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BALTIMORE (Nov. 7) – US Lacrosse announced today that the organization will host a national championship at the under-15 level. The 2009 US Lacrosse U-15 National Championship will be held July 6-10, 2009 at Cedar Lane Sports Park near Baltimore, Maryland. Sixty four teams (32 boys’, 32 girls’) who believe they have what it takes to be the best in the country will compete through pool and bracket play, with the ultimate winner being crowned as the US Lacrosse U-15 National Champion.
 Created under the collective guidance of the US Lacrosse Youth Council and a committee of national youth lacrosse leaders, this championship event is open to any team and will provide the highest level of national lacrosse competition for U-15 boys and girls.
"Based on the success and positive participant and spectator experience of the US Lacrosse National Youth Festivals since 1998, US Lacrosse feels that it is best positioned to provide the highest caliber U-15 championship event possible," said Joshua Christian, managing director of programs and services.
This competitive event does not take the place of the US Lacrosse Youth Festivals, which will continue to focus on providing quality opportunities for the majority of youth teams and players who are more focused on the experience of regional or national competition and camaraderie rather than the crowning of a champion.
Continuing efforts to serve as the leader in developing and growing the game, US Lacrosse examined the role it plays within the ever-changing and enlarging landscape of youth lacrosse events. Noel Ebner, U-15 Championship committee chair and past president of US Lacrosse’s Youth Council, explained, "The current market offers numerous playing opportunities that promise a wide range of experiences, many focused on profit over quality of experience. It is our responsibility to take a leadership role in launching the event to establish a benchmark standard of quality and experience."
Under US Lacrosse’s unparalleled event standards, the first ever U-15 national championships, amongst other highlights, will guarantee five full games for all teams on high quality grass and turf fields, ensure two certified officials for all games, emergency medical technicians and trainers on site, affordable entry fees, qualified and knowledgeable staff and a championship trophy that will be housed in the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame.
"In addition," Ebner added, "We believe that the U-15 participation bracket is age-appropriate for this level of competition and insures that when displayed within the rules, the skill and game comprehension of participants will be showcased through healthy competition that truly honors the game."
Event Details
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Event Name: |
US Lacrosse U-15 National Championship |
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Site: |
Cedar Lane Sports Park, Bel Air, Md. |
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Date: |
July 6-10, 2009 (Girls play July 6-8, boys play July 8-10) |
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Event Size: |
64 teams (32 boys, 32 girls) |
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Event Structure: |
US Lacrosse separates the United States into 15 regions. Each region is allotted a specific number of teams based on youth participation and US Lacrosse youth membership within that region. Teams will be accepted on a first come, first served basis until the slots are filled within each region. Once all regional slots are filled, six (6) total At Large team slots (3 boys and 3 girls) will be filled in descending order from the teams on the waiting list. If regional slots are not filled by March 1, 2009, all remaining slots will be deemed At-Large and filled accordingly. |
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Participation Fee: |
$1,200 per team |
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Registration: |
Three step registration process:
December 10 – Registration opens online
March 1 – Unfilled regional slots are released and filled
May 1 – Rosters due to US Lacrosse |
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Lodging: |
Please see event website at http://www.uslacrosse.org/events/u15nc/ |
About US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse has more than 250,000 members in 60 regional chapters around the country. Through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse strives to provide programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the game. To learn more about US Lacrosse, please visit www.uslacrosse.org.
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