blog #22- benefits to universities.

Todays post is about how lacrosse as a sanctioned sport would benefit college universities. Some ways that it would be good for college universities is that is has great potential to; attract more kids, the newness creates excitement, adds different demographic to the school, the fans love the sport so more people to college events, and could possibly fix title 9. The more athletes attending a university the merrier. With lacrosse growing as rapidly as it is in Utah, the chances of players wanting to attend a school in the state and play their sport is very high. I know from personal experience that I was drawn to the idea of playing at the college level in this state, but was quickly shot down because of the costs of playing, if I wanted to go on scholarship I would have to leave the state for sure! So this would benefit the universities majorly! Lacrosse players would be running in left and right to attend the schools here. The newness of the game creates excitement! We all know how fun it is when something new is added to the norm, and in college it is nothing but tradition and norm. If lacrosse was added it would attract several new fans because they would be so interested in what the sport is, and because it is such a fun, fast paced game, the fans would keep on coming! It is a great opportunity for the university to get advertising out again and reboot the love that previous students had at the school, new upcoming students, and simply just fans. It would create popularity to the school, and it could be really beneficial if the teams did good in their conference and won a lot of games, it could add trophies and records to that school. Adding a new sport would create a lot of attraction, therefore it would add diversity to the campus. It could attract all sorts of races, different types of athletes, etc. One of the biggest benefits that would occur would be the potential to fix the title 9 issue in colleges. Title 9 is when there is not an equal amount of men's and women's sports at a university. There is men's football and there needs to be another girls team, so women's lacrosse could fix the issue. There are several benefits to adding lacrosse in utah and then in university's.

Blog post #21- use of facilities

Todays post is about the use of facilities for lacrosse players. As a player in the game of lacrosse, and because it is not yet a sanctioned sport in the state of Utah, finding places to play games and practice can be really difficult. High schools do not let athletes play on the fields at the school because they are for other sports, so if we wanted to play on their field we would have to pay a pretty heavy, quite outrageous fee. An article from the Daily Herald, addresses the subject, “The Utah House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would allow high school club teams to use high school fields for their practices and games. While some schools allow club sports or non-UHSAA sanctioned sports, such as lacrosse, to use school facilities for free, others are charging clubs a fee. Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, would like to get rid of those fees. "What we are finding is that many schools are restricting the use of the playing fields," Sandstrom said. "These kids deserve access to their fields. "Sandstrom noted that some high school club lacrosse teams are being charged $1,000 a game to use the school's facilities and felt that was unfair treatment when other clubs in the school can use the facilities for no charge. The clubs would not have priority over UHSAA sanctioned practices or games, meaning a club lacrosse match could not take priority over a UHSAA girls soccer game.” (http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/legislature/house-passes-bill-to-allow-club-teams-to-use-high/article_8e5da8e3-226c-52bc-a9e9-5947e213f25a.html.) This article explains how lacrosse is not a priority to high schools. Other club teams are allowed to use the field without a great cost, so why is lacrosse so different? As lacrosse has been debating being sanctioned over the past few years, this specific problem has come up as well, “Thatcher said finding some of the same resources that sanctioned sports receive as school-sponsored activities has posed the greatest challenge. Those struggles include access to school weight rooms as a team, traveling on school buses, having enough knowledgeable officials, and even finding a place to play. “Finding fields is a constant struggle,” Thatcher said. Elder agreed, saying: “The growth of the sport has even been slightly inhibited by the lack of green space.”Cuff stated that, by being a member of the UHSAA, schools are often more apt to support teams with facilities. However, not even all sanctioned events take place on school grounds. Many soccer and softball teams, for example, compete at fields not located on school property. Thatcher added that, as the club sport has grown in popularity, support from the Olympus administration and Titan community has also increased. As the new Olympus High was being built, he was part of a parent group that successfully lobbied for lacrosse field lines to be added to the turf football field.” (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865583648/High-school-lacrosse-UHSAA-lacrosse-proponents-debate-sanctioning-the-sport-in-Utah.html.) Lacrosse is growing rapidly all over the state, and it is sad to think that the playing of games and practicing for the teams would be restricted because there was nowhere for these athletes to go. Although some high schools are adding lacrosse lines, not all high schools have been. People are starting to realize how big this sport is getting and so the administration is benefiting the players by adding lines to their field. If lacrosse were to get sanctioned I believe that this would be one of the biggest benefits. I am not saying that lacrosse expects everything to be free, of course we would pay the fees and taxes for a field, it would be quite cheaper in the long run anyway, but at least we would have access to a field.

