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World Lacrosse
World Lacrosse logo.png
Sport Lacrosse
Jurisdiction International
Membership 91
Founded 2008; 16 years ago (2008)
Affiliation ARISF, IWGA, GAISF
Headquarters Colorado Springs, Colorado,
United States
President Sue Redfern
CEO Jim Scherr
Vice president(s) Steve Stenersen
(founded) IFWLA (1972)
ILF (1974)
Official website

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. Its headquarters are in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.

World Lacrosse has 91 members. It is the only international sport organization to recognize First Nations bands and Native American tribes as sovereign nations. 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. In May 2019, the Federation of International Lacrosse launched a rebrand and changed its name to World Lacrosse.

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.

Tournaments

World Lacrosse organizes the following tournaments:

  • World Lacrosse Men's Championship (Founded in 1967)
  • World Lacrosse Women's World Championships (Founded in 1982)
  • World Lacrosse Men's U20 Championship (Founded in 1988)
  • World Lacrosse Women's U20 Championship (Founded in 1995)
  • World Lacrosse Box Championships (Founded in 2003)
  • World Lacrosse Men's Sixes Championship (Starting in 2026)
  • World Lacrosse Women's Sixes Championship (Starting in 2026)

Members

As of March 2024, there are 92 member countries in World Lacrosse, 48 full members and 44 associate members.' 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.

  • Benin Benin (2023)
  • Botswana Botswana (2023)
  • Burkina Faso Burkina Faso (2023)
  • Ivory Coast Cote d'Ivoire (2023)
  • Ghana Ghana (2019)
  • Kenya Kenya (2016)
  • Mozambique Mozambique (2023)
  • Nigeria Nigeria (2022)
  • Rwanda Rwanda (2022)
  • Sierra Leone Sierra Leone (2023)
  • South Africa South Africa (2021)
  • Togo Togo (2023)
  • Uganda Uganda (2011)
  • Zambia Zambia (2023)
  • Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (2023)

Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union

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

  • Australia Australia (1974)
  • Cambodia Cambodia (2022)
  • China China (2012)
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong (2002)
  • India India (2021)
  • Indonesia Indonesia (2021)
  • Iran Iran (2022)
  • Japan Japan (1990)
  • Malaysia Malaysia (2021)
  • New Zealand New Zealand (2002)
  • Pakistan Pakistan (2024)
  • Philippines Philippines (2014)
  • Qatar Qatar (2017)
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (2021)
  • Singapore Singapore (2013)
  • South Korea South Korea (1995)
  • Chinese Taipei Chinese Taipei (2014)
  • Thailand Thailand (2010)
  • Uzbekistan Uzbekistan (2023)
  • Vietnam Vietnam (2021)

European Lacrosse Federation

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

  • Austria Austria (2005)
  • Belgium Belgium (2009)
  • Bulgaria Bulgaria (2008)
  • Croatia Croatia (2016)
  • Czech Republic Czech Republic (1992)
  • Denmark Denmark (2003)
  • England England (1974)
  • Estonia Estonia (2013)
  • Finland Finland (2004)
  • France France (2008)
  • Germany Germany (1994)
  • Greece Greece (2017)
  • Hungary Hungary (2011)
  • Republic of Ireland Ireland (2002)
  • Israel Israel (2005)
  • Italy Italy (2003)
  • Latvia Latvia (2004)
  • Lithuania Lithuania (2019)
  • Luxembourg Luxembourg (2017)
  • Malta Malta (2023)
  • Netherlands Netherlands (2004)
  • Norway Norway (2008)
  • Poland Poland (2008)
  • Portugal Portugal (2008)
  • Russia Russia (2011)
  • Scotland Scotland (1995)
  • Serbia Serbia (2010)
  • Slovakia Slovakia (2004)
  • Slovenia Slovenia (2005)
  • Spain Spain (2004)
  • Sweden Sweden (1994)
  • Switzerland Switzerland (2008)
  • Turkey Türkiye (2010)
  • Ukraine Ukraine (2018)
  • Wales Wales (1995)

Pan-American Lacrosse Association

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

  • Argentina Argentina (2002)
  • Barbados Barbados (2019)
  • Bermuda Bermuda (2006)
  • Brazil Brazil (2023)
  • Canada Canada (1974)
  • Chile Chile (2017)
  • Colombia Colombia (2013)
  • Costa Rica Costa Rica (2008)
  • Dominican Republic Dominican Republic (2020)
  • Ecuador Ecuador (2018)
  • Guatemala Guatemala (2010)
  • Haiti Haiti (2016)
  • Iroquois Haudenosaunee (1985)
  • Jamaica Jamaica (2013)
  • Mexico Mexico (2009)
  • Nicaragua Nicaragua (2022)
  • Panama Panama (2020)
  • Peru Peru (2012)
  • Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (2016)
  • United States United States (1974)
  • Uruguay Uruguay (2022)
  • United States Virgin Islands U.S. Virgin Islands (2020)

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:

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. 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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: World Lacrosse para niños

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