By TRT Staff with notes from usalaxmagazine.com
FLORIDA —Panama was recognized as World Lacrosse’s 66th member national governing body on April 22, 2020. Over this past weekend, the 2021 PALA Sixes Cup, an event in Auburndale, Fla., featuring 10 teams from seven Pan American countries, hosted both a men’s and women’s tournament.
The tournament showcasing World Lacrosse’s new Sixes discipline and setting the stage for what PALA president Katherine Loh hopes will be an annual competition.
“As a federation, we’re hoping to add this as our marquee competition,” Loh said Wednesday. “That’s why we’re branding it as the PALA Sixes Cup. We hope that every year we will host this event and our members will come out and play.”
The women’s tournament in particular, featured Puerto Rico, Argentina, Colombia and the Iroquois Nationals. The INL team brought together after a combine try-out weeks before, was comprised of Ivy Santana, Jacelyn Lazore, Tayor Frink, Jordan Coulon, Lois Garlow, Jalyn Jimerson, Sierra Cockerille, Lynnzee Miller, Ewehegwahs Williams, Cassandra ‘Bean’ Minerd, Beretta Santana, and Jean Haring. The Head coach position was filled by Elizabeth Beville, with Assistant Coaches Naomi Walter and Joseph Manna under General Manager Shaniece Mohawk.
‘Sixes,’ is a 6-on-6 discipline with a shorter field and fast-paced play and allows for countries like Panama that are new to international lacrosse to find equal footing with nations that have established lacrosse traditions. Smaller rosters of just 12 players means significantly reduced costs.
World Lacrosse will also host two coaching development clinics while teams are in Auburndale this weekend.
“Countries are able to really tap into resources,” Loh said. “USA Lacrosse is sending in experts in events and athlete development, so we are going to see how they can connect with some of our national governing bodies and make a connection and consult on developing elite athlete development programs.
“It takes so much to mobilize a national team, so when they are here, we want them to maximize the investment they’ve put in. It’s not just playing. We’re going to connect you with resources.”
