lacrosse Championship, the Phase 4 of Return to Play could not have come any sooner for our England senior women’s team. They enjoyed a huge training session at Surrey Sports Park as they formally began preparations to defend their bronze medal from 2017!

CAMDEN CAPYBARAS

Camden have had a couple of training sessions since we moved into Phase 4 of our Return to Play and they certainly know how to follow those Government and England Lacrosse guidelines: Face masks, temperature checks, and social distancing when not playing!

BRISTOL BOMBERS

Bristol Bombers had their first training session after lockdown over the weekend and it’s brilliant to see so many people enjoying a bit of lacrosse in the sun!

BATH

Suspiciously, we haven’t seen any pictures of Bath actually playing lacrosse since the new rules came into force. But we do have this lovely picture of some of the team enjoying a quiet pint in a local pub. After all, meeting up with our lacrosse mates is what we’ve all missed the most during lockdown (exquisite social distancing by the way!).

HARPENDEN

The players at Harpenden have been back playing lacrosse in one way, shape, or form for about four weeks now but, boy, were they excited to move into Phase 4 and actually start playing some games and training in slightly closer proximity to one another!

GUILDFORD GATORS

Well, the weather looks lovely in Guildford, doesn't it? Perfect for playing a bit of lacrosse! And the players at Guildford Gators couldn’t wait to get back on the pitch and playing with their friends again.

NUNEATON

Turns out it’s not just the south that gets nice weather! It looked pretty spectacular in the Midlands last night too as Nuneaton stepped back onto the hallowed turf once again for their first training session since we moved into Phase 4 of our Return to Play.

These are just some examples of what you’ve all been doing since the change of guidelines and we’re absolutely delighted that so many people have been able to get back out and play some lacrosse over the past couple of weeks, even if we’re not quite back to normal just yet!

The full supporting documents for Phase 4 can be found on the coronavirus section of the website. 

2020 Baths Eights Tournament Cancelled due to COVID-19

Last week, the Bath Lacrosse Club committee made the difficult decision to cancel the annual Bath Eights tournament due to take place on 5 September 2020.

The tournament would have been the 35th edition of the men’s and the 4th edition of the women’s tournament with the titles currently held by Hillcroft Lacrosse Club and Bath University Lacrosse Club respectively.

A statement released on Friday went on to say:

“Despite a lot of work by the organising committee, the event has proved, under the current COVID limitations, impossible to host this year.

“Although the latest Government announcements for return to play are positive, the management of some 400 players plus spectators, and a lack of site and support organisation commitment has provided the club with no option but to cancel.

“All the 2020 bookings will be refunded in full and the tournament will be rebooked for Saturday September 4th 2021.

“Bath Lacrosse club look forward to seeing everybody at the traditional launch to the Lacrosse season in 2021”.

The competition is seen as the traditional season opener by many and has been running a men’s version every year since 1986 while a women’s version was added in 2017.

In a letter sent to clubs involved in the competition, Bath Lacrosse Club committee chair, Paul Bown, remarked:

“Sadly in the absence of approved playing conditions for lacrosse at this time and given the practicalities of organising an event for over 300 people requiring social distancing and at a venue that has yet to confirm it's reopening plan we've taken the decision that we cannot provide you with a safe and enjoyable day this year”.

Read the full letter by clicking the button below:

For more information regarding the cancellation, please contact Nik Roberts at [email protected].

The Best England Lacrosse Away Destinations: Canada

We’ve been to Israel. We’ve been to the USA. And all from the comfort of our sofas at home!

But we couldn’t make a list of the best England Lacrosse away destinations and not include Canada, could we?

Canada has a long history of being very very VERY good at lacrosse: five men’s World Indoor Lacrosse Championship titles, three men’s World Lacrosse Championship titles, and two women’s World Lacrosse Championship silver medals.

And that’s even before the one title and seven silver medals at U19 level!

The men’s World Lacrosse Championship has been held in Canada three times (1967, 1986, 2000), the women’s World Lacrosse Championship has been held there once (2013), and the men’s World Indoor Lacrosse Championship has been held there three times (2003, 2007, 2019).

On this latest virtual trip, we’ll be reminiscing about three memorable trips to Canada: the 1967 (and first!) men’s World Lacrosse Championship, the 2007 men’s World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, and the 2013 women’s World Lacrosse Championship.

You know the score by now; buckle up, enjoy the ride, and pretend you’re travelling oversees with us to watch/play some summer lacrosse!

1967 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship

The first ever men’s World Lacrosse Championship in 1967 was a four-team invitational tournament that coincided with Canada’s centennial lacrosse celebration.

However, the lacrosse community would have to wait seven more years until the next invitational tournament in 1974 and it was at this time that World Lacrosse (formally the International Lacrosse Federation or ILF) was formed and the idea of a formal 4-yearly tournament was born.

Despite this, the 1967 edition will always be remembered as the first men’s World Lacrosse Championship.

