It was a rare but welcome sight during the game between Westminster, an NCAA Division II men’s lacrosse team, and Utah, which is playing in the MCLA, but hoping to make it to NCAA Division I in the near future.

Westminster coach Mason Goodhand, who started the Utah Chapter of US Lacrosse in 1996, realized that all three referees grew up playing lacrosse in Utah. Each was part of the first generation of Utah lacrosse players, willing to give back to the next generation in a variety of ways.

“We’re now seeing dads of little league and high school teams who played the game locally when they were kids,” Goodhand said. “That’s an exciting transition for us to get experienced people involved in the organization of teams and running games.”

Goodhand has witnessed the beginning of a lacrosse movement in the state of Utah, and with the help of US Lacrosse, was able to create a sustainable league structure for the future. Now, as coach of a successful Division II program, he’s watching as the sport continues to sprout in his state, which now features approximately 500 youth boys’ teams.

“Lacrosse is growing like wildfire,” he said.

Members of the Utah Lacrosse Association staff have attended the US Lacrosse Convention each of the last two years, and many, including former Westminster player Colin Madsen, were impressed by the recent Lacrosse Athlete Development Model presentation by T.J. Buchanan, US Lacrosse’s technical director for athlete development.

Madsen and fellow coaches and administrators were inspired to implement LADM into leagues as soon as they could. In a state where programs sometimes struggle to find the number of players to play a full a 10v10 league, the model’s small-sided elements provided an easier way to get children involved.

“Since that point on, I started spreading the word about it,” said Madsen, who now serves as ULA’s boys’ program coordinator. “I looked at it more from a logistical standpoint. Now that we’re cutting the game down, it’s like we have so many more teams, which means less travel and more scheduling options.”

“Colin has totally bought into what we’re doing,” Buchanan said. “He’s doing a great job of telling everybody in the area about it.”

Goodhand is already a certified Coach Development Program trainer, and Madsen is currently training to become the same. Goodhand is leading the charge to get coaches around the state Level 1-certified.

Madsen, like Goodhand, believes that as more first-generation Utah lacrosse players become parents and coaches, the quality of the game will increase. That process should play out over the next decade. In addition, both said the potential addition of a Division I program at Utah could generate more interest.

“We’re on the cusp of a couple very significant breakthroughs,” Goodhand said.

Locally Grown

Arizona

The chapter is excited to support the growth of the sport alongside the new Arizona State women’s lacrosse team that debuts in 2018.

Colorado

The annual Denver City Lax Mile High Gala drew more than 400 attendees, including representatives of MLL’s Outlaws and the NLL’s Mammoth, in support of urban lacrosse initiatives.

Greater LA

Kids in Sports, a US Lacrosse Diversity and Inclusion Grant recipient, has assembled a program in Loma Alta Park. Gabriel Fowler, a 14U coach, earned a scholarship to attend the US Lacrosse Convention in January.

Hawaii

Hawaii Youth Lacrosse will host a free Sankofa Lacrosse clinic July 10-12 in Honolulu for boys and girls from underrepresented communities. 

Nevada

The Nevada Women’s Lacrosse Association, Silver State Lacrosse and the Southern Nevada Lacrosse Association have unified as the SNLA to align and accelerate the sport’s growth in the local community.

Orange County

The annual Pacific Coast Shootout featured an OT thriller March 11 between Virginia and Cornell, with an announced 6,000 fans in attendance.

San Diego

San Diego-based Wheelchair Lacrosse USA continues to grow. Founded by two non-lacrosse players, the sport has brought them and countless others the opportunity to be active, competitive and part of a team.

Utah

Utah could be considered a model of CDP localization. Westminster coach Mason Goodhand is a long-time CDP trainer and local coordinator.

Picture This 

Lionized

The Loma Alta (Calif.) Lions of the Pacific Edge Lacrosse Association are part of the LA County Parks and Rec program which received US Lacrosse First Stick Program support through the Kids in Sports Foundation.

My USL Rep

Judson Stone

Judson has over 10 years’ experience as Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach in both Colorado and California.  Specializing in first time programs, Judson has coached at camps and clinics all over the country driving the growth of the sport of Lacrosse.