Putting sticks in the hands of kids in cities and other underserved areas is not a novel concept and remains at the core of several US Lacrosse initiatives. After all, it starts with a stick.

But US Lacrosse and other groups are innovating how the game is presented to these newcomers, while also coming up with solutions with regard to field space and access.

Wallgames

Brooklyn Lacrosse Club co-founder Khalid West invented a series of competitive games in which lacrosse is played on handball courts. While there are few fields in Brooklyn — “It’s a constant battle to secure field space. It’s very competitive and drives us nuts,” West says — there are more than 600 handball courts that are free and open to the public. Wallgames applies a scoring system to several drills that improve passing, catching, shooting, footwork and spacing.

Nation United

Rather than grassroots growth, this relatively young organization seeks to inspire diversity with elite-level lacrosse. Nation United endeavors to connect the top minority players, called “ambassadors,” with each other and with trailblazers like Chazz Woodson, Kyle Harrison, Myles Jones, Keith Wilford and Shaun Church — all of whom spoke to NU’s prospects during a special retreat at LaxCon.

Ferris School

The first correctional facility with a lacrosse program in the U.S., the Ferris School for Boys in Wilmington, Del., introduced the sport in December 2016 as an outlet for exercise, fresh air and teambuilding. Ferris students, ranging from age 13-18, are considered high risk and are committed to the school by court. Most of them are poor and have been involved in drugs and gangs.

Lacrosse Communities Project

US Lacrosse piloted this initiative last spring with major financial and programmatic investments in Albany and Cleveland, including the construction of a field at the Urban Community School in Ohio City unveiled in September. With its North Coast Ohio chapter, US Lacrosse has committed $300,000 in local and national funds to the Ohio City project, which will also fund the introduction of lacrosse and wellness programming on the field and in the community.