Current:Home > BackPremier Lacrosse League Championship Series offers glimpse at Olympic lacrosse format-InfoLens
Premier Lacrosse League Championship Series offers glimpse at Olympic lacrosse format
View Date:2024-12-23 17:02:41
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The future of lacrosse was on display all President’s Day weekend.
For the second straight year, in the middle of its offseason, the Premier Lacrosse League hosted a round-robin championship series between the top four teams from the regular season in a six-on-six format (PLL is 10-on-10, including goaltenders).
In between the two tournaments, lacrosse’s "sixes" format was chosen by the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic host committee to be included in the Summer Games’ sport program. The 2023 championship series played a significant role in that decision − and made even founders Mike and Paul Rabil ponder the direction of the entire league.
"We had discussions on, is there gonna be a future where 'sixes' is the primary thing?" PLL co-founder Paul Rabil said Wednesday.
For now, though, the championship series will conclude Monday (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN2) when the Boston Cannons face the Philadelphia Waterdogs. The top four teams from the season prior earned invites to the offseason tournament with more than a chance to play a different style of lacrosse. The 2023 champion, Chrome LC − now the Denver Outlaws − were awarded $120,000.
PLL CEO Mike Rabil said that, considering the league’s current structure, the championship series is one way the PLL can install a relegation-type component.
"Players are getting paid a lot more to play in this," Mike Rabil said. "It’s only one week. It’s televised on national TV. That’s really fun.
"Last year, guys – they didn’t know what to expect, and now players really want to play in the champ series. The regular season, just those standings mean a lot."
After the first iteration of the championship series, both Rabil brothers fielded calls from ESPN and other partners − they even spoke to professional athletes in other leagues − "that have reached out, and their first reaction was like, ‘That was incredible. What's the plan for the future for this event?’" Paul Rabil said.
Another question: What does the championship series look like with international invites? That’s another adjustment PLL leadership will discuss in future years − especially as the 2028 Olympics approach.
2024 PLL Championship Series
The Waterdogs breezed through round-robin play with an unblemished 3-0 record. Boston finished third at 1-2. One of their losses came to the California Redwoods in the first game of the week, a 26-25 overtime showdown. The Cannons bested the Redwoods in the semifinals, though, and the Utah Archers never won a game.
That all set up the Philly-Boston showdown in the final.
Organizers took player feedback to include an off day − Thursday − in the tournament schedule. Round-robin games were played Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, with the semifinals taking place Sunday.
PLL Championship Series includes women’s All-Star Game, HBCU outreach
In partnership with Athletes Unlimited, the PLL helped stage the "Unleashed All-Star Game" to lead into the men’s doubleheader Saturday. Team North against Team South was played in the Olympic sixes format, featured the best professional women’s players in the world, and was a tied game going into the third quarter. Former Boston College star and two-time national champion Charlotte North led the aptly named North team to an 18-12 victory. North, who had six goals and two assists, was named the game’s MVP.
Later on Saturday, the PLL hosted local Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in a sixes tournament.
How Olympics 2028 will impact Premier Lacrosse League
The IOC wanted to ensure that if this new format got into the Olympics, that the best players in the world were also playing it.
"It’s going to be a new day for lacrosse," Paul Rabil said.
On average, Paul Rabil said, there are 15 possessions per 10 minutes in the six-on-six format, compared to eight possessions per 10 minutes in 10-on-10.
"So there's just more volume," Rabil said. "And I love the fact that your best players are on the field more, playing offense and defense, like throwback lacrosse, and then more likely to have the ball on their stick."
The 30-second shot clock and two-point arc are current differences compared to the international sixes format. Paul Rabil said there is plenty of flexibility in regard to international rules, as World Lacrosse still must compose qualification criteria for countries.
"Through the testing portal of the championship series," Paul Rabil said, "we’re now able to add more color to a lot of the rules discussions."
veryGood! (71)
Related
- 'Devastation is absolutely heartbreaking' from Southern California wildfire
- A 'Super' wedding: Kansas City Chiefs fans get married in Las Vegas ahead of Super Bowl 58
- Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios Share Rare Insight into Their Relationship During Super Bowl Party Date
- Beyoncé drops new songs ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages.’ New music ‘Act II’ will arrive in March
- Ben Foster Files for Divorce From Laura Prepon After 6 Years of Marriage
- You'll Feel Like Jennifer Aniston's Best Friend With These 50 Secrets About the Actress
- A tiny robot on the space station will simulate remote-controlled surgery up there
- House sets second Mayorkas impeachment vote for Tuesday
- US wholesale inflation picks up slightly in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- Post Malone and Andra Day Give Rockstar Performances Ahead of Super Bowl 2024
Ranking
- When does Spirit Christmas open? What to know about Spirit Halloween’s new holiday venture
- Biden’s legal team went to Justice Dept. over what they viewed as unnecessary digs at his memory
- Drop Everything Now and See Taylor Swift Cheer on Travis Kelce at Super Bowl 2024
- How Las Vegas, once known as Sin City, became an unlikely sports haven
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul stirs debate: Is this a legitimate fight?
- Even for Las Vegas, the Super Bowl is a huge deal: 'I've never really seen it this busy'
- Read the love at Romance Era Bookshop, a queer Black indie bookstore in Washington
- Dating app fees can quickly add up. Many are willing to pay the price.
Recommendation
-
Cruise ship rescues 4 from disabled catamaran hundreds of miles off Bermuda, officials say
-
Gallagher says he won’t run for Congress again after refusing to impeach Homeland Security chief
-
Taylor Swift seemingly on way to Super Bowl to root for Travis Kelce after Tokyo shows
-
What to know about the Lombardi Trophy, which is awarded to Super Bowl winner
-
NYC bans unusual practice of forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords
-
'True Detective: Night Country' Episode 5 unloads a stunning death. What happened and why?
-
CBP dog sniffs out something unusual in passenger’s luggage -- mummified monkeys
-
Taylor Swift Arrives in Las Vegas to Cheer on Travis Kelce at Super Bowl 2024