The Future of Women's Lacrosse

[nsb3]

There's no doubt that women's lacrosse is growing like crazy right now. Northwestern brought the first (and second) championship west of the east coast, new teams are sprouting up all over the country, and kids - young and old - are "catching the bug" like never before. But, what does all this mean? I want to know you what you think the lacrosse world will look like 10 years from now, in 2017.

- what's the next hot spot geographical area?
- is a women's pro league in the cards? is it a good idea?
- what college programs will rise to national prominence?
- as it continues to grow, will the sport lose its small-world/tight-knit feel?
- will there be any rule or equipment changes that will radically affect the way the game is played? (really, aren't we just one major head injury away from girls wearing full pads?)
- will the sport become more "mainstream" or will it remain "on the fringe" of the sports world?

Let me know what you think.

[Garor]

- what's the next hot spot geographical area?
Florida and Texas. It's only a matter of time until these areas explode. They already have in mens, and there are rumors of collegiate lax teams within the next few years.

- is a women's pro league in the cards? is it a good idea?
No and No. As much as I would love to see it, it won't happen in the US. The women's soccer league folded and they had the biggest names in women's sports on the roster. Mia Hamm soccer for N64? Lacrosse isn't a big enough sport and soccer and bball will still be much bigger.

- what college programs will rise to national prominence?
I think we will see a rise in Californian teams. Players will look to head west for good lacrosse weather and great universities. But really any school that has a growing football program will have a great pull. (More money for women's teams!) Look to Louisville, Rutgers and USF in the big east. And I would expect the Gators to be doing well.

- as it continues to grow, will the sport lose its small-world/tight-knit feel?
Yes, and it already has. But we can slow the process by holding on the community feeling and keeping organizations like USlacrosse.

- will there be any rule or equipment changes that will radically affect the way the game is played? (really, aren't we just one major head injury away from girls wearing full pads?)
I hope that in ten years moving on the whistle will be allowed. Emphasis on HOPE. Really the rule commitee could go super protective or change leadership and go the opposite. In ten years there will be a changing of the guard with the rules commitee.

- will the sport become more "mainstream" or will it remain "on the fringe" of the sports world?
If the sport remains expensive to set up, it will remain on the fringe in many areas. But if a company makes a push towards afforable equipment I'd expect women's to grow faster.

[celtlax]

- what's the next hot spot geographical area?
Texas, West Coast and the South (Carolinas and Florida)

- is a women's pro league in the cards? is it a good idea?
No and No...as Garor stated if soccer can't make it....

- what college programs will rise to national prominence?
Again, Louisville make a big impact on the Big East right away

- will there be any rule or equipment changes that will radically affect the way the game is played? (really, aren't we just one major head injury away from girls wearing full pads?) Maybe...goggles may have been the first step...not hements but some headgear like the F90...some soccer girls are starting to use now..

- will the sport become more "mainstream" or will it remain "on the fringe" of the sports world? no not fringe though...very regional

[laxgirl0108]

i'd say the carolinas, id say no women's pro league, regional

[RYU]

- what's the next hot spot geographical area?
San Diego, CA and FL look to be the next Denver and OH for recruiting hot beds.

- is a women's pro league in the cards? is it a good idea?
No & no for reasons already stated by others. MLL is still fighting for a market.

- what college programs will rise to national prominence?
Louisville, Florida, & Oregon

- as it continues to grow, will the sport lose its small-world/tight-knit feel?
It will need to grow a lot bigger to lose that small world feel IMO.

- will there be any rule or equipment changes that will radically affect the way the game is played? (really, aren't we just one major head injury away from girls wearing full pads?)
Yes, the USL Women's Rules Committee is extremely lawsuit averse, so helmets or padded headgear are just one head injury & lawsuit away. It is really a lot closer than most would like to admit. Ten years from now the game will look completely different from how it does now.

- will the sport become more "mainstream" or will it remain "on the fringe" of the sports world?
Until it becomes a revenue driven sport, it will always be a fringe sport.

[nclaxkid]

North Carolina is growing rapidly.
I was talking to the Dick's Sporting Goods manager and he said he needs to order more lacrosse stuff because they are getting so many requests.

I would love to be able to play people my age with my skill level.
I have to play with high school girls and as soon as I get to be friends with them it seems like they graduate.

I don't think we'll lose that small world feeling. I used to play soccer, the most popular sport in NC, and it still seemed like a small world.

[spike191]

wow that is really cool