The tournament saw England, Canada, USA, and Australia battle it out to be top dog in a round robin mini-league event in Toronto, Ontario.

The USA were represented by their national champions, the Mount Washington Lacrosse Club from Baltimore, while the Canada team was made up of indoor (or box) lacrosse players from the Peterborough Petes and Green Gaels.

As seems to be the case with many of England’s early encounters with these three lacrosse-playing heavyweights, they struggled to impress themselves upon the tournament, losing all their games.

A narrow 9-11 defeat to Australia in their first game gave the England team some hope but a 15-3 defeat to the USA was followed by 11-8 loss to Canada in their final game, meaning they finished bottom of the league in fourth place.

The USA, on the other hand, won all their games meaning they returned home as champions of the world with Australia finishing second and Canada third.

Despite this less than pleasing result, it was still a huge honour for England to take part in the first ever men’s World Lacrosse Championship and we finished second seven years later so it’s not all bad, is it?

2007 Men’s World Indoor Lacrosse Championship

Now, this is exciting.

Indoor lacrosse, otherwise known as box lacrosse, hasn’t featured in our previous Best England Lacrosse Away Destinations articles yet.

But it’s here now and we can’t wait to tell you all about this growing version of lacrosse and the 2007 men’s World Indoor Lacrosse Championship!

This second edition of the competition took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada and saw England make their first ever appearance at the World Championship, after missing the inaugural tournament in 2003.

An estimated 850,000 people tuned in to watch the spectacle in Canada alone but the worldwide number was much higher as the games were also streamed live across Europe.

England were drawn in group B alongside the Iroquois Nationals, Scotland, and the Czech Republic missing out on the veritable ‘group of death’ that was group A containing the USA, Australia, Canada, and fellow tournament newcomers, Ireland.

Poor Ireland.

The task for England was simple: finish top of the group and they would have an automatic place in the semi-finals, finish second or third and a place in the quarter-finals awaited, but finish fourth and they’d have to be content with a battle for seventh place.

Surely one of the top three spots was within England’s grasp?

Their first game, the toughest game, was against the Iroquois Nationals and they were suitably beaten 27-8.

Big wake up call.

England knew they had to hit the ground running on day two and they didn’t disappoint, defeating close neighbours Scotland 15-7.

Day three saw England play their final pool stage game against Czech Republic, who’d finished sixth (out of six) at the 2003 Championship.

It was going to be a tough match; Czech Republic have never been a push over and have a very accomplished indoor lacrosse team (one that would finish fourth at the 2011 competition).

But England were confident and managed to overcome their opponents by a narrow two goal margin, eventually seeing the game out 9-7.

This meant England finished second in the pool and qualified for the quarter finals where they would meet *pause for dramatic effect* Australia!

Australia had finished fifth at the previous World Championship and managed to scrape through the pool at this tournament winning just one game in the process.

A tense game with Australia ended 15-11 to England and saw them progress to the semi-finals where they would eventually succumb to the host nation, Canada, losing 24-9.

The stuffing had been well and truly knocked out of England after their semi-final defeat and they went on to lose the bronze medal match versus the USA 17-10, meaning they finished fourth in the tournament.

A definite disappointment but certainly not a bad showing for a team making their first appearance at a World Championship!

Watch highlights of the 2007 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship Quarter-Final between England and Australia above!

2013 Women’s World Lacrosse Championship

Our third and final memorable experience in Canada came in 2013 when it was the England women’s team who took centre-stage.

Held in Oshawa, Ontario, this edition of the Championship saw 11 nations take part for the first time with new entries including Finland, Hong Kong, Israel, and Latvia.

As usual, England were drawn in the top pool (pool A) along with the USA, Australia, Canada, and Wales.

A tough 17-7 defeat against the USA in their first game was quickly followed by a rousing 9-4 win over close rivals, Wales, that gave England the belief they could make it to the knockout stages.

Two 11-6 defeats then followed, first against Canada and then against Australia but the win over Wales was enough to see them through to the quarter-finals.

And it was Wales who England would meet again after they overcame Austria 21-0 in their quarter-final qualifier.

England went into the game with confidence but knew the danger that could come if complacency did set in.

No need to worry, however, as they dealt with Wales with the utmost professionalism defeating them by 10 goals to nil.

So far, so good.

But, if you are going to go the distance in a World Championship, you have to compete against and ultimately beat at least two of the top guns, i.e. the USA, Canada, and/or Australia.

The semi-final saw England pitted against one of those aforementioned top guns: the USA.

It was tough. England worked hard. But unfortunately, the USA were the better side, making it to the final, winning 21-8.

This left England battling for third place against a team they’d already played (and lost to) in Australia.

The game played out in similar fashion to the early pool stage meeting between the two sides and Australia came away as victors, taking home the bronze medal with a 12-6 win.

A tough pill to swallow at the time but it meant England returned home as the fourth best team in the world. Not a bad few days’ work!

