? Top 25 from "KY High School Lacrosse News."

h/t @NateInSports

❓ I know BGP has some members who follow the sport. Some questions about this list and some as part of a broader request for information ~

How does this list align with yours?

Who are some of the best returning players and coaches?

Other than the Bowling Green area, are there any parts of the state outside of "The Golden Triangle" that are seeing new teams form? 

Where does lacrosse, boys and girls, stand on sanctioning by the KHSAA? Has the 50 school threshold been crossed? 

Who and where are the best media sources to follow for keeping up with the latest news?

If not sanctioned, will there continue to be two separate leagues with their own championships? Why are there two leagues now?

What role does club lacrosse play presently, and is it the key to future growth? Is lacrosse already a "year-round sport"? 

Thomas More University recently added a lacrosse program. What other colleges in state have varsity or club teams?

What resources can you recommend to a new or casual fan to learn more about lacrosse? 

On 1/26/2023 at 3:45 AM, Runcible Owl said:

❓ I know BGP has some members who follow the sport. Some questions about this list and some as part of a broader request for information ~

How does this list align with yours?

Who are some of the best returning players and coaches?

Other than the Bowling Green area, are there any parts of the state outside of "The Golden Triangle" that are seeing new teams form? 

Where does lacrosse, boys and girls, stand on sanctioning by the KHSAA? Has the 50 school threshold been crossed? 

Who and where are the best media sources to follow for keeping up with the latest news?

If not sanctioned, will there continue to be two separate leagues with their own championships? Why are there two leagues now?

What role does club lacrosse play presently, and is it the key to future growth? Is lacrosse already a "year-round sport"? 

Thomas More University recently added a lacrosse program. What other colleges in state have varsity or club teams?

What resources can you recommend to a new or casual fan to learn more about lacrosse? 

RO, 

I really appreciate you placing this here!  I'm a lacrosse fan!  Although I know the girls/women's game better as my daughters played/play in High School (Manual).  I really want lacrosse to grow in the state as much as it can.  It had alot of momentum going in the upper teens (2018 and 2019) and started slowing a bit as Covid wiped out several seasons and most critically the Middle School seasons for 2 straight years, so trying to overcome that.  

The Golden Triangle is likely sustaining pretty well and I feel the rest is likely hanging on.  Just a hard time to add another sport for cash strapped school budgets, but I hope I'm wrong.  Let me get to your questions:  I'm not an expert on all these but will give you what I got:

1. How does this list align with yours?  I think this list is solid.  For as long as I can remember knowing anything about boys' lacrosse it has been St X and Trinity and everybody else.  IMO this is the crux of the sanctioning issue as most teams outside of Louisville simply don't want to play T or X for a lacrosse state championship.  I get that.  That's the problem with field hockey too.  If it ever gained traction, those new teams couldn't play on the same field without getting killed.  You don't grow the sport that way.  So could you create different divisions (I.e. 1A, 2A, etc.?)  I'm not sure.

It's a little like Formula 1 Racing (if you watch that at all) where there are basically 3 teams that have a chance to win (Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari), then you have the "mid-field" teams that don't have a chance to win, but are good teams and basically race for positions 7 through 14 or so.  And the Also-Rans - teams that just aren't that good and just try not to be last.  Lacrosse is a like that, I think.  The teams from basically 3 through 20 are mid-field IMO.

How do you fix that?  I'm not sure unless X and T are their own group; play a regular season and then just have a championship game; then have the rest have their own typical championship format.  I've watched Manual, Ballard, Bowling Green and few others play and they have good teams, but they don't have the depth to stay with X and T (typically same in football).

 

2.  Who are some of the best returning players and coaches?

St X - Head Coach Scott Howe - 23 years as Head Coach (has reached the state championship game in 20 of his 21 full seasons as head coach (15 championships).

Saint Xavier High School Athletics | Team Page

Trinity - Head Coach Pete Schroeder - 22 years as Head Coach - 

Trinity Lacrosse | Louisville KY High School Lacrosse (trinityrocks.com)

As far as players goes, I'm really not in the know on that on the boys side and to my knowledge isn't tracked as well as it should be.  Getting sanctioned and getting on the KHSAA website would be HUGE for lacrosse IMO.

 

3.  Other than the Bowling Green area, are there any parts of the state outside of "The Golden Triangle" that are seeing new teams form? 

