The Lower Mainland is one of the top places in Canada where field lacrosse is played. This may be a result of the weather in this area of the country being far more suitable to playing sports outside in the winter; however, it has allowed for a great sport to grow within the minor associations of B.C.
Although other sports, such as soccer, are played outside during the school year, B.C. universities have ignored the demand for collegiate field lacrosse within the province. This has resulted in almost all of the best local players deciding before the age of 17 to either travel to America to pay an unreasonable amount of money to follow their passion, or simply quit the sport they love. With a rapid growth of field lacrosse within the minor associations (under the age of 18) and Canada being one of the top-ranking countries at the sport, UFV and other B.C. schools should consider adding field lacrosse to their varsity programs.
At this current time, there are many great, young, talented players that will not be able to continue their career in the sport due to the complexities of becoming eligible to play for an American university. On top of that, the tuition cost for many American universities with lacrosse programs is unrealistic for many people.
This is where B.C. schools would help with the development of young talent. Relatively speaking, the cost of school is far less in Canada than at American universities. Adding lacrosse to the varsity programs is a win-win situation for the players and the schools: local universities retain students and students can play the sport they love close to home.
There are currently only two universities that support lacrosse within B.C.: the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Despite having the second-largest player base for the sport of all Canadian provinces, B.C. is far behind Ontario when it comes to the development of players in universities. Although B.C. has some of the best winters for outside sports, Ontario and Quebec are the only provinces with a college league for lacrosse. Currently, the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) has 14 teams. This is crucial to the development of young players, as it tells them there’s a place to go, close to home, to continue pursuing the sport.
Although B.C. is one of the most played areas for minor field lacrosse in Canada, most of the players tend to lean toward box lacrosse (the indoor variation of the sport) as they get older. This is due to the fact that box lacrosse is more accessible within the province. With the raised importance of field lacrosse in Ontario, by having it incorporated into their colleges, players continue playing the sport past minor. When looking at Team Canada’s field lacrosse roster it is apparent that Ontario universities’ support for the sport has helped the province become a lacrosse power house. Out of the 22-man roster, 15 players come from Ontario, opposed to B.C.’s six.
The universities within B.C. have already figured out a way for sports played in similar climates, like soccer, to work, and adding field lacrosse to the university programs only makes sense. Currently, Ontario is seen as the most desired place for lacrosse; however, with the increased attention to the sport, B.C. could become the top province for field lacrosse.
Image: Photographer Unknown
Photo: Nic Jackson