blog #20- benefits of lacrosse

Todays post is about how sanctioning lacrosse would benefit college universities and high school campuses. Before we have talked about why lacrosse should be sanctioned, and we have talked about why it isn't. So today will be interesting to see what we can find out about the benefits specifically that will come for the schools. Campuses would benefit from adding lacrosse to their school because it would create push and academic drive for the athletes. In high school athletics there is a certain grade point average that needs to be met in order to be eligible to play in the games. This would make it so the students were motivated to get better grades they need to play. With this rule the students become student athletes. They figure out how to keep up the best grades they need and therefore reflects on the school for their academics. Another way that it would be beneficial for schools would be because it increases school spirit! Another sport being added is exciting! That is a whole new fan section, more supportive friends and even parents. School pride is what makes a great school a great school. In other more serious terms, school pride creates more support, more sponsors, more money going into the school from gear and team fee’s, etc. There also is the aspect of the benefits that come from winning games. It creates a winning reputation for your school, and that is another trophy potentially in your hall. A website talks about the basic benefits of lacrosse, and it fits well with todays post. “Lacrosse is a fun and high energy game that is growing quickly in the United States. Interest is starting at a young age. girls and boys alike are lining up to play this sport. The athleticism, skills and finesse needed are pulling kids from all over to engage in Lacrosse. There is a misconception of danger related to this sport however, and that raises parents concerns regarding their child participating. There has been a lot of work to help Lacrosse be a safe sport and these concerns can be put to rest. Besides, the benefits far out weigh the potential risks. Benefit #1: Increase Mental Health Children participating in Lacrosse are benefited in their mind as well as their body. Depression is taking over many people's lives. Children are among the rising numbers effected by this disease. Although medication may be needed, activity considerably decreases the amount needed. Some studies have shown that sixty minutes of physical activity each day is as effective as a low dose of antidepressant. Although activity is not meant to replace medication it can help reduce symptoms. Exercise also releases endorphins and tension in your muscles along with improving attitude and clearing the mind. All of these things together mean a happier kid, and more able to handle the challenges of life now and develop a method of reducing stress that will benefit them their entire life. Your child doesn't suffer from depression? The same benefits apply. Youth experience stress and anxiety regardless of specific health conditions. Benefit #2: Prevents Obesity Child obesity on the rise with many youth just watching, cheering, and idolizing sports and athletes. The television is on and the chips are out. Not only are they increasing caloric intake, but the lack of activity lowers their overall metabolism and makes putting on the weight easier and continual throughout the day and night. Because there seems to be a trend of across the board of inactivity and weight gain among children and adolescence the U.S. government has even established programs to help kids move and make activity a daily part of their life. Physical education programs are cut back and even cut out in some schools. Children's physical activity is limited to that which they get on the playground and high school students are not opting to take as many P.E. classes as even 10 years ago. Lacrosse is a challenging and engaging sport that motivates children and teens to want to get the exercise they need. Benefit #3: Build Endurance Lacrosse combines the skills of basketball, soccer and hockey into a fast paced, high endurance test of strength and agility. With a playing area roughly the size of a football field there is a high demand for speed and strength. The training is rigorous and focused. Dedication is required to succeed. Struggling physically also helps build a person mentally. Pushing through and making a goal builds confidence and commitment. The hard work that goes into this sport helps develop a strong character, one that will benefit a person for years to come and help them endure other things in life unrelated to the game. Benefit #4: Social Interaction One of the great things about team sports is that you are part of a team. The players work, sweat, plan and play together. The time spent focused on a goal bonds the players together. Childhood and adolescense is a time for searching and learning to relate to peers and form friendships. Playing together allows for positive shared experiences with others and a setting to develop social skills. Children and teens who can be together and have a common purpose will have a greater chance at success in life, as much of what people do for work and community involves associating and working with others. If your child is interested in playing lacrosse, these are only a few benefits they will experience. With the popularity of this sport growing more each year, and with leagues and teams set up all over the country, it is a past-time that can continue on throughout their life.” Even though this isn't directly about high school and colleges it applies completely to high school students and college students. When you look deeper lacrosse is more than just basic benefits, it goes deeper into the players.

