(November 5, 2018)… Just one month before the world battles for gold at the FIL World Indoor Lacrosse Championship, the USBOXLA Nationals will feature its version of international competition. Today, the country’s largest youth box lacrosse tournament, which will take place Aug. 2-4, announced a new, more intense format for its All-Star games.

In 2019, the top American youth players representing Team USBOXLA will face off against the Canadian All-Stars at the Pee Wee, Bantam and Midget age levels. Two-time World Champion and Canadian lacrosse icon Geoff Snider will lead the three Canadian All-Star teams.

“The compete level of the players is high, and the sport continues to be elevated in the U.S. by USBOXLA, from developmental options to reffing, to the growth of the discipline as a whole,” said Snider, who led his ELEV8 club to the 2018 USBOXLA Nationals Midget A championship. “The USBOXLA Nationals brings a year of hard work together over one weekend. Every year there is growth from all participating teams which is very exciting to see.”

To add a new twist to the 2019 event, Snider will not only serve as an instructor at the USBOXLA Academy clinic, but he will also coach in the All-Star games. It’s a great opportunity for kids to learn from a five-time National Lacrosse League All-Star and the league’s all-time faceoff wins leader.

“Box lacrosse has always been a Canadian discipline of the sport,” he said. “It is great to see American players pushing themselves to deepen their lacrosse pedigree by diversifying with the discipline. Putting the top U.S. players against the top Canadian players at the USBOXLA Nationals will be a very cool experience.”

"Snider is a Canadian lacrosse icon who has helped elevate our country's program to where it is today. He's also a key component in our University of Denver program's success with an amazing and record-setting NCAA career," said University of Denver associate head coach and former NLL forward Matt Brown. "To have him be a part of our movement here in the USA is what will push our players to do extraordinary things in this sport."

Snider will select the Canadian All-Star teams from the pool of Canadian players competing in the USBOXLA Nationals. The Canadian talent pool, which already includes players from Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.

The best kids from the U.S. will compete under the USBOXLA banner and play for co-founders Shaydon Santos and Matt Brown on Team USBOXLA.

“We have to match skill with skill at an early age to be successful down the road,” said Brown.

Team USBOXLA will train and play in British Columbia to prepare for this high-level international event. All the games will be live streamed on ScoreBreak. To be selected to play for Team USBOXLA, go to www.usboxla.com/idevents.

The upcoming USBOXLA Nationals will take place in Huntington Beach California from Aug. 2-4. Box lacrosse’s ultimate showcase will feature 120 teams and over 1,800 players.

For more information or to register for the 2019 USBOXLA Nationals, please go to www.usboxla.com/nationals.