Clubs Around the Country (Tentatively) Restart Lacrosse

Since the Government and England Lacrosse made the announcement that we could restart small training sessions in groups of six (including a coach), many clubs/teams around the country have taken advantage of the slightly eased lockdown restrictions.

We take a look at what a few of them have been up to over the past couple of weeks!

*Always follow the latest England Lacrosse and Government guidelines and fill out an Intent to Train Form if you want to restart lacrosse sessions again*

Purley Lacrosse

Purley Lacrosse Club tentatively restarted their sessions last week with a bit of social distanced passing!

Nuneaton Lacrosse

Just like Purley, Nuneaton Lacrosse Club welcomed back their players for some social distanced training sessions last Monday!

England Women

Our very own England women’s team restarted their lacrosse practice in social distanced groups of six last month. It was the first time the group had met up in any form (other than on Zoom) since March and, with around 300 days until next year’s World Championship, it couldn't have come at a better time!

Bristol Bombers

Bristol Bombers Lacrosse Club have had two great social distanced sessions with their girls last week while their men’s side finally got some practice in too!

Cheltenham Lacrosse

Cheltenham Lacrosse Club were able to meet up in small groups as well last week and are focusing on specific attacking and defensive aspects of their play.

England's Senior Women's Squad Choose their Isolation Motivation Playlist

Last week, we launched our Isolation Motivation Playlist containing the songs that are keeping our England squads motivated during this period of lockdown.

As promised, we’ve added another five songs to the playlist and this week’s selection comes from the Senior England Women’s Squad.

As with the five songs chosen last week by the England Box Lacrosse Squad, each song added this week is from the Senior England Women’s Squad’s changing room playlist from last year’s European Lacrosse Championship.

I don’t think we need to remind you that England brought the trophy home, winning gold by beating Israel 10-7 in a closely-fought final.

We love this week’s chosen songs and, yes, that does include Whigfield’s Saturday Night (don’t lie and say you don’t love it too!), and we hope you enjoy the additions to our Isolation Motivation Playlist.

And, don’t forget, we’ll be updating this playlist with five new songs every week chosen by members of our women’s and men’s squads.

Enjoy!

Our Favourite Lacrosse Films (and TV) to Watch During Lockdown - Part 3

We’re back… And who’d have thought there’d be enough content to fill three whole lists of lacrosse films to watch during lockdown?

We’re gonna be honest with you here and say, very simply, there’s not!

So, we’ve branched into television to bring you one final hurrah into the world of lacrosse film (and TV).

Here we go with part three…

1. The Creator’s Game (1999)

When Daniel Cloud, played by Dakota House (who, ironically, was filming a movie called The Epidemic before lockdown!), leaves his father and sister to attend graduate school, he dreams, despite being a talented lacrosse player, of becoming an American Football coach.

Only football, he believes, will give him and his family the financial security to get them off the reservation and save the family store.

When Daniel arrives at North Central State University, he finds, to his dismay, that all the graduate football coaching positions have been filled; the only thing left open is the school's lacrosse team: the Spartans - and they haven't won a game in over a year.

The only way Daniel can win over the team and defeat the awesome, undefeated Kingston University Tridents is to show the Spartans how the game of lacrosse was given to his people by the Great Spirit.

A film that’s now 21 years old but is great for those who are wanting to brush up on their lacrosse history as well as watch a great underdog story.

The Creator’s Game is not currently available online in England but is available in America at DirectTV.com (we couldn't even find a trailer for this one!).

2. The Creator’s Game (2011)

This award-winning documentary follows the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team in their quest for the gold medal at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, representing their people as a sovereign nation.

After the Iroquois Field lacrosse team chose to forfeit the 2010 World Championship because the UK Government denied them access to the country due to their Haudenosaunee passports, this film follows the Box Lacrosse team on their quest for gold in Prague in 2011.

The film charts both the team’s fight for gold as well as a fight for the recognition of their sovereign nationhood.

A really interesting insight into what it means to be a part of the Iroquois Nationals squad, The Creator’s Game, is a must watch. We just wish it was available online during this time!

The Creator’s Game is not currently available online.

3. Invisible Sister (2015)

Invisible Sister is a Disney Channel Original Movie that tells the story of teenager Cleo, played by Rowan Blanchard, who lives in the shadow of her sister, Molly, played by Paris Berelc.

Molly’s popularity gets her recognised and noticed by everyone at school but Cleo is hardly noticed, despite her intelligence and academic, particularly scientific, prowess.

As Cleo works on an experiment at home, while Molly hosts a dinner for her lacrosse team, a moth flies by and distracts her, causing her to accidentally spill unknown chemicals into her solution.

The steam produced ends up turning the moth invisible, leading Cleo to chase it around the house, full of guests, before it gets away.

Later, while Molly is preparing for bed, the moth returns, attracted to the light from the bathroom. The moth falls into a cup of water containing an antacid Molly is about to drink, and she unknowingly consumes the moth which renders her invisible.

