Luxembourg Approved as 59th Member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK—The Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) announces that Luxembourg has become its 59th member nation. Luxembourg was approved via a vote of federation members during its General Assembly meetings in Guildford, England in July. The meetings took place following the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup.

“FIL is pleased that Luxembourg is now a member. We would like to thank the European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) for their hard work in assisting in the development of lacrosse in Luxembourg.”

— Bob DeMarco, FIL Development DirectorThe Luxembourg Lacrosse Federation (LLF) leadership team includes President Pit Bingen, Vice President Scharel Kirchen and Development Officer Henning Schmidt.

Bingen discussed the impact of becoming an FIL member.

“Acceptance by the FIL is an important step in the development of Lacrosse in Luxembourg and the neighboring region. The LLF’s focus is to help grow this sport in Central Europe and is confident that FIL membership gives the LLF the necessary boost to build a sustainable lacrosse community in Luxembourg. Luxembourg, being a very small country, provides young and committed players the unique opportunity to compete internationally very quickly.”

—Pit Bingen, President, Luxembourg Lacrosse FederationLuxembourg becomes the 32nd member from Europe, FIL’s largest region, which represents 54 percent of its membership. You can view a membership list by region and get details on each member here.

FIL Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr offered his perspective on the addition of Luxembourg to the growing FIL family of nations.

“The addition of Luxembourg affirms the appeal and allure of lacrosse as a sport for all. The physical and mental benefits and the sheer joy of participation continue to result in one of the fastest growing sports in the world today.”

—Jim Scherr, FIL Chief Executive Officer

Lacrosse in Luxembourg began in the spring of 2015 when Bingen and Kirchen found each other online. They discovered they shared a mutual interest in lacrosse and decided to get together each week. It started as a couple of guys tossing a ball around. It turned into weekly lacrosse games with a group of enthusiasts in local parks around the city of Luxembourg.

As interest grew, it drew the attention of neighboring countries and the ELF. With the outside assistance and the hard work of its own players and coaches, Luxembourg was regularly participating in men’s regional events and friendly tournaments.

Bingen and Kirchen founded the Luxembourg Lacrosse Club in November 2016. Shortly after that, on the recommendation of the Olympic Committee of Luxembourg (www.cosl.lu), they modified its statutes so it could act as the national federation for lacrosse in their country as the Luxembourg Lacrosse Federation.

Recent Luxembourg Lacrosse Photos

The LLF has been growing steadily, with more members joining and attending weekly training. Recently, the LLF organized and hosted a regional men’s lacrosse tournament which took place July 22, held a kid’s camp for children ages 13-14, participated in three lacrosse camps/clinics in neighboring countries and competed in a box lacrosse tournament in Germany.

According to Bingen, the LLF focus is on achieving many long-term goals that include:

• competing at all international events for field and box lacrosse,
• establishing local league competition for clubs and, ideally, schools,
• developing lacrosse as a long-term sport for athletes with opportunities to participate and compete as players, coaches and officials at all ages.

Bingen explains that the LLF’s “current recruitment strategy focuses on adult players, which will form the basis of the first men’s national team, create local coaching capabilities and build a wider base of clubs offering quality and accessible practices.” He says that the LLF will engage with local schools in the upcoming term to help establish lacrosse and work to have the sport included it in their curriculum eventually.

DeMarco believes that “the talent of the leadership team in place in Luxembourg, combined with the support they are receiving inside the country and regionally, ensures that lacrosse at all levels – men, women, and youth – will develop quickly and successfully in the years to come.” DeMarco also mentioned that the “FIL is planning to host a clinic in Luxembourg sometime in 2018.”

Bingen is very appreciative of the assistance the LLF has received. “At the core is a dedicated international committee working together with local public and private stakeholders to develop lacrosse in Luxembourg and the region around Luxembourg,” Bingen said. “Myself, Scharel and Henning would like to thank Rugby Club Luxembourg, Hockey Club Luxembourg, the City of Luxembourg, and the Olympic Committee of Luxembourg for their support.”

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Contact Information and Links for the LLF

Pit Bingen, President Luxembourg Lacrosse Club and Federation, pit@lacrosse.lu
Scharel Kirchen, Vice President Luxembourg Lacrosse Club and Federation, scharel_kirchen@hotmail.com
Henning Schmidt, Development Officer, hillcroftsummerlax@gmail.com
LLF website (under construction): https://www.lacrosse.lu/
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