Blog #19- The challanges of club lacrosse

Today's blog is a real life example of the struggle in scholarships for lacrosse players in Utah. Specifically the University of Utah. “Rumors have been swirling the past few days that the University of Utah was considering adding Men's Lacrosse as an official NCAA division I sport. Utah already has a men's lacrosse team, however it is not an official division I sanctioned team at this time. Then today reports began to surface that Utah had indeed decided to add Men's Lacrosse in either 2019 or 2020. Lax Sports Network tweeted this: @LaxSportsNet BREAKING: Sources confirm to LSN @utahathletics official announcement about adding DI lacrosse is expected Thursday http://goo.gl/iZociu 11:43 AM - 12 Jul 2016 12 12 Retweets 28 28 likes However almost as soon a Lax Sports Net sent out that tweet, the University's official athletic department twitter account refuted the report. Utah Athletics ✔@utahathletics @LaxSportsNet @UUtah There is no plan by Utah Athletics to add lacrosse or any NCAA sport at this time. 11:46 AM - 12 Jul 2016 26 26 Retweets 38 38 likes So what's going on? Is Utah really considering men's lacrosse as an official sport? While the twitter can be less than reliable at times for factual information, it is strange that so many reports about Utah adding lacrosse would come out of thin air if there was indeed nothing in the works. Adding to the speculation was the recent news that Seth Neelman, a former Loyola Maryland recruit would be joining Utah as member of the 2020 class and August Colonna was transferring to Utah from Wagner, a division I program back east. The thought was why would these players choose to give up playing division I lacrosse to play for a club team at Utah? If the speculation is true, Utah would be the first Pac-12 school with division I lacrosse and also the westernmost division I program in the country. Currently the University of Denver and Air Force are the westernmost division I programs. Currently division I lacrosse is primarily an east coast sport, with 85% of the programs being located on the eastern seaboard between New Hampshire and Maryland. Obviously the sport is becoming more popular every year out west and the sport would love to see expansion into the Pac-12 market. As of now the University has denied they are adding lacrosse, so this is all speculation at this point. We will keep an eye on this topic and update if anything changes.” I looked farther into the Utah Utes men's lacrosse club program and found this article from the daily chronicle. “Practicing from 10 p.m. until midnight isn’t ideal, and neither is the alternative — practicing at 6 a.m. That’s the hand the majority of the club sport teams on the U campus have been dealt, and one they make the best of. To put it bluntly, it’s a hand they have to get over if they are going to find success on field. The lack of scholarships also isn’t ideal, so the players who participate are primarily doing it for the love of the game and not much else. These programs often get overlooked, however; in these club sports are people dedicated to not only performing well on the field, but also academically. Although they are dealt a tough hand, it’s one they live with, and one that’s better than the alternative — not competing at all. Women’s and men’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, and rugby are just a few club sports at the U. PAYING TO PLAY Typically when the words “pay” and “play” go together, it’s associated with the debate over whether or not college athletes should be paid to play. But for some club sports at Utah, it means having to pay to play — as in students who participate with these club sports are often paying their own money so they can continue playing a sport they love. While the thread of paying to play isn’t a theme with all the club sports, it is the hardship some have to overcome. The women’s lacrosse team recently hosted tryouts and while the girls were competing for a spot, the coaches were not sure there was even going to be a team. Club president Janessa Milne said they had to decide whether or not having a team would be worth it. It was something she hated saying out loud because she thinks the girls on the squad out-work most anyone else and she did not want to let them down. But the team is alive and well. While this is certainly the best outcome they could have hoped for, it seems to be something that probably wouldn’t have taken the players off guard. Head coach Tracy Pati mentioned that a few of the girls from last year decided to focus on their schoolwork and others decided they would rather save their money for a study abroad. The girls who stayed committed to the team would do anything to continue competing though. “As soon as a few players started changing their priorities and commitment, it changed the team dynamic,” Pati said. “It was nerve-wracking, because they could have picked not to be there and we wouldn’t have had a team. But they have chosen to be there and I think we are going to have an a amazing season.” This year, Pati estimates each player may end up paying around $2,000 for travel arrangements, field times, officials, gear, etc.. They will do some fundraising to combat the costs, but it will most likely stay in a thousand dollar frame. As for the rugby team, other programs in the country offer scholarships, but sometimes it is not enough to cover tuition for out of state students.” It then continues on talking about waking up for early mornings to practice. From the article it is easy to tell how inconvenient club lacrosse is in college, it can be done but it is harder.