A silly tale of fun and frolics ensues as Cleo tries to find a cure for her sister’s invisibility before it becomes permanent.

Molly’s lacrosse skills and team are featured throughout the film and make it worthy of getting a spot on our list!

Invisible Sister is currently available on Disney+.

4. Teen Wolf (2011-17)

Ah, the 80s. 1985 to be specific. 23 August 1985 to be even more specific.

What a time to be alive: Into the Groove by Madonna is entering its fourth week at number one in the UK, the first UK heart-lung transplant has been performed on three-year-old, Jamie Gavin, and Teen Wolf, the American coming-of-age romantic fantasy comedy film, starring Michael J. Fox (of Back to the Future fame), is in the cinemas.

Unfortunately, the Teen Wolf we’re on about is not that Teen Wolf but instead the American supernatural (and sometimes quite dark) teen drama television series that aired for six seasons and a total of 100 episodes between 2011 and 2017.

The series revolves around social outcast, Scott McCall, played by Tyler Posey, a high school student living in the town of Beacon Hills.

Scott's life drastically changes when he is bitten by a werewolf the night before sophomore year, becoming one himself. He must henceforth learn to balance his problematic new identity with his day-to-day teenage life.

The original film focuses on Scott and his basketball team but in this version, updated for the 21st century, they chose lacrosse to be Scott’s sport of choice.

With plenty of lacrosse/werewolf action, Teen Wolf has enough to keep you entertained and, with 100 episodes, is sure to stave off the boredom until lockdown is over (surely!).

Teen Wolf is currently available on Netflix in the UK.

Honourable Mentions

Get Even (2020)

You may accuse us of clutching at straws or even scraping the bottom of the barrel with this one (you wouldn’t do that to us, would you?).

But BBC’s Get Even, which appeared on iPlayer last month, was filmed partly at Bolton School who, as many of you know, play lacrosse to a high standard and compete in the annual National Schools Lacrosse Championships.

That’s not the only lacrosse connection with this show: lacrosse ‘gear’ can be seen throughout the show in the background of shots (WOW) giving you the little lax fix you need at this time.

Get Even’s basic premise is that Kitty Wei, Bree Deringer, Margot Rivers and Olivia Hayes who study at the fictional Bannerman Independent School form DGM (Don't Get Mad) to expose the bullies at their school.

However, when one of their targets is murdered by an unknown attacker and holds a note saying "DGM" in his hand, the girls realise somebody is trying to frame them for his murder.

Based on the book of the same name by Gretchen McNeil, this 10 episode teen drama is exciting, chilling, and enthralling and will keep you on the end of your seat throughout (even if there isn’t quite as much lacrosse as we’d like!).

Get Even is currently available on BBC iPlayer.

Gossip Girl (2007-12)

We’re ready for more accusations of clutching at straws here but, before you press send on that angry email to England Lacrosse, Gossip Girl, which ran for six seasons between 2007 and 2012, does at least have slightly more lacrosse than Get Even!

One of the primary male characters, Nate Archibald, played by Chace Crawford, is a lacrosse player at the elite St Jude’s School for Boys, so expect at least a couple of mentions of lacrosse throughout its 121 episode run.

Narrated by the unknown, omniscient blogger "Gossip Girl", voiced by Kristen Bell (or Anna from Frozen between me and you), the series revolves around the lives of privileged upper-class adolescents living in Manhattan's Upper East Side.

The series begins with the return of Upper East Side teenage “it girl” Serena van Der Woodsen, played by Blake Liveley, from a mysterious absence…

No, there’s not that much lacrosse action in this one either but we’re hoping it’ll keep you happy and content over the coming weeks.

Gossip Girl is currently available on Netflix in the UK.

So, there you have it: part three over and done with; the final instalment of Our Favourite Lacrosse Films to Watch During Lockdown.

It’s been fun and we hope we went out on a high and with a bang.

If anything, it’s kept us at England Lacrosse busy over the past three weeks and if it keeps you busy and brings even one smidgen of joy to your lives during this time then we’re happy!

I guess, after all this fun, the question is: what do we do next?

England Lacrosse Launch Isolation Motivation Playlist

Today, we launched our isolation motivation playlist containing the songs that are keeping our England squads motivated during this period of lockdown.

We’ll be updating this playlist with five new songs every week chosen by members of our women’s and men’s squads.

The first set of songs comes from the England Box Lacrosse squad who have an eclectic taste in music to say the least!

These choices come directly from the squad’s changing room playlist used at the 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, where they finished fourth.

After playing brilliantly against eventual winners of the competition, Canada, in the semi-final, England came up against a very good USA side in the bronze medal game.

But, despite their best efforts, including scoring four goals without reply in the final quarter, England succumbed to their rivals from across the pond, 11-8.

This meant they finished the tournament in fourth place, the joint highest placing in England Box Lacrosse World Championship history!

