Creating a post-collegiate lacrosse league that represented and fostered the values I found lacking elsewhere is something I’ve wanted to do for several years. Now, things have finally all fallen into place so I can make this dream a reality with the debut of Maryland Lacrosse League later this spring.
At inception, the Maryland Lacrosse League will be made up of three divisions – Bayside, Black-Eyed Susan, & Capital – that evoke the character and history of the Baltimore-DC corridor, the epicenter of lacrosse in the U.S. We’ll be playing on state of the art fields to provide a championship experience every game, culminating in Championship Weekend, June 29th at Tierney Field at US Lacrosse Headquarters in Sparks, Md., and capped off with an All-Star Game July 20th at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
It’s my goal that the Maryland Lacrosse League turns into more than just a league and becomes a social experience that players consider an integral part of their lives along with their homes and workplaces. Because as everyone who loves the sport knows, it’s more than just a game, it’s really a lifestyle. The Maryland Lacrosse League seeks to grow the game of lacrosse by providing a fun and safe, but also competitive, and of course, social lacrosse experience for players of all skill levels. The explosion of the craft brewing and distilling movement also gives us a great opportunity to support local businesses for post-game socializing and team building, and we’re working with local establishments to bring the best possible environment for the players during and after the games.
To promote the local flavor and foster camaraderie, we went beyond the usual summer league deal of random teams of free agents in cheap t-shirts with no cohesion or image and worked with local bars and our friends at Sidewinder Sports. They are a Crofton, Maryland-based team apparel manufacturer that will create an identity for each team. Some of the partnerships we have established for the first season include the Charles Village Pub, Full Tilt Brewery, Austin Eastciders and Old Line Whiskey. We’ve created great looking uniforms to promote the support they are providing us via post-game food and drink specials, and other perks like brewery and distillery tours for players and their families. There’s nothing like enjoying plates of hot wings and pitchers of cold beer on a summer night with teammates after a hard fought win — we aim to recreate the feelings evoked by the memories of your favorite post-collegiate team. We’re turning back the clock to when you first discovered the world of adult lacrosse beyond high school and college, and the joys playing and hanging out with old pals and your new best friends.
We hope this idea will create a fun and fair playoff environment while bringing a competitive piece for bragging rights. Imagine bringing back the glory days of Championship weekend and playing for something special. Maybe it’s drinking out of the trophy cup or scoring a goal in the championship.
Picture this, you made it to the finals, its 5-5 with two minutes left and you score the game-winning goal. In most leagues, you would just win the league and maybe get a t-shirt. We have partnered with Sidewinder Sports to bring the winning team a $500 uniform credit and a special team bottle of Old Line Whiskey. So this makes the finals a little more important and if you’re able to win, you truly have something cool to look forward to.
Lastly, we will be having the first-annual Maryland Lacrosse League All-Star Game in a partnership with the Chesapeake Bayhawks. This will take place at Navy Stadium in Annapolis, MD before the July 20th Chesapeake Bayhawks game against the New York Lizards. This game will feature 4-5 players from each team.
We are trying to make it so all you need to do is show up and play. The player fee will be $125, which includes 8-9 games, officials, league photos, a league trophy, jerseys and specials at select bars, breweries and distilleries. This means free tasting, discounted beer, and amazing deals to help create the best possible environment for the players on and off the field. If you are interested in playing please sign up today!
Register Today: https://mdlacrosseleague.sportngin.com/register/form/109091687
