print	www.ulax.org	close window
ULAX Blog Entry: THE ULAX NETWORK 12/9/2009 (updated 1/4/2010) Lacrosse has become the fastest growing sport in America. It combines various aspects of many other sports, like basketball, hockey, and soccer, while at the same time not rewarding only certain characteristics, like height being a definitive advantage in basketball, or size in hockey, but instead size and speed must come in balance in order to be effective, and always paired with stick skills, the ultimate equalizing factor. A good goalie or good offense/defense are advantageous, but they are not any one of them the most essential. Instead it is the team as an entire entity that determines success or failure. A good coach and solid game plan are necessary elements to success. This idea creates an environment that is nearly impossible to replicate without an organized setting. A “pick-up” lacrosse game is very difficult to organize unless you have a large number of talented players, 2 goalies, a field, and lots of fresh balls. The sport inherently needs organization to be competitive, and only when sport is competitive is it enjoyable to its fullest extent. That’s where ULAX comes in. One of the main reasons for lacrosse’s recent growth can be seen at the youth to high school level. Teams and youth leagues all across the country have been cropping up increasing the demand for equipment as well as creating opportunities for companies that were never there before. ULAX is a college-aged “intramural-like” league that occupies a rather specific demographic in the lacrosse world, one that has been greatly rising in numbers as the youth of America discovers this ancient sport, and inevitably graduates high school and moves on to college. The NCAA has recognized lacrosse for years, but the mindset of the average lacrosse player is a laid-back, almost “skater” type personality that opposes the extremely strict, rigid structure of a college team’s practice and game schedule. ULAX looks to attract the player that wants to keep playing, but is tired of a know-it-all coach screaming in their face and making them run sprints while their friends all party and have fun. With ULAX, there are no practices, only games. ULAX was created to allow players the opportunity to continue playing lacrosse while not demanding a military schedule. Players are grouped with friends or ex-teammates at their own request, but beyond that the teams are thrown together mostly at random to try and create the most competitive environment possible. The balance between competition and laid-back enjoyment is a point, which ULAX prides itself on, while at the same time focusing on a level of professionalism and organization not commonly seen in today’s lacrosse world. The frontiers in which ULAX breaks the most ground involve an unprecedented level of player exposure and an online interface that allows players to check statistics after each game, see photos, and even watch video. The league strives to create an environment for the players that is fun, competitive, and inviting, but the creators of ULAX, Tim Leonard and Neema Kassaii, see the possibilities for the network of leagues as infinite. Their major focus is on creating an environment where players will be looking forward every week to coming and playing. This involves getting lots of players to show up ensuring a competitive game, as well as building crowds to watch the games, a point which is vital to the continued growth. ULAX was started in 2005 and has since spread to numerous other cities across the US. To see if there is a league in your area, check the ULAX website at - www.ulax.org - Max L. (Boulder)
print		close window