With results and performances like those, we can’t argue that their song choices aren’t the perfects ones to motivate us through lockdown!

Our Favourite Lacrosse Films to Watch During Lockdown - Part 2

We’ve given you a week (yes, a whole week!) to watch the six films from Our Favourite Lacrosse Films to Watch During Lockdown - Part One, so we think it’s time to unveil six more for you to watch in the next week of potential boredom and eating yourself into oblivion!

Here we go with part two…

1. The Grizzlies (2018)

Premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, The Grizzlies is a film that depicts a youth lacrosse team that was set up to combat the issue of youth suicide in the community of Kugluktuk, Nunavut, in Canada.

The film has been spoken about so much on the England Lacrosse social media channels that we simply had to include it in a list of our favourite lacrosse films.

The Grizzlies, directed by Miranda de Pencier in her feature film directing debut, tells the inspiring true story of a group of Inuit students in the small Arctic town of Kugluktuk, that is plagued by widespread drug use, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and one of the highest teen suicide rates in the world.

When Russ Sheppard, a white rookie teacher, played by Ben Schnetzer of Pride fame, arrives from the South on a one-year teaching contract, the students are naturally sceptical.

But, when Russ introduces the class to lacrosse, everything changes as they gradually come together to embrace the sport, form Team Grizzlies, and find the inspiration to make shifts in their own lives.

The Grizzlies is currently available to watch online HERE.

2. Transition (2010)

Another film based on a true story, Transition tells the story of high school senior, Chris Jamison, who has recently recovered from cancer, as he attempts to win back his starting spot on the lacrosse team and piece his life back together.

Now, if The Grizzlies is the Michelin starred restaurant on our list then Transition is the local greasy spoon: cheap, cheerful, but delivers on what you want and we love it anyway!

With a budget of $10,000, this film cost nothing to make and you can tell, but the lacrosse set pieces are exciting and dramatic and the coming of age tale is the perfect way to waste a couple of hours!

Transition is not currently available to watch online.

3. The Medicine Game (2013)

The first documentary in this list, The Medicine Game focuses on two brothers from the Onondaga Nation, a sovereign Native American community in New York State, who have ambitions to play for the prestigious and prolific Syracuse University.

As with The Grizzlies, a mixture of substance abuse, poverty, and a real fear of leaving a close-knit community often prevents people from the Onondaga Nation from making it into the top universities.

However, the two brothers in The Medicine Game are determined to not be just another statistic and their love of lacrosse, as well as their family’s determination, propels them towards their dream.

The Medicine Game is currently available in four parts on YouTube here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.

4. Upside (2010)

Perhaps the strangest concept for a film we’ve heard in a while, Upside tells the story of top college lacrosse player, Solomon White, played by Randall Bentley, who has a severe concussion after an accident in a lacrosse match and begins to see everything (yes, you’ve guessed it) upside down!

With a cure for the condition looking increasingly unlikely, Randall joins a support group for visually impaired people and strikes up a relationship with lecturer, Wren Woods, played by Leah Sims.

Wren, alongside Solomon’s English Teacher, Mrs Buck, and writing mentor, Professor Parker, guides Solomon into becoming a man who can make decisions for himself and into considering accepting Christ in his life.

A heartwarming story of triumph over adversity with a bit of lacrosse mixed in for good measure, Upside is sure to keep your spirits up during lockdown!

Upside is not currently available to watch online although it was (and may still be) on American Netflix.

5. Keepers of the Game (2016)

Traditionally a game reserved for men, Keepers of the Game gives us an insight into what challenges a group of Native American girls face when forming a lacrosse team and attempting to become the first Native women’s team to win a Section Championship.

The girls attend Salmon River High in Fort Covington, New York State, just off the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory and want to prove to their community that lacrosse is a rightful part of their heritage and inheritance.

With more than just the championship on the line, the girls fight to blaze a new path for the next generation of Native women, while still honoring their people's tradition in a changing world.

In a list of films that seem to focus a lot on men’s lacrosse, Keepers of the Game is an important film that highlights just how difficult it is for Native American women to break through in their traditional game and what obstacles they have to overcome within their own communities to prove they have a right to play.

Keepers of the Game is currently available to buy on Apple iTunes and Google Play.

HONOURABLE MENTION - Mean Girls (2004)

Just like in Part 1, we thought we’d give you a bonus film to watch that contains some semblance of lacrosse but isn’t a ‘proper’ lacrosse film.

2004’s Mean Girls is about the teenager, Cady Heron, played by Lindsay Lohan (remember her?), who was educated in Africa by her scientist parents but moves to the suburbs of Illinois.

Cady finally gets to experience regular school and gets a quick primer on the cruel, tacit laws of popularity that divide her fellow students into tightly knit cliques.

She unwittingly finds herself in the good graces of an elite group of cool students dubbed "the Plastics," but Cady soon realizes how her shallow group of new friends earned this nickname.