I don't have first-hand knowledge of this on the boy's side but know the girl's side has definitely been adding girls' teams, Greenwood (in Bowling Green), George Rodgers Clark, Great Crossings and at least 2 more that I know of recently.  I think it is catching on, but slowly.  Basically, if the boys have a team at a high school, most are held to why not have a girls' team too.

4. Where does lacrosse, boys and girls, stand on sanctioning by the KHSAA? Has the 50 school threshold been crossed? 

I don't recall the exact numbers but know both boys and girls were really close to the 50 member number at the last time KHSAA considered lacrosse sanctioning.  I've heard rumors that there are now more than 50 for each needed.  I've heard rumors that KHSAA will waive that 50 member number the next time lacrosse sanctioning is considered.  I think KHSAA has hesitated to sanction lacrosse as it just creates alot of other items for all to deal with:

A. What to do about the St X and Trinity vs rest of the state issue.

B.  Do you have Classes (if lacrosse does grow those new teams can't play T and X out of the gate) to promote growth?

C.  From the AD perspective, do they get more $ to support lacrosse?  If not, field time, coaches, boosters the more is not always the merrier.

5. Who and where are the best media sources to follow for keeping up with the latest news?

This is a great question!  I really don't know the answer to this.  The girls had a ranking group several years ago that was a part of a website, but it folded and been missed ever since.  Not sure for the boys.

6. If not sanctioned, will there continue to be two separate leagues with their own championships? Why are there two leagues now?

100% - Issue I have hammered here.  The rest of the state doesn't want to play X and T for lax championship.

7. What role does club lacrosse play presently, and is it the key to future growth? Is lacrosse already a "year-round sport"? 

GREAT Question!!!!  Club Lacrosse is KEY for any program wanting to rise and go farther in the playoffs.  The more club players you have the better chance you have is the general rule IMO.  There are multiple club teams in Louisville.  Lexington has one and Bowling Green has one.  I think NKY has one also, but not sure.  

I know it is an unsaid rule that if you want to have a chance to play at X or T you have to play club, indoor and go to summer camps.  St X has 2 JV teams.  Numbers are king!  With this kind of depth and competition in practice alone separate them from just about all other teams and club has alot to do with that.

IMO lacrosse is a year around sport at X and T.  There are also several good size groups at Manual, Eastern and South Oldham who also participate, but none to the numbers that X and T do and they start earlier, some in elementary school.  My cousins' son plays for T is how I know most of this.

8. Thomas More University recently added a lacrosse program. What other colleges in state have varsity or club teams?

That's interesting!  Lacrosse is prevalent at the D1 level at several schools, but predominantly on the east coast: but even Moreso on the D2 and D3 levels.

UK and UofL have club teams and it's a fun game to go to to watch them play.

UofL has a women's varsity program, but no mens program.  I went to see UofL play #1 in the Nation UNC at Papa Johns last year and it was really cool!!!   I don't think UK has either; nor does WKU or EKU.  Centre and Transylvania both have women's programs.  I think Georgetown has both men's and women's programs.  The other smaller ones like Asbury (have women's) may as well.  It's slooooooowwly growing.

9. What resources can you recommend to a new or casual fan to learn more about lacrosse?

Another great question!  Out of the gate: the women's game and the men's game are very different and have different lines and demarcations on the field and are important to understand to begin with:

A few initial items:

Men - wear helmets; women wear eye protection only.

Men - wear pads (shoulder and others) and thick gloves; women have mouth guards and that's pretty much it.

Men - check the heck out you; Women - selectively do the same but in a different manner.  Men - hit you with the stick every time they can as hard as they can.  Women aren't allowed to do that; where hits to the head and cross checks typically are not allowed.  So the game is called differently for the different games.

1. So my first recommendation is to get acquainted with the game by watching one or 4 of the following (I have 2 for each sport).  They are relatively short and give you a good overview of the game.

Understanding Lacrosse - Bing video

The Rules of Men's Lacrosse | Field Lacrosse Rules for Beginners - Bing video

The Rules of Women's Lacrosse | Women's Lacrosse Rules for Beginners - Bing video

Women's Lacrosse Basics - Bing video

2.  Right after you do that; watch a game.  Whether on ESPN family (ESPN Plus has a ton of game in season).  OR go to your favorite high school team's game.  Once you know a bit about the rules, you'll know enough to be dangerous and ask people around you from there (you won't know everything and that's ok).  It's fast and fun to watch.  The Spring is a great time to go out and catch a game where it's not a business.  Love the High School level as they are playing for their teammates and their school.  Not much better than that IMO.

3.  Once you see a team on ESPN (like Syracuse Women and Notre Dame Men) try to start following one of them.  Once you do, you will start learning the players and it becomes more fun then.

 

I wonder if you noticed a KY Girls Lacrosse Ranking list?  Would be interested in that.

 

Sorry to be SO Long-winded, but this was a well thought out list of questions and Lacrosse typically just doesn't get a fair shake from a time perspective.

If I can help further, let me know!!!  I hope you enjoy!

1 hour ago, Purple88 said:

RO, 

I really appreciate you placing this here!  I'm a lacrosse fan!  Although I know the girls/women's game better as my daughters played/play in High School (Manual).  I really want lacrosse to grow in the state as much as it can.  It had alot of momentum going in the upper teens (2018 and 2019) and started slowing a bit as Covid wiped out several seasons and most critically the Middle School seasons for 2 straight years, so trying to overcome that.  

The Golden Triangle is likely sustaining pretty well and I feel the rest is likely hanging on.  Just a hard time to add another sport for cash strapped school budgets, but I hope I'm wrong.  Let me get to your questions:  I'm not an expert on all these but will give you what I got:

1. How does this list align with yours?  I think this list is solid.  For as long as I can remember knowing anything about boys' lacrosse it has been St X and Trinity and everybody else.  IMO this is the crux of the sanctioning issue as most teams outside of Louisville simply don't want to play T or X for a lacrosse state championship.  I get that.  That's the problem with field hockey too.  If it ever gained traction, those new teams couldn't play on the same field without getting killed.  You don't grow the sport that way.  So could you create different divisions (I.e. 1A, 2A, etc.?)  I'm not sure.

It's a little like Formula 1 Racing (if you watch that at all) where there are basically 3 teams that have a chance to win (Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari), then you have the "mid-field" teams that don't have a chance to win, but are good teams and basically race for positions 7 through 14 or so.  And the Also-Rans - teams that just aren't that good and just try not to be last.  Lacrosse is a like that, I think.  The teams from basically 3 through 20 are mid-field IMO.

How do you fix that?  I'm not sure unless X and T are their own group; play a regular season and then just have a championship game; then have the rest have their own typical championship format.  I've watched Manual, Ballard, Bowling Green and few others play and they have good teams, but they don't have the depth to stay with X and T (typically same in football).

 

2.  Who are some of the best returning players and coaches?

St X - Head Coach Scott Howe - 23 years as Head Coach (has reached the state championship game in 20 of his 21 full seasons as head coach (15 championships).

Saint Xavier High School Athletics | Team Page

Trinity - Head Coach Pete Schroeder - 22 years as Head Coach - 

Trinity Lacrosse | Louisville KY High School Lacrosse (trinityrocks.com)

As far as players goes, I'm really not in the know on that on the boys side and to my knowledge isn't tracked as well as it should be.  Getting sanctioned and getting on the KHSAA website would be HUGE for lacrosse IMO.

 

3.  Other than the Bowling Green area, are there any parts of the state outside of "The Golden Triangle" that are seeing new teams form? 

I don't have first-hand knowledge of this on the boy's side but know the girl's side has definitely been adding girls' teams, Greenwood (in Bowling Green), George Rodgers Clark, Great Crossings and at least 2 more that I know of recently.  I think it is catching on, but slowly.  Basically, if the boys have a team at a high school, most are held to why not have a girls' team too.

4. Where does lacrosse, boys and girls, stand on sanctioning by the KHSAA? Has the 50 school threshold been crossed? 

I don't recall the exact numbers but know both boys and girls were really close to the 50 member number at the last time KHSAA considered lacrosse sanctioning.  I've heard rumors that there are now more than 50 for each needed.  I've heard rumors that KHSAA will waive that 50 member number the next time lacrosse sanctioning is considered.  I think KHSAA has hesitated to sanction lacrosse as it just creates alot of other items for all to deal with:

A. What to do about the St X and Trinity vs rest of the state issue.

B.  Do you have Classes (if lacrosse does grow those new teams can't play T and X out of the gate) to promote growth?

C.  From the AD perspective, do they get more $ to support lacrosse?  If not, field time, coaches, boosters the more is not always the merrier.

5. Who and where are the best media sources to follow for keeping up with the latest news?

This is a great question!  I really don't know the answer to this.  The girls had a ranking group several years ago that was a part of a website, but it folded and been missed ever since.  Not sure for the boys.

6. If not sanctioned, will there continue to be two separate leagues with their own championships? Why are there two leagues now?

100% - Issue I have hammered here.  The rest of the state doesn't want to play X and T for lax championship.

7. What role does club lacrosse play presently, and is it the key to future growth? Is lacrosse already a "year-round sport"? 

GREAT Question!!!!  Club Lacrosse is KEY for any program wanting to rise and go farther in the playoffs.  The more club players you have the better chance you have is the general rule IMO.  There are multiple club teams in Louisville.  Lexington has one and Bowling Green has one.  I think NKY has one also, but not sure.  

I know it is an unsaid rule that if you want to have a chance to play at X or T you have to play club, indoor and go to summer camps.  St X has 2 JV teams.  Numbers are king!  With this kind of depth and competition in practice alone separate them from just about all other teams and club has alot to do with that.

IMO lacrosse is a year around sport at X and T.  There are also several good size groups at Manual, Eastern and South Oldham who also participate, but none to the numbers that X and T do and they start earlier, some in elementary school.  My cousins' son plays for T is how I know most of this.

8. Thomas More University recently added a lacrosse program. What other colleges in state have varsity or club teams?

That's interesting!  Lacrosse is prevalent at the D1 level at several schools, but predominantly on the east coast: but even Moreso on the D2 and D3 levels.

UK and UofL have club teams and it's a fun game to go to to watch them play.

UofL has a women's varsity program, but no mens program.  I went to see UofL play #1 in the Nation UNC at Papa Johns last year and it was really cool!!!   I don't think UK has either; nor does WKU or EKU.  Centre and Transylvania both have women's programs.  I think Georgetown has both men's and women's programs.  The other smaller ones like Asbury (have women's) may as well.  It's slooooooowwly growing.

9. What resources can you recommend to a new or casual fan to learn more about lacrosse?

Another great question!  Out of the gate: the women's game and the men's game are very different and have different lines and demarcations on the field and are important to understand to begin with:

A few initial items:

Men - wear helmets; women wear eye protection only.

Men - wear pads (shoulder and others) and thick gloves; women have mouth guards and that's pretty much it.

Men - check the heck out you; Women - selectively do the same but in a different manner.  Men - hit you with the stick every time they can as hard as they can.  Women aren't allowed to do that; where hits to the head and cross checks typically are not allowed.  So the game is called differently for the different games.

1. So my first recommendation is to get acquainted with the game by watching one or 4 of the following (I have 2 for each sport).  They are relatively short and give you a good overview of the game.

Understanding Lacrosse - Bing video

The Rules of Men's Lacrosse | Field Lacrosse Rules for Beginners - Bing video

The Rules of Women's Lacrosse | Women's Lacrosse Rules for Beginners - Bing video

Women's Lacrosse Basics - Bing video

2.  Right after you do that; watch a game.  Whether on ESPN family (ESPN Plus has a ton of game in season).  OR go to your favorite high school team's game.  Once you know a bit about the rules, you'll know enough to be dangerous and ask people around you from there (you won't know everything and that's ok).  It's fast and fun to watch.  The Spring is a great time to go out and catch a game where it's not a business.  Love the High School level as they are playing for their teammates and their school.  Not much better than that IMO.

3.  Once you see a team on ESPN (like Syracuse Women and Notre Dame Men) try to start following one of them.  Once you do, you will start learning the players and it becomes more fun then.

 

I wonder if you noticed a KY Girls Lacrosse Ranking list?  Would be interested in that.

 

Sorry to be SO Long-winded, but this was a well thought out list of questions and Lacrosse typically just doesn't get a fair shake from a time perspective.

If I can help further, let me know!!!  I hope you enjoy!

❗Thank you @Purple88! 

That may be the most thoughtful and generous response I've ever read on this site - ultimate level, like ?

 

@Runcible Owl  The GREAT Jim Brown may have been at his best as a lacrosse player!  Superior athlete all the way around, but one of the best lacrosse players EVER!

When your kids play something you get drawn into it, as I have lacrosse.  While other games have gone down in my eyes (all the crap with off the field stuff) in the NBA and NFL and now college football (my last stronghold) is beseiged by NIL financing and basically a free agency system with the transfer portal and kids skipping bowl games.  Do they have a right to do all that?  Sure!

BUT, I have a right to move toward sports like lacrosse where they just play the game.  And I appreciate that.  My youngest is a senior this year, so I'm going to get in as much lacrosse as I can.  I'm going to her last indoor game tonight at UofL.  I wish you were going with me!

Bengals DE Sam Hubbard attributes part of his success on the football field to playing lacrosse during his formative years. 

Would you mind sharing your take on the benefits of the game for multi-sport athletes @Purple88? 

twitter.com/kylaxnews

4 hours ago, Runcible Owl said:

Bengals DE Sam Hubbard attributes part of his success on the football field to playing lacrosse during his formative years. 

Would you mind sharing your take on the benefits of the game for multi-sport athletes @Purple88? 

twitter.com/kylaxnews

Love these back and forths!

I am not surprised to hear this one iota!  Sam Hubbard, who is a terrific athlete, is one of many athletes who are simply great athletes who love multiple sports.  This is common, as I can recall at a younger age; we would play baseball in the summer, football in the fall and basketball in the winter/springtime and just kept going in that cycle.

Today, many, many sports are what we talked about "year-around".  I hate that in alot of ways.  When kids specialize, they IMO really miss out on just getting the opportunity to just be a kid and have some fun.  Specialization can translate into work.  I know pro athletes call it a labor of love, but should that be pushed back into heck middle school?  Some parents seem to think so.  The problem I have with it is it creates a sense of "if I don't play summer ball I will be behind everyone else" and you never catch up from there.

I had a freshman lacrosse player, who was a terrific athlete and dynamite lacrosse player, who also plays field hockey.  Her parents, I'm told, openly in the stands were saying things like "well this is just her OTHER sport" when she didn't play absolutely perfectly.  They chose to lead her to play field hockey only and plays FH tournaments and trains year around for field hockey.  I feel that's a mistake.  Did that affect me negatively?  Well, being I'm on the lacrosse side, yes.  But more so that I know there are studies that support multiple sport athletes as the cross-training tends to lessen the grind of multi-repetition movements (pitchers' elbow and the like).  Gives their bodies a chance to rest for the particular sport you are speaking about.  But most of all leads to less burn out of athletes.  I have always hated that part of sports, where too much, too fast leads to a player just walks away way too early.

On the flip side, when do you give up the Other Sport?  Deuce Bailey, rising JR QB for Bowling Green is a great example of this.  He is also a star Basketball player on the BG BBall team.  When do you give that up?  And which one?  You have been playing both since you can remember.  Not sure, but at some point you will likely need to pick one.  Didn't Antwain Randel El play both for IU a while back?  I think he did.

In summary, I think multi-sport athletes are more balanced than specialized single sport athletes, but one broad brush won't cover this spectrum as parents and someone's opportunities (have money or not for example) also come into play.

@Purple88

Haven't seen a "Girls Preseason Ranking." This site did release the first "in season" list, mid March of last year. 

@LaxKentucky 

What I know about LaCrosse is we have to dodge their balls at track practice since they practice at same time. We also joke that we are a KHSAA sport and they are club. ???

I believe they have enough teams to qualify for khsaa starting next year. It is the fastest growing sport in the US right now. I think they are where soccer was 20 years ago. I think in another 20 years they have a chance to be quite large. 

2 hours ago, spilly willy said:

I believe they have enough teams to qualify for khsaa starting next year. It is the fastest growing sport in the US right now. I think they are where soccer was 20 years ago. I think in another 20 years they have a chance to be quite large. 

Thank you for adding this information. I'm excited to learn more about it and watch it grow.

Like you I think saturation statewide,  outside much of the Lou-Lex-Cov triangle will be slow.

I predict it will be like the spread of girls volleyball and soccer - 10-20 years (volleyball to the east first and soccer to the west first). 

Big schools in the metro areas will continue to dominate. As @Purple88 noted above, having a club ecosystem in place gives them a big advantage. It'll take time for experienced coaches to develop and for interest to grow in a new "minor sport."

Schools with students highly engaged in extracurriculars are going to excel in lacrosse, for what is,  in most places going to be a tertiary sport. Baseball and softball may not suffer much, but track & field and tennis might.

On 1/31/2023 at 2:35 PM, Purple88 said:

RO, 

I really appreciate you placing this here!  I'm a lacrosse fan!  Although I know the girls/women's game better as my daughters played/play in High School (Manual).  I really want lacrosse to grow in the state as much as it can.  It had alot of momentum going in the upper teens (2018 and 2019) and started slowing a bit as Covid wiped out several seasons and most critically the Middle School seasons for 2 straight years, so trying to overcome that.  

The Golden Triangle is likely sustaining pretty well and I feel the rest is likely hanging on.  Just a hard time to add another sport for cash strapped school budgets, but I hope I'm wrong.  Let me get to your questions:  I'm not an expert on all these but will give you what I got:

1. How does this list align with yours?  I think this list is solid.  For as long as I can remember knowing anything about boys' lacrosse it has been St X and Trinity and everybody else.  IMO this is the crux of the sanctioning issue as most teams outside of Louisville simply don't want to play T or X for a lacrosse state championship.  I get that.  That's the problem with field hockey too.  If it ever gained traction, those new teams couldn't play on the same field without getting killed.  You don't grow the sport that way.  So could you create different divisions (I.e. 1A, 2A, etc.?)  I'm not sure.

It's a little like Formula 1 Racing (if you watch that at all) where there are basically 3 teams that have a chance to win (Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari), then you have the "mid-field" teams that don't have a chance to win, but are good teams and basically race for positions 7 through 14 or so.  And the Also-Rans - teams that just aren't that good and just try not to be last.  Lacrosse is a like that, I think.  The teams from basically 3 through 20 are mid-field IMO.

How do you fix that?  I'm not sure unless X and T are their own group; play a regular season and then just have a championship game; then have the rest have their own typical championship format.  I've watched Manual, Ballard, Bowling Green and few others play and they have good teams, but they don't have the depth to stay with X and T (typically same in football).

 

2.  Who are some of the best returning players and coaches?

St X - Head Coach Scott Howe - 23 years as Head Coach (has reached the state championship game in 20 of his 21 full seasons as head coach (15 championships).

Saint Xavier High School Athletics | Team Page

Trinity - Head Coach Pete Schroeder - 22 years as Head Coach - 

Trinity Lacrosse | Louisville KY High School Lacrosse (trinityrocks.com)

As far as players goes, I'm really not in the know on that on the boys side and to my knowledge isn't tracked as well as it should be.  Getting sanctioned and getting on the KHSAA website would be HUGE for lacrosse IMO.

 

3.  Other than the Bowling Green area, are there any parts of the state outside of "The Golden Triangle" that are seeing new teams form? 

I don't have first-hand knowledge of this on the boy's side but know the girl's side has definitely been adding girls' teams, Greenwood (in Bowling Green), George Rodgers Clark, Great Crossings and at least 2 more that I know of recently.  I think it is catching on, but slowly.  Basically, if the boys have a team at a high school, most are held to why not have a girls' team too.

4. Where does lacrosse, boys and girls, stand on sanctioning by the KHSAA? Has the 50 school threshold been crossed? 

I don't recall the exact numbers but know both boys and girls were really close to the 50 member number at the last time KHSAA considered lacrosse sanctioning.  I've heard rumors that there are now more than 50 for each needed.  I've heard rumors that KHSAA will waive that 50 member number the next time lacrosse sanctioning is considered.  I think KHSAA has hesitated to sanction lacrosse as it just creates alot of other items for all to deal with:

A. What to do about the St X and Trinity vs rest of the state issue.

B.  Do you have Classes (if lacrosse does grow those new teams can't play T and X out of the gate) to promote growth?

C.  From the AD perspective, do they get more $ to support lacrosse?  If not, field time, coaches, boosters the more is not always the merrier.

5. Who and where are the best media sources to follow for keeping up with the latest news?

This is a great question!  I really don't know the answer to this.  The girls had a ranking group several years ago that was a part of a website, but it folded and been missed ever since.  Not sure for the boys.

6. If not sanctioned, will there continue to be two separate leagues with their own championships? Why are there two leagues now?

100% - Issue I have hammered here.  The rest of the state doesn't want to play X and T for lax championship.

7. What role does club lacrosse play presently, and is it the key to future growth? Is lacrosse already a "year-round sport"? 

GREAT Question!!!!  Club Lacrosse is KEY for any program wanting to rise and go farther in the playoffs.  The more club players you have the better chance you have is the general rule IMO.  There are multiple club teams in Louisville.  Lexington has one and Bowling Green has one.  I think NKY has one also, but not sure.  

I know it is an unsaid rule that if you want to have a chance to play at X or T you have to play club, indoor and go to summer camps.  St X has 2 JV teams.  Numbers are king!  With this kind of depth and competition in practice alone separate them from just about all other teams and club has alot to do with that.

IMO lacrosse is a year around sport at X and T.  There are also several good size groups at Manual, Eastern and South Oldham who also participate, but none to the numbers that X and T do and they start earlier, some in elementary school.  My cousins' son plays for T is how I know most of this.

8. Thomas More University recently added a lacrosse program. What other colleges in state have varsity or club teams?

That's interesting!  Lacrosse is prevalent at the D1 level at several schools, but predominantly on the east coast: but even Moreso on the D2 and D3 levels.

UK and UofL have club teams and it's a fun game to go to to watch them play.

UofL has a women's varsity program, but no mens program.  I went to see UofL play #1 in the Nation UNC at Papa Johns last year and it was really cool!!!   I don't think UK has either; nor does WKU or EKU.  Centre and Transylvania both have women's programs.  I think Georgetown has both men's and women's programs.  The other smaller ones like Asbury (have women's) may as well.  It's slooooooowwly growing.

9. What resources can you recommend to a new or casual fan to learn more about lacrosse?

Another great question!  Out of the gate: the women's game and the men's game are very different and have different lines and demarcations on the field and are important to understand to begin with:

A few initial items:

Men - wear helmets; women wear eye protection only.

Men - wear pads (shoulder and others) and thick gloves; women have mouth guards and that's pretty much it.

Men - check the heck out you; Women - selectively do the same but in a different manner.  Men - hit you with the stick every time they can as hard as they can.  Women aren't allowed to do that; where hits to the head and cross checks typically are not allowed.  So the game is called differently for the different games.

1. So my first recommendation is to get acquainted with the game by watching one or 4 of the following (I have 2 for each sport).  They are relatively short and give you a good overview of the game.

Understanding Lacrosse - Bing video

The Rules of Men's Lacrosse | Field Lacrosse Rules for Beginners - Bing video

The Rules of Women's Lacrosse | Women's Lacrosse Rules for Beginners - Bing video

Women's Lacrosse Basics - Bing video

2.  Right after you do that; watch a game.  Whether on ESPN family (ESPN Plus has a ton of game in season).  OR go to your favorite high school team's game.  Once you know a bit about the rules, you'll know enough to be dangerous and ask people around you from there (you won't know everything and that's ok).  It's fast and fun to watch.  The Spring is a great time to go out and catch a game where it's not a business.  Love the High School level as they are playing for their teammates and their school.  Not much better than that IMO.

3.  Once you see a team on ESPN (like Syracuse Women and Notre Dame Men) try to start following one of them.  Once you do, you will start learning the players and it becomes more fun then.

 

I wonder if you noticed a KY Girls Lacrosse Ranking list?  Would be interested in that.

 

Sorry to be SO Long-winded, but this was a well thought out list of questions and Lacrosse typically just doesn't get a fair shake from a time perspective.

If I can help further, let me know!!!  I hope you enjoy!

Greenwood is adding a boys team, although they will only be competing as a JV team this year.

 

I’m currently an assistant coach at Bowling Green and have been since 2018, it’s great that it’s growing in this area.  You bring up some great points.  Usually, our best players also play football as it translates extremely well for footwork and physicality.  The BG school district, and BG parks and Rec have done a fantastic job supporting the growth of the sport here.  BG was a mix of all schools until 2018, when two players were able to spear head creating a team at South Warren.  From then Parks and Rec began to flourish and now Greenwood finally has enough players, however almost all of them are freshmen or sophomores.

 

As for some news sources, I recommend laxnumbers.com for mathematical rankings, schedules, records and history.  There are two KY lax Twitter accounts who provide scores and updates.  KYlaxnews and kyboyslax.

 

I hope to see the sport continue to grow outside the major two cities.  Northern Kentucky is a great example of where it has flourished.

Just saw this and wanted to add my two cents worth.

Bellarmine has played D1 LAX for about 10 years, even before the school went D1. They play Notre Dame and others. A great program that recruits nationally.

I did not have LAX players. Saint X does win, but it's because it puts an effort into the program. Many scholarship players have been produced. X goes out of state to play better competition. Schools don't want to play here. Many treat it like intramurals instead of a sport. If you don't want to play the best and compete to get better, make it intramurals and give everyone a Tshirt.