Lack of diversity in lacrosse

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think accusations of racism are serious, and shouldn't be taken lightly.

Accusing coaches of being racist because an inexperienced player with questionable stick work (as all inexperienced players are) is put on defense.

Accusing teammates of being racist because they don't pass you the ball.

You'll find both happen on every team, some girls hog the ball, some girls can't catch, so players avoid passing them the ball.

Maybe there was racist undertones to those decisions, certainly not enough evidence to conclude it is accurate and irresponsible imo.

I am guessing you are white and usually not on the receiving end of this sort of race based discrimination? The entire point is that the attitudes are pervasive, the actions are nearly impossible to prove, by design, and thusly, will continue until enough sunlight is on an issue and someone white decides to be a race traitor and admit to what they know happens behind closed doors.

Most people will say the exact same thing you are saying, that accusations of racism are serious and shouldn't be taken lightly. But racist actions happen all the time and white people look the other way, because it doesn't affect them, or they are giving the benefit of the doubt to colleagues or teammates, or they don't want to cause social discomfort. Then, those who are perpetuating discriminatory acts are protected, and emboldened to continue, because they know their fellow white peers will not check their behaviors.

I am white and if you are white you know that not everything is motivated by race. A minority not getting the ball is not a "racist action", that's the point. A coach putting a minority on defense is not a "racist action". She is on M&D's B team and is clearly a very talented player. Reading between the lines, the accusation there is she is on their B team because the A team wouldn't play her at middie, her preferred position. That is one hell of an accusation.


I agree we need more minorities in the sport, but there are a lot of issues that is keeping that from happening that is not racist. The PG County playoff team last year didn't even have a full starting lineup to compete in the playoff game. That's an issue.

It is interesting that she was good enough to be on the USA U16 team but is only on M&D's B team. Just sayin', not accusing....

[Anonymous]

She voluntarily chose to stay on B team is play middie. Its M&D A, so I would go on a limb and say they prob have 3-5 fantastic middies, a few likely top-50 recruits in waiting.

I couldn't imagine her playing for a club where she felt anything other than talent was the reason why she isn't a middie on the A team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Watch the documentary called City Lax.

Now the PG County high schools have Lacrosse all the pretty boys with average talent are going to see what it like when you play against hungry kids with great agility.

Hungry dogs run faster

This exactly. Lax was a way for privileged white mediocre athletes to play at a level they couldn’t in sports with more diversity like football, basketball, etc.

Wow. What an absolutely racist statement.

+ 1 Comparing minority players to dogs? Using tropes about minorities in athletics. Disgusting

Clearly you live under a rock if you haven't heard the term and pay attention to sports no matter what color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an outstanding article. My daughter is a non white player (hispanic) and also has faces these challenges.

Hispanics are, among other demographics, a huge missed opportunity for growth in the sport.

WINNERS lacrosse in DC is trying very hard to make the sport approachable in the City. I'm unaware of any like organization in NoVA. Harlem Lacrosse and some other groups/teams in Baltimore are helping to spread the game to different demographics, and the rec/club options in Prince George's County and elsewhere are trying hard too.

In NoVA I see absolutely zero outreach to non-traditional communities. There's no effort to get the game introduced at the Elementary School level, and we're seeing the year over year decline of Rec lacrosse as the market is flooded with more franchise club team options. Even the club teams that have traditionally co-existed well with Rec programs are having to compete with them via younger and younger club teams.

[Anonymous]

Tangential, but I just watched a "based on a true story" movie about lacrosse on Hulu called The Grizzlies. Don't love the white savior aspect but overall well done movie set in a small Arctic town about how a teacher creates a team that helps provide purpose/hope for his students.

[Anonymous]

It is interesting that she was good enough to be on the USA U16 team but is only on M&D's B team. Just sayin', not accusing....

Right that is the story here, quite ironic and telling actually, but still the complaints. Im sure all the A team M&D players were not selected either. This story is self righteous "Race Bait" pure and simple and unfortunately it works.

[Anonymous]

Still wondering what the got ball red card was about… poor journalism.
Plus if you’ve never had to deal with 13 year old girls you got it a big dramatic surprise
coming your way. Couldn’t the lyrics question been an innocent one?
And when is it so INSULTING to be on D? My dd is D and is committed to a T10 RPI school. Because the M and A are so soft and bad on her team.. The offense on her team are so entiltiled but at this point we are not complaining. (Guys if you want your kids to stand out they must be brave and go for it!)
I dontt want to out myself but the teams we play against M&D Hero’s Coppermine and SW have POC starters and they’re very talented popular athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Still wondering what the got ball red card was about… poor journalism.
Plus if you’ve never had to deal with 13 year old girls you got it a big dramatic surprise
coming your way. Couldn’t the lyrics question been an innocent one?
And when is it so INSULTING to be on D? My dd is D and is committed to a T10 RPI school. Because the M and A are so soft and bad on her team.. The offense on her team are so entiltiled but at this point we are not complaining. (Guys if you want your kids to stand out they must be brave and go for it!)
I dontt want to out myself but the teams we play against M&D Hero’s Coppermine and SW have POC starters and they’re very talented popular athletes.

This is so poorly written that I cannot even follow what the person is trying to say!

[Anonymous]

If you take race out of it, this sounds like every other helicopter parent who thinks their DD should be the star of their team. This article seems to be missing a lot of context. Most coaches at the club level want to win so they put players in a position they think the kid and the team will benefit the most. This girl hasn't been playing lax very long from the sounds of it, so going in, my guess is she was playing D because she was a good athlete without great stick skills yet... Again, not a lot of supporting context in the article. I'm not saying this girl hasn't faced racism before, and we should combat it, but not every slight is about race.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Still wondering what the got ball red card was about… poor journalism.
Plus if you’ve never had to deal with 13 year old girls you got it a big dramatic surprise
coming your way. Couldn’t the lyrics question been an innocent one?
And when is it so INSULTING to be on D? My dd is D and is committed to a T10 RPI school. Because the M and A are so soft and bad on her team.. The offense on her team are so entiltiled but at this point we are not complaining. (Guys if you want your kids to stand out they must be brave and go for it!)
I dontt want to out myself but the teams we play against M&D Hero’s Coppermine and SW have POC starters and they’re very talented popular athletes.

This is so poorly written that I cannot even follow what the person is trying to say!

Day drinking perhaps?

[Anonymous]

More like iPhone problems, perhaps?

[Anonymous]

Coaches always stick newer players with poor stick skills at D. No matter who they are. It’s where they can do the least harm. Bonus if they have quick feet. Some kids end up loving it and staying at D. Others don’t and move elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

The takeaways:

1) Lax coaches are racist for playing a minority at defense, no matter her skill or experience.
2) teammates are racist for not passing to minorities.
3) minorities would take over the sport if given proper outreach

Everything above is 100% the allegations.
Yet, the top players and coaches and even youth players are retweeting and sharing, which one must assume is a form of conformation.

Shame on them if they concur and stand by and go about their business

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you take race out of it, this sounds like every other helicopter parent who thinks their DD should be the star of their team. This article seems to be missing a lot of context. Most coaches at the club level want to win so they put players in a position they think the kid and the team will benefit the most. This girl hasn't been playing lax very long from the sounds of it, so going in, my guess is she was playing D because she was a good athlete without great stick skills yet... Again, not a lot of supporting context in the article. I'm not saying this girl hasn't faced racism before, and we should combat it, but not every slight is about race.

+100

[Anonymous]

The responses here are why lacrosse has very time with diversity and inclusion. Lacrosse is an unequivocally white dominated sport at every level (Admin, coaching, players). There is little motivation to change this, because the participants benefit from it being exclusionary - clearly if more people played lacrosse there would be more competition for playing time and recruiting. Of course there are people who support diversity and inclusion, but they are far outnumbered and while they may support it, at some point its easier to ignore the issue.

Outreach programs where people go into the "inner city" with ministicks and spend some time entertaining minority kids with the sport do very little to support diversity and inclusion. They seem to be more PR stunts and to allow the lacrosse community to feel good about itself. Of course, these kids will never be a threat to their kids playing time or recruiting chances. Meanwhile, in every suburban neighborhood on the East Coast, there are minority kids having to surmount alienation, bias, and yes, even racism (I know, shocking).

This post will be mocked or ignored by most who read it, but for minority parents out there who see this, keep at it... it's a beautiful sport! Things have to get better eventually...