A classic American teen comedy film that launched the careers of Rachel McAdams, Lizzy Kaplan, Jonathan Bennett, and Amanda Seyfried, Mean Girls has become a cult classic and it’s very last scene contains our favourite sport, lacrosse!

Mean Girls is currently available to watch online HERE.

And there you have it: another list of films to satiate your lacrosse appetite during the current crisis.

Will this series get a third instalment? And if it does, will the outcome be Toy Story 3 or The Godfather: Part III.

You’ll have to wait and see.

So until then, stay safe, stay at home, and happy laxxing!

Our Favourite Lacrosse Films to Watch During Lockdown - Part 1

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It’s week four of isolation/lockdown/quarantine/whatever you want to call it(!) and we’re slowly making our way through every single bit of film and television Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, All 4, ITV Hub, [insert streaming platform of your choice here] has to offer.

We thought we’d put together a little guide to lacrosse films we think you should take a look at over the next few weeks and, hey, if it stops you from flicking through all the films on Netflix before deciding there’s nothing you want to watch on there anyway then we think that’s a small victory, don’t you?

So, here we go with part one…

1. CROOKED ARROWS (2012)

This 2012 film features Superman Returns star, Brandon Routh, as mixed-blood Native American, Joe Logan, who wants to expand his casino onto the land of his ancestors. But first, he must prove himself to his father, the traditionalist Tribal Chairman.

Before he will grant him his request, his father, played by Twilight’s Gil Birmingham, asks him to coach a struggling high school lacrosse team, which competes against better equipped and better trained teams in the Prep School League.

Joe reluctantly accepts and has to delve into the traditional cultural heritage of the sport to gain the respect of his players and get them winning again.

A classic underdog story with added bits of the history of lacrosse, Crooked Arrows is everything you need during a lazy afternoon on the sofa.

Crooked Arrows is currently available to watch on YouTube HERE.

2. The Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation (2017)

This feature-length documentary also focuses on the history of lacrosse and its place in the Iroquis/Haudenosaunee culture.

It follows the Iroquois Nationals Men’s squad as it prepares to compete in the 2015 World Box Lacrosse Championships.

These championships were significant as they were the first to be played on a Native American reservation in Onondaga, New York State, the capital of the Iroquois Confederacy.

This is definitely a must-see for lacrosse lovers all around the world as it reminds us of the history of the sport as well as what it means to those who play the game in this part of the world.

The Spirit Game: Pride of a Nation is currently available to rent or buy from Amazon Video.

3. A Warrior’s Heart (2011)

A light-hearted romantic sports drama, A Warrior’s Heart is perfect for those lazy Sunday’s in front of the telly!

The film sees star lacrosse player Conor Sullivan, played by Kellan Lutz, move to a new town where he doesn’t know anybody until he meets Brooklyn, played by Twilight’s (is there a theme with these lacrosse films?) Ashley Greene.

After Conor’s father dies during combat in Iraq, he begins to lose all sense of himself and his life looks like it’s going off track when he gets kicked off the lacrosse team after a violent on-field incident.

To regain his obvious passion for the sport, he embarks on an arduous lacrosse training camp in the wilderness led by his dead father's old combat buddy, Sgt. Major Duke Wayne (Adam Beach), who opens Conor's eyes to the true meaning of maturity, sportsmanship and manhood.

A Warrior’s Heart is currently available to watch on YouTube HERE.

4. City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story (2010)

An insight into what a sport that has been historically played by those who are most affluent in society can do for those who are least affluent, City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story is a documentary that tells the story of a group of 12-year-olds from Denver’s inner city who have found a hint of salvation from their violent neighbourhood through the most unlikely of sports.

From the moment the kids discover what a lacrosse stick is, to the heart stopping finale at the State Championships, City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story takes us on an unforgettable journey.

With the wealthy, white sport of lacrosse as the backdrop, we watch as these kids confront the vicious inequalities that plague urban youth today.

Yet their undeniable spirit carries them, and their story, to places unexpected and unbelievable.

A really important film that proves that lacrosse is a global sport that can be, like football and rugby before them, played by everyone in society.

City Lax: An Urban Lacrosse Story isn’t currently available to watch online but it’s definitely a must see!

5. Shaolin Girl (2008)

A Japanese sports action comedy, Shaolin Girl, focuses on young Rin Sakurazawa, who, after having trained at the Shaolin Temple for 3000 days, returns to Japan to find her former dojo abandoned, and her former Shaolin master a cook at a local restaurant.

While struggling to restore her dojo to its former glory and spread a genuine Shaolin philosophy, Rin attends university where she becomes the star member of the lacrosse team.

Rin's exceptional physical abilities bring a string of victories to the team and her teammates, in turn, come to her aid by helping her re-establish the dojo.

Just as fortune seems to be beginning to smile upon her, however, a dark incident from a past Rin knew nothing about rears its ugly head and throws her into a showdown with tremendous evil.

