LA28 offers lacrosse an unprecedented platform to expand its reach, attract new audiences, and strengthen its global footprint
By Kristen Cerney
Lacrosse will break its over-century-long hiatus as a contesting Olympic sport in the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (LA28). With its return, fans and players anticipate what the international spotlight means for the future of lacrosse as an official Olympic sport.
The inclusion will occur under the Sixes format–a faster, more compact blend of traditional and field box lacrosse. World Lacrosse created this version in 2018 with the Olympic stage in mind. In order to make it to the Games, the sport needed to be more accessible for athletes of all levels while reducing the cost of event staging.
A Breakdown of the Sixes Format
Characterized as an accelerated form of the sport, the game times out at 45 minutes with six players per team and no specialty positions. This version gained significant traction after its feature in the 2022 World Games, and has now landed itself a spot at LA28.
“This version of the game lowers barriers to entry for youth by requiring fewer players and a smaller field, while also creating a more balanced competitive landscape at the elite level,” said Marc Riccio, CEO of USA Lacrosse. “At the national team level, it’s a fast-paced version of the sport that should engage new audiences.”
Kevin Corrigan, head men’s lacrosse coach at Notre Dame, noted that while many purists in the sport would rather see the traditional field version featured, they still view the compromise as worthwhile.
“The game that we play is a better game, more exciting,” said Corrigan. “We weren’t going to get that game into the Olympics.”
The creation of the Sixes format echoes the strategy World Rugby adopted with its Sevens format. In 2009, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted rugby into the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. In the years after the vote, rugby doubled in global participation and quintupled in women’s participation. Should lacrosse see the same success, it will have the ability to reach new markets and build competitive national teams without requiring extensive infrastructure or large rosters.
World Lacrosse aspires to see growth in viewership, participation, and credibility as an official Olympic sport. Just as rugby gained worldwide recognition as an energizing, competitive sport for all ages and genders, lacrosse has positioned itself for the same success.
How the Olympic Spotlight Reshapes Lacrosse
Gaining a spot at the Olympics will shine a light on lacrosse’s qualification cycle, such as team selection, world championships, and the process to qualify to play in the Olympics.
“The Olympics will attract more sponsorships, broadcasting opportunities, and potential increased investors,” said Christine Halfpenny, head women’s lacrosse coach at Notre Dame. “We’re already seeing the PLL and WLL utilize the global brand the Olympics delivers to market the sport and the summer playing schedules.”
Building that brand and strengthening the digital media presence is crucial to reach a widespread audience.
International Expansion
Olympic lacrosse’s most significant impact, according to Corrigan, may occur outside the United States. Many countries tie their athletic funding to sports featured at the Olympics. This causes a substantial participation blockage to sports, like lacrosse, that haven’t been featured in decades.
“Having it be an Olympic sport is going to unlock a lot of resources around the world for the game to expand,” said Corrigan.
Halfpenny agrees and emphasizes that more funding options from sponsors and supporters can expand programming for all ages.
“That government funding, sponsorships, and youth development programs will add increased support and help the sport grow in non-traditional countries,” said Halfpenny.
Preparing for the International Stage
While much of the preparation efforts are geared towards education and adoption of the Sixes format, measures are being taken to ensure those inspired to join the sport have an easy entryway.
“Equally important is building sustainable community pathways so that new fans inspired by the Olympics have accessible opportunities to participate in the sport locally,” said Riccio.
USA Lacrosse also expanded the sport to be more accessible for players with physical or developmental disabilities. Some of these formats include wheelchair lacrosse, impairment-specific formats, and unified lacrosse, where athletes with and without disabilities play alongside one another.
As these organizations make easier pathways towards lacrosse for new participants, established players are putting a pause on their career plans in order to improve their chances of competing at LA28.
“The guys who are going to be in their prime for that Olympic cycle are super excited about it,” said Corrigan. “There’s nothing they could do inside the game that would be more meaningful than playing in the Olympics for the United States.”
LA28 will shape the future of lacrosse for the foreseeable future. Athletes and stakeholders hold firm in the belief that it will stand as a parapet for future expansion nationally and internationally, transcending the beloved sport into a household name.
