Grassroots explosion of interest in lacrosse ripples up to professional level, leagues expand
Walker Freer, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
In the evolution of lacrosse, the final progression is the development of professional leagues. Baseball, basketball, football and hockey each only have one premier league in the United States, but lacrosse doesn't just have one league -- it has two. The National Lacrosse League was founded in 1986, and Major League Lacrosse was debuted more recently in 2001. Within sports, prominent professional leagues typically don't co-exist harmoniously, but there are two major differences between the lacrosse leagues that allow them to work side by side.
The first difference is that the NLL is played indoors on a more confining turf field than the expansive grass fields the outdoor-based MLL uses. The second is that the style of games played is extremely different. The NLL resembles a hockey match with only five runners -- forwards and defensemen -- and one goalie on the field for each team. This setup, along with a 30-second shot clock, allows for a faster paced, hard hitting game to emerge -- one that can attract fans from other sports bases.
The MLL follows a more traditional lacrosse script, using the same rules as college but adding a two-point shot as well as a 45-second shot clock. With the college game and MLL having so much in common, it is no surprise that the MLL is more popular than the NLL with recent graduates.
Although the sport is the same, the variations amongst the two leagues allow each to occupy its own niche. One thing they both have in common, in addition to the sport, is a plan for expansion.
Six of the NLL's 10 teams are located west of the Mississippi, and the MLL is currently in the process of adding three yet-to-be-named western franchises, as well as a Los Angeles-based team by 2006. While both leagues are stressing the need for expansion, MLL Commissioner David Gross said he recommends patience.
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