2009 E-Lacrosse Feature: Men's and women's international lacrosse groups merge

The two international governing bodies of lacrosse, the International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations and the International Federation of Lacrosse (men's) have merged to form the Federation of International Lacrosse. The merger was completed at meetings during the European Lacrosse Championships in Lahti, Finland just last month. Our E-Lacrosse reporter Ken Galluccio, an international lacrosse pioneer, referee and FIL insider sends the following report:

"Here it is and off we go, into the baby blue yonder... the official color of the new united organization, FIL, is to be "UN blue" (Pantone PMS 279), and by the way, a new logo is still needed. Anyone who feels up to the job can submit an entry for consideration and if your design is chosen you will get a few hundred bucks for your trouble, plus VIP treatment at the next major world lacrosse event of your choice -- either the senior women's world cup in Prague 2009, or the men's games in Manchester 2010.

(Editor's note: In case of interest e-mail Ken at goochtoo@hotmail.com and he'll pass you on from there) The president of the new organization, Feffie Barnhill, is no stranger to international lacrosse, having coached Scotland for many years, and is of course a regular in the circles in and around US Lacrosse. Feffie is joined at the helm by Stan Cockerton, who aside from his many years of dedicated service for the ILF, also shot the game-winning goal in Canada's first World Games win over the USA in 1978.

Shelley Maher, from Down Under, will take up the role as women's director. Tom Hayes has simply renamed his already very successful joint development committee and re-upped for another round of boldly going to new lacrosse frontiers as its chairman, and the honorable Ron Balls of England, longtime ILF Competitions Chair will keep a tab on the kitty. And if any of you were wondering "Just where is Jack these days?," look no further -- the legendary Coach Emmer has agreed to head up FIL's men's lacrosse division as director.

A party was held to mark the occasion and honor IFWLA immediate past president Fiona Clark and ILF immediate past president Peter Hobbs, both of Oz and both tirelessly dedicated to their work for their respective organizations, but also more importantly in this case, united in their vision and understanding to combine them as well. The unification took years to complete, and was carefully planned out and staged by the Unification Committee. The result is a milestone and at the same time a stepping stone."

My thanks to Ken for this report.

September 4, 2008