Lacrosse Programs

Each provincial association has jurisdiction over clubs, leagues and associations but typically share a common structure as follows:

at the grass roots level of an organization, teams are formed to organize recreational play.
the objective is fun, fitness and skill development.
depending upon the age level, contact may or may not be involved.
modified rules in younger age categories may include: players are rotated in 3 minute shifts; when the ball is turned over, the attacking team must clear the offensive zone; shootouts; 5-second possession rule; a minimum number of passes must be attempted before a shot on goal, etc.
the season usually begins in the spring and ends in early summer.
skill levels will vary and teams are usually balanced to encourage skill development.

the next level involves the organizations' best players competing as a select, all-star or rep team.
various levels of competitions exist and can be defined by skill level - A, B, C, etc. or by age.
National Championships occur annually - Minor (under 16), Junior, Senior.

the award for the premiere junior (17-21) national championships are the Minto Cup (Junior A) and Founders Cup (Junior Tier 1).
the best senior player teams in Canada (over 21) play for the Mann Cup (Senior A) and President Cup (Senior B).
opportunities exist for elite athletes to secure athletic scholarships to American universities.
the vast majority of players on Canada 's national field team played box lacrosse.

after an absence of a professional league in North American since the 1970's, the National Lacrosse League (NLL) is experiencing a huge resurgence in Canada .
the league is comprised of Canadian and American teams.
it is not uncommon for teams to play in front of crowds of more than 10,000 spectators.