American Indoor Lacrosse Association

The shared history of lacrosse among Native Americans, Euorpean Settlers, Canadians, and Americans created a sport unique to the North American continent that, generations later, is expanding at unprecedented rates regionally, nationally, and internationally.  Lacrosse as a sport has been played in two distinct but compatible varieties - indoor and field.  The field version has been dominated by the Americans for decades, while the indoor game is recognized as a competency unique to the Canadians.  Surprisingly, however, there has been very little "cross-pollination" between these respective versions of the sport.  In fact, the techniques, methods, skills, and strategies of each version have been taught largely in isolation of the other, with each version historically developing largely independent of the other.

This interesting developmental phenomenon was altered recently when Canadian sport leaders initiated a nationwide program to learn the field game in an effort to elevate their overall competitiveness internationally.  The last 5-10 years has demonstrated the tremendous insight and success of the Canadians through the adoption, adaptation, and integration of the field game with their unique style of play.  The results of this foresight are beginning to yield enormous benefits to those Canadians playing lacrosse in their own country, as well as for the accelerating number of Canadians competing collegiately and professionally in the United States.

Lacrosse leaders and players in the United States now recognize the imperative to pursue a program of "cross-pollination" or risk losing the competitive dominance in the field version of the sport.  With the realization that excitement and enthusiasm for the indoor game is accelerating, but opportunities to learn Canadian-style (or Native American-style) lacrosse in the U.S. is limited, the American Indoor Lacrosse Association was formed as a membership organization dedicated to the growth of indoor lacrosse throughout the United States by training, educating, and developing players, coaches, referees, devotees, and fans of the sport.

The Association offers a variety of competitive developmental opportunities, largely through its extensive network of indoor lacrosse leagues strategically located across the country.  These leagues, which host players at the adult, high school, middle school, and youth levels, are organized and structured to provide a safe, competitive, and fun environment in which to develop skills specific to the indoor game.