The Early Adapters of "Olympic 6-Man lacrosse"

We want to include some key area teams and programs in a Discussion

Namely (GLEN ELLYN, River City-ST. CHARLES, WHEATON, Southwest -PLAINFIELD, LAKE PARK, New Trier/Loyola-WINETKA, ARLINGTON, NAPERVILLE, WOODSTOCK-ROCKFORD,)

Around the introduction of a 6 man game format - and a conceptual model of team organization - which we hope to build PR and momentum for through the PLL games - and the "Chicago Lacrosse Community" event on June 15th & 16th and the Chicago Shootout tournament on June 17th. We are setting up an experimental 6 man game this next Thursday - and will invite 4 to 8 teams to participate in as many as four summer exhibition proof of concept events of 6 man - as mini-tourney events in locations around Chicagoland over the summer. The IOC - is currently experimenting with lacrosse - with the goal of creating an introduction of the 6 man game for the 2028 Olympics in LA. I happened to meet the new CEO, a former President of the IOC, in Israel last summer and the head of the competition committee of the newly branded World Lacrosse Organization (FIL), and have been tracking this development with them, as well as with the head of US lacrosse. It so happens that we have an opportunity at Glenbard to introduce a possible future Olympic game format of lacrosse - in a little exhibition game next Thursday. 6 Man is a field game on a 60x40 field - so widthwise on a normal field - with a limited 10 man rosters (officially) and 6 men on the field, with 8 minute quarters and a shot clock. One-two long poles (Lsm, Close) and 3-4 short sticks along with a goalie on a big field goal 6x6 is the estimated player structure. I have invited Lake Park to Demo this format next Thursday at Glenbard's Newton park at 4:30-6:00 PM during the Glenbard practice time as a point of interest - and as a way to introduct parents to a little demo with perhaps a picnic.

(We will be proposing an adjusted proposal for HS club playoffs as this is a big transition year - and will update this proposal over the weekend as well as promote it at the exhibition game). I hope to have the 6 man scrimmage game next Thursday filmed - for demonstration purposes - and thus we will have short time to get ready. I am confident of the 6 man format - having entered Glenbard and Patriot teams in the New Wave Tournaments over the years - which as it turns out - our consistent 10 player pick up rosters on these teams - actually has given the Glenbard and Patriot teams a likely early Olympic "team" composition experience, as we have at least a 5 year history of entry with 10 player rosters in the 6 man game tournaments hosted by New Wave in November (Buffalo Brawl), December (Big Freeze) and February (Revolution). This will be an exciting innovation in the game of lacrosse as it develops. The 6 man Olympic team compositions of rosters I think also will serve the sport well in the development of future club organizations - which would need to have a layered and limited rosters of players in competitive events to conform and prepare: This would "tier" teams according to levels of play of players, which would really help motivate player development. Model of a Club might look like: Open - Men's (age 16 and up) Competitive team - 10 players Juniors - Men's (age 16 and up) Developmental team - 10-15 players Collegiate - Collegiate age (age 16-25) - 10-15 players/team Prep - Boys (age 13-19) - 10-15 players/team (competitive level limited to 10) Youth - Boys u13 - 10 -15 players/team (competitive level limited to 10) Potential future 6 man seasons: Spring - off (players encouraged to play with School teams) Summers - Exhibition Tournaments/Summer travel tourneys Fall - Sept-Oct - Regular 6 man Season - Nov-Dec - International 6 man Playoff Season Winter - Indoor Tournament Season Advantages: 1. Players would be incentivized to "make" the competitive levels 2. Team Organizations would be able to have multi-tiers in a community 3. Players would be able to organize friends easily onto teams at Prep, Collegiate and Men's levels of play 4. Higher touch games and practices would accellerate players for Olympic and International competitions. 5 The.6 Man game would better prep players for 10 man field game. 6. Players would be encouraged to learn to travel the world while playing lacrosse. 7. Athletes around the world would have a quicker pathway to competitive lacrosse.

I hope members of these initial four - eight communities might feel free to comment or blog in this discussion as we develop the concept of 6 man in the area as the "early adopters" of Olympic Lacrosse.