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New Team USBOXLA roster format will feature East & West teams

By Press Release, 11/08/19, 11:00AM PST

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For the first time in US Box Lacrosse Association (USBOXLA) history, Team USBOXLA will be split into two elite rosters – Team USBOXLA East and Team USBOXLA West. 

Due to overwhelming demand every year for a place on these teams, USBOXLA has doubled the amount of roster opportunities, now allowing high-level American box lacrosse players to represent their region – East & West – at separate tournaments in Canada. The teams will also play one another at the 2020 USBOXLA Nationals – held every August in Huntington Beach, California – to determine which region reigns supreme.

Both Team USBOXLA East and Team USBOXLA West will include Pee Wee (08/09), Bantam (06/07), and Midget (04/05) rosters. 


For the first time ever, Team USBOXLA will be split into East & West rosters (Photo: Sherri Thomson)

“We receive several hundred player sign-up forms every year for Team USBOXLA,” said USBOXLA Co-Founder and President, Shaydon Santos, who also coaches Team USBOXLA with other former and current National Lacrosse League players every summer. “Interest comes from all over the country, and unfortunately every year deserving players don’t get the opportunity to take part in this unforgettable Team USBOXLA experience.

“This new format allows even more highly skilled American youth box lacrosse players to get better by playing top Canadian clubs at prestigious tournaments, and also make memories that will last a lifetime.”

Last year, Team USBOXLA made history by winning silver medals in both the Pee Wee and Bantam Divisions at the Trevor Wingrove Memorial Tournament in Coquitlam, British Columbia. 

“I have to tell you, this was one of the best experiences ever,” said California-based Elena Goodrich, whose son Gavin played on Team USBOXLA Pee Wee this past year. “Not just the coaching and playing, but the bond these boys have formed. 

“The boys keep in touch on an almost daily basis through social media and group texting. They make plans whenever teammates are playing in the same tournament. I honestly have never seen anything like it. It’s been such a pleasure to have been part of it and seeing the boys play and form long-lasting friendships.”

Roster Breakdown

East: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

West: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Tournaments

In 2020, Team USBOXLA West will take part in a British Columbia-based tournament, while Team USBOXLA East will do the same in Ontario. Dates (likely Memorial Day Weekend) and locations to be announced soon. 

Tryouts

Team USBOXLA will hold tryouts in various areas around the country, the first of which will take place at the USBOXLA Western Invitational in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, January, 31. This will be the only tryout date for Team USBOXLA West. Dates and locations for Team USBOXLA East tryouts will be announced shortly. 

Players interested in trying out at the upcoming Las Vegas tryouts can visit usboxla.com/gowest or usboxla.com/team-usboxla for more information and registration details. 

Players who are interested but unable to attend one of the tryouts can still submit a player interest form to be considered. Attending a tryout will allow USBOXLA coaches to evaluate players in person, thus increasing their chances of making a Team USBOXLA roster.