Pictured left to right: Sandy Brown, Kathy Taylor, Jim Scherr, Michele DeJuliis, J.B. Clark, Kristan Ash, Ed Calkins, Gene McCabe, and Dave Rowan.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2018
SPARKS, MD — Leaders of nine national lacrosse organizations met on October 8 to share organizational priorities, strengthen relationships and expand collaboration on common objectives. The gathering was the first of what will be semi-annual meetings of the sport’s most influential stakeholders.
The group consisted of Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) President Kathy Taylor, Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) President J.B. Clark, National Lacrosse League (NLL) Chief Operating Officer Dave Rowan, Major League Lacrosse (MLL) Commissioner Sandy Brown, United Women’s Lacrosse League (UWLX) General Manager Kristan Ash, Women’s Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) Chief Executive Officer Michele DeJuliis, Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr, United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) President Gene McCabe, US Lacrosse Board Chair Ed Calkins, and US Lacrosse Chief Executive Officer Steve Stenersen.
“US Lacrosse is leading a movement of great collaboration among leaders and organizations in our sport,” said IWLCA President Kathy Taylor. “The IWLCA looks forward to more sharing of ideas and working together for the betterment of the game and all those who coach and play it.”
The day consisted of presentations from each attendee on organizational priorities and vision, observations and concerns on the state of the sport, and suggested strategies to advance the sport.
Those in attendance agreed to increase cooperation on several shared priorities, including collaborative efforts to introduce the sport to more diverse communities, build the pool of youth coaches and officials, address cultural concerns related to alcohol and drug use in the sport, and support the goal of lacrosse inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games.
“It was a very productive day on all fronts,” said MLL Commissioner Sandy Brown. “I’d like to thank Steve Stenersen for taking the initiative to get us all together. MLL looks forward to hosting our next gathering in Boston.”
## www.worldlacrosse.sport ##
Media Contact:
Jim Scherr, CEO
Phone: 719. 330.4029
Email: jscherr@filacrosse.org