Canada Going NCAA!!

[Nanaimo_Lax]

I just learned about the decision to allow canadian universities to participate in the NCAA, particularily in division 2, and possibly in D1. UBC and SFU are probably going to the ncaa first, and more will surely follow. I'm extremely excited that SFU might go D2, since they have a well-established and successful lax team. What other canadian universities should go ncaa?

Also, anyone think that there should be college boxla(like me)?

[colecooldude]

I heard this to but I didnt hear about there being any lax. kinda funny how there is no canadian lax teams in ncaa. there should be boxla in college but field lax is just more complex. and box lax is mostly played in canada so there would have to be a lot more people living in canada

[VTLaxFan]

I really hope this happens, playing for U of BC would be amazing, there would be a definite contrast in playing styles, pick and roll, dodge to the middle canadians, while the americans would be soo much different

[LaCokaNostra]

ya, different like getting the [stuffing] knocked out of em.

haha, na jp.

[#15Roadies]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3196028

I thought SFU already competes in the NCAA in football & lacrosse...

[laxdaddy]

this question also came up on the OLA forum. Well it works well for SFU and UBC at the moment in terms of lacrosse, I do not believe any other schools (specifically CUFLA schools) would be benefited from moving over to the NCAA. At this point lacrosse teams would just not be able to afford the extensive costs of the NCAA, and it would also be a MAJOR setback for CUFLA if any of it's top teams were to jet to the US.

[#15Roadies]

I dunno, I suppose it depends on how a school sees their lacrosse program in relation to the CUFLA & varsity status for the sport at their school. For teams like Brock, Bishops or McGill it might not be such a stretch for them to compete in the NCAA, although they would likely benefit from the DIII leagues than they would from DII leagues travel-wise.

Although any ON or QC teams playing in the NCAA would likely hurt the CUFLA and their march towards varsity sport.

[t-dub]

I dont like it, Its because the canadian teams are not and never have been a part of the ncaa in any sport, and it just takes away from the tradition. I think that canadian players are fine to play in the ncaa, but schools? does that seem like it fits?

[#15Roadies]

If feasible and it doesn't damage homegrown sport, I see no reason not to compete with US schools in sports. US teams are allowed in Canadian competition in many sports in tournament and league play - hockey being the biggest example.

With NCAA membership it could mean more scholarships for Canadians on Canadian teams and more spots for Americans on American teams (if Canadians opt for a Canadian school). That is a win-win.

The thing about tradition is that it should never stand in the way of progress. And even traditions evolve to meet the needs of the modern day society. If it didn't you would be playing lacrosse in a loincloth using a wooden stick.

[laxdaddy]

Canadian schools lose a big number of athletes to American schools year after year, predominantly due to scholarships that are offered. Many athletes look for the 'full ride', which is largely unavaliable in Canada. With Canadian schools participating in the NCAA, it gives these schools the ability to retain the homegrown athletes. However, in terms of lacrosse a school like Brock, Bishop's, Guelph, UWO (the perennials) would be devestating to CUFLA. Athletically, these schools could challenge the top teams in DII but financially it would be a stretch based on travelling costs, scholarships, fields, etc. Most lacrosse programs in CUFLA have yet to attain varsity status within their own athletic departments, let alone get the funding a top varsity sport does (ie football, basketball).

[laxcanada]

theres been a canadian team in ncaa lacrosse for a few years now, some school out in BC

[ChiefsLacrosse1]

SFU is the school your thinking of. but they dont play in the ncaa. they play in the MCLA....mens collegiate lacrosse association i believe

http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page2.cfm?pagerid=4&div=94695&&order=2&action=draw&hidecontent=yes

[vimoose]

SFU, UBC and U of Alberta are the three schools mentioned out here . They can play two sports at Div 1 and the rest at Div 2 is what the local paper said .

[kingwolf]

the more teams the better and the more united the lacrosse world there are more benefits for everyone in the lacrosse community

[jofc]

I thinks it's UBC that has been playing American rules American Football and has only been mostly playing against teams south of the border.

I see no problem with this. Us Canucks have been letting American teams play in our CHL for years which is basically the same thing.

[laxdaddy]

theres been a canadian team in ncaa lacrosse for a few years now, some school out in BC
very true, it is simon fraser university. it's in a club sport league within the US. however, from what i know about BC universities, SFU is the only school that offers lacrosse and is the only university loop avaliable for the local players to play.

[CelticLaxer]

Anything to boost the number of guys playing box sounds like a great idea to me. We'd need a LOT more US teams for it to go NCAA, but here's hoping!

[knightsU19]

Is there not a requirement that it has to be all sports teams in the school playing NCAA, not just a selected one or two?

