By TRT Staff with notes from ontariolacrosse.com
TORONTO – On Sunday, December 29, the Ontario Lacrosse Association (OLA) and the Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) announced an affiliation partnership for the 2023-2024 playing season.
According to a press release provided by the OLA and ALL in tandem, the agreement, reached prior to the playing season, confirms the support and recognition that each organization provides for the other through playing, coaching and officiating development pathways in Junior, Women’s and Men’s box lacrosse divisions.
The ALL, now in its 7th season of operation in Ontario, is an amateur winter indoor development league with teams based in Canada. The ALL plays under professional box lacrosse rules, providing a high level development league for players with professional aspirations. The league also organizes a women’s division and a U22 Junior division, offering quality year-round lacrosse opportunities for athletes throughout the province.
“Arena Lacrosse League is proud to partner with the Ontario Lacrosse Association,” stated ALL President Paul St. John within the press release provided in December. “The OLA has always been recognized as the premiere organization for lacrosse here in Ontario during the summer season, and our goal has always been to support OLA community teams and players by continuing their growth and development through the winter season, presenting the opportunity for many to participate in the sport they love year-round. This partnership will assist in continued expansion plans in each division we operate.”
OLA, the provincial sports organization for lacrosse in the province of Ontario and a proud member of Lacrosse Canada, oversees 66 associations competing in 13 leagues in box, minor and men’s field, women’s field and sixes divisions. In addition to coordinating the operation of the sport, the OLA provides informative resources, technical development programs and additional supplies and materials for member communities throughout the province.
“The ALL is a professional, quality organization that cares deeply about the player pathway, and about providing opportunities for junior, women’s and men’s athletes in a safe, competitive and inclusive environment. We’re fortunate to officially partner with Commissioner St. John to share resources in support of this vision for the growth of the game together” said Sean O’Callaghan, OLA President also within the press release. “This collaboration allows our organizations to support each other’s objectives to the benefit of the lacrosse community in a positive and complimentary manner.”
The partnership between the ALL and the OLA confirms complimentary recognition and support to enhance playing, coaching and officiating development in a reputable environment, encouraging participants to continue to hone their skills and experience.
The OLA is the provincially-recognized sanctioning governing body of the amateur sport of lacrosse within the province of Ontario. The first written rules for the colonization of lacrosse were established in 1867, and although formal amateur provincial competition began in 1887, the OLA was not established as the provincial governing body of the sport until ten years later.
Established in 2017, the ALL is an amateur winter indoor development lacrosse league with teams based in Ontario, Canada. The ALL plays under professional rules including net size. Players are 18 years of age and older.