This film is so dramatic that it borders on being silly but who doesn’t want to see flaming lacrosse balls flying through the air?

Shaolin Girl is currently available to watch on YouTube HERE.

Honourable Mention - Wild Child (2008)

This the most well-known film in our list but we didn’t feel we could include it as a ‘proper’ lacrosse film as it only has a few scenes that focus on the sport. Plus, you’ve probably seen it anyway!

In Wild Child, we see rebellious Malibu princess Poppy Moore, played by Emma Roberts, shipped off to the same English boarding school her now dead mother went to.

Unwilling to accept the strict regime, she decides to misbehave and take the blame for everyone until she's dismissed.

The school's only appealing feature for her is the head teacher’s dashing son Freddie, played by Alex Pettyfer. When the dream prince transfers his favor from ambitious, uptight Harriet to unruly Poppy, that changes everything.

A film which saw England Lacrosse’s very own Head of Organisational Development, Paul Coups, take charge of teaching the actors to play lacrosse, Wild Child is a funny, silly, and charming film that, as an added bonus, also contains some lacrosse!

Wild Child is currently available to watch on YouTube HERE.

And there you have it: part one of our look at lacrosse films you should watch to stop you from getting bored during this isolation period.

But don’t forget that watching films about lacrosse is still no replacement for doing some real-life lacrosse practice in you garden!

Happy laxxing!

2021 World Games Postponed and Rescheduled for July 2022

Earlier this month, the International World Games Association (IWGA) and Birmingham Organising Committee (BOC) announced the postponement and rescheduling of next year’s World Games until 2022, with new dates of 7-17 July. 

This 11th edition of the event will still take place in Birmingham, Alabama, in the USA and will see the Great Britain men’s and women’s lacrosse squads compete against other nations from around the world for the coveted gold medal.

The World Games is a multi-sport event staged every four years and welcomes over 3,500 athletes from 100 countries taking part in 30+ sports.

It was first staged in 1981 and is meant to highlight those sports that do not compete at the Olympic Games.

Many sports, such as badminton, beach volleyball, and triathlon have all been World Games events but have since been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games and so no longer compete.

Russia have finished top of the medal table most frequently with four victories while Italy and the USA have both completed this feat on two occasions.

Great Britain hosted the second World Games event in London in 1985 where they finished sixth in the overall medal table with Italy being the eventual winners.

Lacrosse made its World Games debut in 2017 where Great Britain women finished fourth behind winners USA, runners-up Canada, and bronze medal winners Australia.

In 2022, women’s lacrosse will again be on the bill while men’s lacrosse will be played as an invitational sport.

England Lacrosse National Performance & Talent Development Manager, Jane Powell, remarked:

“We absolutely support this decision to postpone and reschedule this summer’s World Games as the health and wellbeing of the participants and spectators is of the utmost importance at this time.

“With Great Britain lacrosse’s involvement in The World Games, this rescheduling will of course have further implications on the international lacrosse calendar, and we are now in discussions with World Lacrosse to assess any impact this may have. 

“We will be sure to keep everyone updated with any further developments as and when they are agreed”.

The rescheduling of The World Games means that the event will now take place at the same time as the 2022 Commonwealth Games, also due to be held in Birmingham, United Kingdom, as well as the 2022 Men’s World Lacrosse Championship.

It remains to be seen what impact this clash of events will have on competing nations but 2022 is sure to be an exciting year for sport and for lacrosse in particular!

Mental Health and COVID-19 – Simple Tips to Stay Mentally Healthy

It’s a strange and difficult time and many of you may be worried about how coronavirus will affect many aspects of your life but here are some simple tips that could help you through it. 

England Lacrosse Club Co-ordinator, Kasey Allen, has put together her guide on how to look after your mental health during this time and her ways to get used to a new lifestyle.

• Find the right space to work – as nice as the sofa seems with a packet of biscuits, make sure you have a clean space to work. Hopefully you see it increases productivity and makes the sofa more appealing at the end of the day;

• Stay in touch - keep in contact with your family and friends; you can still connect from a distance - call your friend, have a video call catch-up with your family or check-in with someone on social media;

• Do things you enjoy - try reading that book you’ve been meaning to start, watch that new series, or try a new skill;

• Get into a daily routine - you might find it helpful to plan out your time in advance and know what you are doing each day so you have something to look forward to;

• Get up and get dressed - it can be hard to get motivated but set your alarm and get up within 10 minutes of it going off; get dressed properly for the day and don’t just throw on a tracksuit;

• Take a break from social media if you need to - if the updates are getting too much, it is OK to take a step back; 

• Eat well and stay hydrated – we all know how easy it is to snack when you’re bored and the fridge is so close! But think about your diet and routine - especially drinking enough water for your physical and mental health;

• Get/stay active - whether you are a player, coach, or parent, it is important that you keep active in these times of isolation. A lot of us don’t have gym equipment at home, but remaining active and building physical activity into your daily routine is key to supporting your mental wellbeing. Use what you have in the home and don’t create boundaries; tins of beans or water bottles can be fantastic aids for a home workout. Many home workouts can be found online or on social media;

• Most important, Look after you! - please look after yourselves during this time; get fresh air where possible and keep connected with your fellow laxxers and coaches. Check in with those that you suspect may be lonely or struggling, but, most importantly, reach out to your nearest and dearest if you need support.

