Lacrosse is growing all over the world. Now, more than ever, there are so many opportunities to coach and play in any country of your choosing. This rings especially true in Europe. The major differences between these club teams found in Europe compared to North America, is that they are for adults. Which means after college or high school, players can continue to play at decent levels in competitive country-wide leagues. This is great news for many graduating lacrosse players who may be wondering if they will ever play lacrosse again. I know that in North America, playing opportunities are limited once school is done. The most lacrosse post-grads can play is at tournaments throughout the year (but mostly the summer). This can be hugely disappointing for a player who has just spent the better part of their life playing lacrosse. Of course there are other opportunities for players, such as coaching, refereeing, managing, or strength and conditioning. But for those of who want to play as much as possible this is not enough to sate the thirst. So why not cross the pond and play a season in Europe?

Leagues

Having spent the last month and a half playing here has really opened my eyes to the state of lacrosse in Europe. There are many hubs of lacrosse just like North America. England has a University league as well as clubs all over the island, Germany has a very strong club league and nearly all Western European countries have their own leagues. This includes :

England

Germany

The Netherlands

Belgium

Spain

Italy

Switzerland

…And many more

You can find information about every country on the European Lacrosse Federation’s website

The best part about these leagues is that most of them are very well organized. Many also include women’s and men’s teams. Most leagues run their seasons from September through May with a winter break of about 2 months. In the beginning of September there is also the annual Ken Galluccio Cup. This tournament is held for the winners of every country’s league. Meaning that the winners from the Belgian, German, English, etc. leagues will play against each other to decide who has the strongest club in Europe. These leagues are nothing to scoff at, with the level of play increasing every year as more and more teenagers and adults join up to play the fastest game on two feet!

Summer Tournaments

If playing in summer tournaments is more your thing, then Europe is the perfect destination. Every summer, clubs from various areas host major tournaments. The Walcountian Blues host Bluesfest in London, the following weekend the Amsterdam Lions host Lowlands, followed by the Berlin Open. It is very possible to stay for three weeks and play all three tournaments. These three tournaments are some of the biggest in the summer, however there are many other tournaments being hosted all over the continent.

Worried about not being able to put together a team? Have no fear, there are many pick up teams that are willing to let you play! I personally played with Northern Soul’s Gin & Juice at Bluesfest and Lowlands. While at these tournaments I also played with as many teams as I could just to get as much game time as possible. Finally, Gin & Juice won the Lowlands tournament for the second year this past month!

Warning!

Tournaments in Europe also include a lot of parties. Lowlands had 3 straight nights of organized parties; downtown Amsterdam, on a boat, and in the clubhouse at the fields. Also be prepared to camp at the fields for the full experience. Most players bring a tent to set up next to the fields so that they can wake up and walk to the game 10 minutes before the start.

All in all I would say that the summer lacrosse scene is crazy. There is definitely a possibility to play in a different tournament every single weekend if you are interested!

Sponsorship Opportunities

For players who are interested in staying in Europe long term, there are a few sponsorship opportunities available. StringKing and East Coast Dyes actively look for players to sponsor throughout Europe. I was lucky enough to be sponsored by Northern Soul Sportswear and ECD during the Lowlands Tournament, meaning I no longer have to buy a new stick to play with this summer!

Congratulations to @ecdlax sponsored athlete @tibor.vdw on selection to the @belgiumlax national team for the European Championships in Hungary. #carbon #heromesh #herostrings #feelthedifference A photo posted by Northern Soul (@northernsoullax) on Jun 26, 2016 at 3:57am PDT

PS. Playing wall ball in Europe is also one of the easiest things I have done. Nearly every building here is built from brick, meaning every wall can be used to practice on!

Look out for my next article outlining some of the news surrounding the European lacrosse Championships being hosted in Hungary this Summer!