DE Turf named host of 2018 U.S. Lacrosse Nationals
US Lacrosse has named DE Turf Sports Complex in Frederica as the site of the 10th annual US Lacrosse Nationals, Powered by NXT. The youth tournament is set for Aug. 2-5, 2018, and will include boys’ and girls’ teams in 14U, 13U and 12U age divisions in accordance with US Lacrosse player-segmentation guidelines.
“It’s a milestone year for our signature youth event, and to be able to celebrate that at state-of-the-art DE Turf will make it all the more special for the participating teams and families,” said Kim Rogers, director of events at US Lacrosse.
DE Turf represents one of the newest youth sports venues in the country, featuring 12 turf fields (five of which are lighted), a championship stadium with permanent seating for 750 fans, three concession stands, free public Wi-Fi, and ample on-site parking.
“We are thrilled to host the 2018 US Lacrosse Nationals, Powered by NXT, at DE Turf,” said Chris Giacomucci, executive director of DE Turf. “We look forward to providing a first-class experience at our world-class facility.”
DE Turf is located in central Delaware, roughly 30 miles south of Interstate 95 and the same distance from the state’s renowned beaches. Delaware is home to tax-free shopping. DE Turf hosted its first event in April 2017.
“Delaware is excited about the opportunity to host this incredible event,” said Dr. Matt Robinson, Delaware Sports Commission chair. “We look forward to welcoming visitors from across America to the state and one of the finest sport facilities in the country.”
Teams will qualify for the Nationals based on a scoring system that US Lacrosse recently announced, earning points based on their finishes in qualifying tournaments.
“The points system serves two primary purposes,” said Mark Hogan, vice president of brand marketing and membership at US Lacrosse. “Number one, it provides us a fair and equitable way to determine participants for the Nationals, and two, it encourages teams to participate in events that adhere to the best practices recommended by US Lacrosse.”
Those best practices cover five operational areas of tournaments: the venue, game format, risk management, event administration and the use of US Lacrosse certified officials.
By virtue of winning gold medals at the recent US Lacrosse Nationals in Richmond, Va., girls’ teams Igloo (N.Y.) and Yellow Jackets 2022 Blue (N.Y.) have earned automatic bids to next year’s Nationals in the 13U and 14U divisions, respectively.
Participating in the US Lacrosse Nationals represents a benefit of membership in the sport’s national governing body. US Lacrosse and event partner NXTsports have teamed to develop an interactive experience for all attendees, including Lacrosse Athlete Development Model clinics, appearances by Team USA players and on-site entertainment.
For more information, visit uslacrossenationals.com and follow #USLNationals on social media.
