New Years message from ELF President Peter Mundy

09.01.2008

Dear Friends,

May I wish you all a Very Happy and Healthy New Year.

Last year when I wrote to you at this time I set out a number of tasks for the year, both ‘one off’ and ongoing. I am pleased to report that most of them have been successfully accomplished, including the much needed Lacrosse Camps organised by Ken Galluchio of Hamburg Lacrosse Club. Hopefully, the Camps will be repeated this year to accommodate the growing number of young players in Europe, so necessary if we are to both expand and plan for the future. In passing I should also mention the Camp organised by the Brussels International School, now in its fifth year. This year the Camp will be held on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th April. All details from Ed Grody.

Plans for the forthcoming European Games in Lahti, Finland, between 6th and 16th August 2008 are well advanced with the second newsletter published just prior to Christmas. I hope all member countries are planning to enter this Tournament, which only takes place every four years. I am very pleased to learn that the number of Ladies Lacrosse teams will be an increase over the number who participated in the 2004 Tournament.

Our success in introducing Lacrosse to new areas in Europe has, I am pleased to report, continued, with the game now being played in Sofia, Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Association was welcomed as a member of the ELF at the 2007 Annual General Meeting in Aachen. We have also assisted with the introduction of Lacrosse in both Poznan and Wroclaw in Poland, with the possibility of another team starting up in Stettin. We look forward to the time when Poland will join the European Federation.

For the future, our representatives will be travelling to Coimbra in Portugal later this month to hopefully introduce Lacrosse in this new area, which, if successful will be of benefit to our Spanish Association who have been working hard to develop the game in Spain.

Which brings me to our next task. How can we start Lacrosse in those remaining areas of Europe, yet to be converted to Lacrosse such as Belgium, Hungary, Romania, Estonia and Lithuania?

Of course Belgium enjoys the benefit of the International School in Brussels, but elsewhere in the country there is a Lacrosse void. If anyone can introduce a potential leader to us in the countries where Lacrosse is still an undiscovered sport please make contact with one or other of the ELF Committee.

Over the past few years it has been very heartening to me to see how the leaders in various countries have been starting new Colleges or teams, I believe town planners call it ‘infilling’, and I recommend this approach for the development of our game. A look at the Laxmap Website will show you what I mean.

The Netherlands have expanded from one team in Maastricht to eleven teams in eight years, while Norway have jumped from one team in Bergen to seven in only four years. Lacrosse in Europe could increase even more if each of our current Universities also sponsored a team in their local town, and in addition every current town team recruited a junior team. This must be one of out targets for the future. I have no doubt that you will say your Presidents enthusiasm is running out of control, but remember only twenty years ago there was only one European country playing Lacrosse, today there are twenty one countries. On this basis the game of Lacrosse can double its player base within five or so years. It will be hard work, but with your goodwill we can do it.

One last thing, if you have not made your subscription to the Friends of European Lacrosse this year, or indeed you have not joined the Friends yet, please could you send your subscription of 40 Euros. Full details on how to join is on the Friends page where you can subscribe on-line, or download an application form to send. The funds generated by the Friends subscriptions are used entirely to develop Lacrosse in Europe. Membership includes four copies of the European Lacrosse Magazine per year, a splendid Silk Tie, or a Scarf in the case of the Ladies, together with a membership card and the opportunity to use the Friends Tent at the larger Tournaments.

I wish you and your Club every success throughout the year.

Yours sincerely,

P.J. Mundy
President