Men's U19 World Championship will be Held in 2021 in Limerick, Ireland, World Lacrosse Announce

World Lacrosse have announced that the Men’s U19 World Championship, now titled the Men's U20 World Championship, will be held in 2021 in Limerick, Ireland, between 17 and 26 June.

The World Lacrosse Board of Directors also approved a recommendation that the event age eligibility be raised to U20, “with certain dispensations still allowed” (the lower age for eligibility will remain 16 years old).

They also approved and announced that national teams that “had not originally entered the event for 2020, but have an interest in doing so for 2021, will be considered.

World Lacrosse also expressed its appreciation “to Michael Kennedy, Chair of the Limerick Organising Committee, the leaders of World Lacrosse member National Governing Bodies, and the athletes, coaches and families who have been preparing to compete in the World Championship for their ongoing flexibility and commitment to the event”.

Finally, the Board of Directors announced that the 2020 World Lacrosse General Assembly will be held in the latter part of this year but in a virtual format rather than in-person.

The exact dates for the General Assembly are yet to be decided.

World Lacrosse President, Sue Redfern, said:

“The challenges brought about by the global pandemic are unprecedented for recent time, and it is essential for our response to be thoughtfully-developed, athlete-focused and fully aligned with the highest principles of athlete safety and well-being.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to extend our continued appreciation to our member-National Governing Bodies, Continental Federations and our lacrosse family around the world for stepping forward to play our part in combatting the global pandemic”.

In response to the announcements, England Lacrosse National Performance & Talent Development Manager, Jane Powell, remarked:

“We are delighted that World Lacrosse has committed to holding the Men’s U19 World Championship in 2021 and are pleased they have brought in the new recommendations.

“The priority of everyone within lacrosse has to be the health and wellbeing of its participants at this time and we support World Lacrosse in its endeavour to do this while acknowledging that decisions need to be made regarding the restart of lacrosse, whenever that may be.

“We’re communicating with the Men’s U19 National squad to start to put plans in place for next year’s tournament”.

Sport England Announces COVID-19 Financial Support Including Support for Clubs

Sport England has announced it is making up to £195 million of funding available to help the community sport and physical activity sector as it negotiates the on-going COVID-19 crisis.

The package is additional to any funding support provided by the Government and part of it will go towards assisting the sport of lacrosse to make it through the current situation largely unscathed.

Sport England say their package will include:

• A £20 million Community Emergency Fund, which will be opened immediately for local clubs and community organisations to bid into. Grants between £300 and £10,000 are available;

• A £5 million pot for existing partners to bid into if they are facing specific and immediate financial difficulty;

• An additional £55 million to support their sectors during an on-going period of restrictions, to fund new and innovative ways to keep people active and then, when the period of restrictions is over, to help organisations get back to business and adjust to a different environment;

• A £115 million rollover of current funding into 2021/22 to give long term certainty to over 100 well established partners who play a vital role in the delivery of sport and physical activity in England. 

England Lacrosse CEO, Mark Coups, welcomed the announcement from Sport England, saying:

“The news of the £195 million worth of additional funding is welcome news given the current global climate and we, as an organisation, look forward to assisting Sport England in any way we can to ensure our clubs up and down the country get through this crisis unharmed”.

A large part of the announcement is the £20 million Community Emergency Fund that is “specifically targeted at clubs and organisations who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but who are experiencing short term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of COVID-19”.

Sport England say that the types of organisations eligible to apply for up to £10,000 grants include “local clubs forced to close at short notice but who are facing ongoing costs around maintenance and utility bills and voluntary and community sector organisations who deliver or enable sport and physical activity”.

This will undoubtedly provide a huge boost to lacrosse clubs and organisations up and down the country who have concerns about cashflow in the present situation. 

More information regarding this Emergency Fund as well as details on how to apply can be found below. England Lacrosse can also provide support to any clubs looking for assistance in applying to the Emergency Fund.

The announcement also included information regarding next year’s funding for organisations:

“Given the cashflow concerns in the sector, Sport England has also agreed that it will consider requests to release six months of the coming year’s funding (50% of awards) to its partners, meaning additional funding will be available sooner. 

This latest announcement comes after Sport England’s recent decision to offer major flexibilities to those who currently receive funding, including the ability to change timings, targets, and redirect money to new activity in response to COVID-19.

All of these new measures have been brought in by Sport England following extensive consultation with England Lacrosse as well as other organisations across the sport and physical activity sector in England.

The full announcement as well as further information regarding each set of funding within the package can be found here: