World Lacrosse
SportLacrosse
JurisdictionInternational
Membership91
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008)
AffiliationARISF, IWGA, GAISF
HeadquartersColorado Springs, Colorado,
United States
PresidentSue Redfern[1]
CEOJim Scherr
Vice president(s)Steve Stenersen
(founded)IFWLA (1972)
ILF (1974)
Official website
worldlacrosse.sport

World Lacrosse (WL), formerly the Federation of International Lacrosse, is the international governing body of lacrosse, responsible for the men's, women's, and indoor versions of the sport. It was established in 2008 by the merger of the previously separate men's and women's international lacrosse associations.[2] Its headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.[3]

World Lacrosse has 91 members.[4] It is the only international sport organization to recognize First Nations bands and Native American tribes as sovereign nations.[citation needed] The Haudenosaunee Nationals of the First Nations Lacrosse Association represent the Haudenosaunee people of New York and Ontario.

World Lacrosse was given provisional recognition status by the International Olympic Committee in November 2018.[5] In May 2019, the Federation of International Lacrosse launched a rebrand and changed its name to World Lacrosse.[6]

In March 2022, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian teams, athletes, and officials were suspended from participation in World Lacrosse events and qualifiers, and it was decided that no World Lacrosse or European Lacrosse Federation events would be held in Russia.[7]

Tournaments

World Lacrosse organizes the following tournaments:

Members

See also: List of national lacrosse governing bodies

As of October 2023, there are 91 member countries in World Lacrosse, 48 full members and 43 associate members.[4] Membership is split between four continental federations who are affiliated with World Lacrosse and help to develop lacrosse across the world. Associate members are in italics.

African Association of Lacrosse

The African Association of Lacrosse has 2 full members and 13 associate members.

Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union

The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union has 9 full members and 10 associate members.

European Lacrosse Federation

The European Lacrosse Federation has 26 full members and 8 associate members.

Pan-American Lacrosse Association

The Pan-American Lacrosse Association has 11 full members and 11 associate members.

Awards

Lifetime Achievement Award
Name Country Year
Laurie Turnbull Australia 1974
Jack Wilkinson England 1978
Buzzy Budnitz USA 1982
Marshall Spence Canada 1986
Margaret Boyd England 1989
Jane Vache USA 1989
Clive Carr Australia 1990
Elizabeth Blaydes England 1993
Jackie Pitts USA 1993
Stan Smith England 1994
Lanetta Ware USA 2001
Tom Hayes USA 2002
Peter Hobbs Australia 2008
Feffie Barnhill USA 2009
Fiona Clark Australia 2009
Susie Ganzenmuller USA 2009
Marge Garinger USA 2009
Sue Redfern England 2009
Stan Cockerton Canada 2017
Shelley Maher Australia 2017
Sources:[8][9]

Predecessor organizations

International Lacrosse Federation

The International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) was founded in 1974 to promote and develop men's lacrosse throughout the world. Before 2008, the international governing bodies for men's and women's lacrosse were separate, which was one of the obstacles of lacrosse one day becoming an Olympic sport.[citation needed] In August 2008 in Lahti, Finland, the ILF and the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations merged to become the Federation of International Lacrosse.

ILF Founders: Thomas Hayes (USA) Don Hobbs (Australia) Laurie Turnbull (Australia) Nigel Wade (England)

The ILF conducted the World Lacrosse Championship, World Indoor Lacrosse Championship and the men's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, all of which were taken over by the FIL.

IFWLA

The International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA) was formed in 1972 to promote and develop women's lacrosse throughout the world. It wound up its affairs in August 2008 when it agreed to merge with the ILF to form the Federation of International Lacrosse.

Promoting all levels of lacrosse included IFWLA sponsorship of the Women's Lacrosse World Cup and the Women's Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, tournaments taken over by the FIL.

See also

References

  1. ^ Nelson, Adam (14 August 2019). "Sue Redfern re-elected as World Lacrosse president". SportBusiness. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ^ Weaver, John (4 September 2008). "Men's and women's international lacrosse groups merge". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  3. ^ "World Lacrosse". World Lacrosse. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b "World Lacrosse Member Nations". World Lacrosse. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  5. ^ Logue, Brian (30 November 2018). "Welcome to the World: IOC Recognizes FIL". US Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  6. ^ Mackay, Duncan (5 May 2019). "Lacrosse launches new name and logo at SportAccord Summit as continues Olympic push". Inside the Games. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  7. ^ "World Lacrosse condemns Russian government actions, suspends Russian athletes and officials". World Lacrosse. 2 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Awards". World Lacrosse. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  9. ^ Etchells, Daniel (15 December 2017). "Federation of International Lacrosse presents two leading officials with lifetime achievement award". Inside the Games. Retrieved 20 December 2017.

External links

World Lacrosse
International sports federations
Lacrosse
Authority control databases
Categories