Good morning. Here’s the latest from around the lacrosse world:
1. We’re reflecting on 2021 and anticipating 2022.
Our Best of Lax series continued Wednesday with four finalists in the Best Genes category for lacrosse families that had the most to brag about this year. Voting on Twitter ends at 11 a.m. ET.
Our preseason rollout also continued Wednesday with the unveiling of USA Lacrosse Magazine Division III Preseason Players of the Year. Tufts swept the honors with goalie Molly Laliberty on the women’s side and attackman Mac Bredahl on the men’s side. Bredahl is a repeat honoree.
2. “It is OK to not be OK.
The IWLCA’s “Behind the Whistle” series featured an entry by James Madison defender Emma Johnson, the Dukes’ all-time leader in caused turnovers who blogged about redefining toughness — part of series of articles supporting Morgan’s Message and erasing stigmas about mental health.
3. USA Lacrosse announced the site and schedule for the Spring Premiere, an annual event showcasing the U.S. national teams against international competition. The U.S. women’s training team will travel to Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, Fla., to train Jan. 4-6 and play England in an exhibition game Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. ET.
The USA Lacrosse Spring Premiere will be a key milestone in the training for next summer’s World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship, which will be held June 29-July 9, 2022 at Towson. The Spring Premiere will be the final training opportunity before roster evaluations are made for the world championship.
WHAT WE’RE READING
-
USA Lacrosse and NFHS’ joint statement addressing concerns about the availability of boys’ lacrosse chest protection products meeting the performance standard ND200 for commotio cordis. The mandate goes into effect Jan. 1, 2022.
-
USA Lacrosse launched the Give $10 Challenge to help raise funds to fuel the sport’s growth. Any donation of $10 or more until the end of the year will be matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous donor who has pledged $250,000 to the cause.
-
The PLL Players Top 50 continued Wednesday with Nos. 26-30 and advanced stats savant Joe Keegan broke down what made Jules Heningburg, Liam Byrnes, Matt Kavanagh, Marcus Holman and Tucker Durkin stand out during the 2021 season.
-
Inside Lacrosse’s No. 1 incoming recruiting class might make you do a double take. It’s Stanford.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
A 4-year-old who spent the first two and a half years of his life with a tracheostomy tube — a surgically created hole in his neck — to help him breathe “ripping nets and cashing checks.” So cool.
Hey that’s my son!! Now he’s ripping nets and cashing checks. @LurieChildrens https://t.co/mMbuRxzfUM pic.twitter.com/539lIId19s
— Mark R. Morrell (@CoachM_Morrell) December 8, 2021