If thats the case then I dont see this going anywhere, also the new budget that would be involved one that most CDN schools can't handle.

[UVIC lacrosse]

UVIC is getting a lacrosse team in fall 2008

[laxman656]

UVIC is getting a lacrosse team in fall 2008

but is that MCLA or NCAA?

[AHS_laxer]

I think UOG (University Of Guelph) And UofT (University of Toronto)

they both are in the canadian university league but should go a step up and get into NCAA if they can.

what are the requirements for a school to put teams in the NCAA divisions?

[laxkevBU]

have you see u of t play they are not caliber guelf had a better year in 07 but come on except mcgill wich has the budget maybe also brock i dont know their budget
nobody could go NCAA with the traveling and all
cufla is not even varsity team dont want to go varsity (official canadian league recognize by school) because team would fold due to lack of financing

[LacrosseDan]

That would be sweet if SFU and UBC went NCAA.

[Stoned_Lax]

The biggest problem with any of the CUFLA teams going to the NCAA is NCAA regulations. Brock in recent years has been using alot of NLL players who would not be allowed to play in the NCAA.
There is also the problem of Varsity status. Most of the CUFLA teams are not Varsity and therefore some of their players have been playing far longer than 5 years. Will this create more problems for eligbility? I know that you can go from NCAA to CUFLA and not worry about eligibility however I don't know about going from CUFLA to NCAA. Does anyone know the answer to that one?

[TOP SH3LF]

I think that only good things can come from this. A lot of you are missing the fact that this could go both ways. Not only will more Canadian players be playing in America, more Americans can play in Canada. You look at American box teams who fill their rosters out with Canadians, why couldn't this lead to an surge of Americans playing field for Canadian teams? And if more Americans are playing college ball in Canada this would inevitably lead to an increase of American box players and hopefully help both games spread and feed off of each other in both countries.

[laxkevBU]

well look at mcgill their roster is almost only americans bishops has one maybe 2 and the rest of cufla is the same only a couple

[OldPtboBoy]

I think in theory it's a great idea. Growth in both forms of the sport is rising again. The lacrosse community will benefit from a further expansion. The only problem I forsee is money.

Canadian Universities do not have the annual influx of cash that their American counterparts can utilize. Scholarship money hasn't been there for decades. I'm just wondering where all of this money is going to come from. While I admire CLA/WLA box players playing summer ball in the hunt for the Mann Cup for an extremely reduced salary, I don't imagine alot of the young talent will give up a free education in the States for the love of the game at a Canadian School. (or American talent for that matter)

Granted if the Canadian Schools are to compete at this level there must be a financial plan already in the making, but it will be years before they can compete with established NCAA schools in the area of finance. And finance attracts talent. That being said, I guess you they to start somewhere.

Well that was a big circle. I believe that Canadian Field Lacrosse would benefit from such and undertaking, but I do not believe that we will see Collegiate success at any level in the NCAA for years to come until they have a level playing field in scholarships, procurement, and guaranteed annual cash flow.

[GlenRidgeLax13]

once the candian schools integrate to the ncaa i think they should start up a box league for any ncaa colleges wishing to join

students could become 2 ssport athletes playing field in the spring and box in the winter

[TOP SH3LF]

I would fully support an NCAA Box League, but if you take on another Men's sports program you need to take on another Women's program. Most schools wouldn't spend the money on two lacrosse programs and an additional women's sport. Maybe something "unofficial" or at the club level could work, a lot of colleges play box during the winter months anyways.

[GlenRidgeLax13]

yea something similiar to club where its not too serious and the players have to pay alittle

i would definitely do it if i was in college

[laxdaddy]

I think we are all forgetting that in order for these teams to play in the NCAA, the rest of the Athletics at the school also have to move to the NCAA. I don't think you can just include once sport as varsity in the NCAA and the rest stay in the CIS. While playing in the NCAA would benefit teams to a unrivaled degree, it is just not realistic with the state of CUFLA. There are many regulations that would need to be addressed, and a number of rule changes (sticks, offense zone clock, etc.) that CUFLA doesn't have implemented at this time. While it would be nice to see Canadian teams join the NCAA it just seems immensely unrealistic.

[Laxattack05]

it's good SFU is goin NCAA... they're a really good team... i got to watch them beat my friends team 29-2... lol...

[AHS_laxer]

Bishop Univerity should go NCAA

[CDN_Wolf_eh]

One big issue is the school year North of the Boarder ... We play our Varsity league during the Fall ... and the NCAA plays in the spring, after most of the Universities in Ontario and Quebec are finished.

An American team applied for addmission to CUFLA ... will probably play some exhibition games this fall ... and see how they stack up against Brock, Guelph, Western and Mac.

[laxdaddy]

Do you happen to know which school applied to CUFLA?