Hearing about a Jamaican sprinting down the track isn’t the least bit surprising for track and field is the country’s premier sport.
But what if you were to hear about a Jamaican sprinting down the field to the crease while cradling?
If you’re stupified, you’re not alone for those are lacrosse terms, and if things continue the way they’re going, lacrosse might just be the next big thing for Jamaica.
Hearing that the sport exists and is growing in Jamaica is a surprise. But once you learn about the skills it requires, the surprise is dampened.
You must be able to run, sprint, pass and catch. Those are skills used in other popular sports in Jamaica such as track, soccer, and cricket.
Putting them all together in a single sport in Jamaica might shock some, but it really shouldn’t. After all, there was a Jamaican Olympic bobsled team and an Olympic skier. And did you know Jamaica had an ice hockey team?
Yeah mon.
Not only do they have a team but they’re pretty good. And through the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation (JOIHF), the team is trying to raise money to build a rink in the country and is attempting to qualify for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
So Jamaica has established a habit of breaking stereotypes to compete in sports historically foreign to the island.
And you know Jamaican athletes will do so with their own style and culture regardless of the field of play.
These are additional reasons why the country fielding a lacrosse program shouldn’t be as surprising as it is. As it turns out, the sport has been gaining momentum in the country for years now thanks to the efforts of the Jamaican Lacrosse Association (JLA).
The organization, created to oversee “the growth and development of lacrosse in Jamaica,” has cultivated the sport on the island from the high school to the World Championship level. At last month’s 2023 World Men’s Lacrosse Championships, international inexperience didn’t deter the Jamaican team as the Reggae Boys of lacrosse held their own in their World Championship debut.
The team went 5-2 overall, registering five straight wins over Germany, Switzerland, Poland, New Zealand and Italy before suffering their first loss against lacrosse powerhouse and eventual tournament runner-up Canada, 20-1. In their final match, Jamaica lost to Israel 8-7.
But advancing to the quarterfinals in the event which takes place every four years is an amazing accomplishment for Jamaican lacrosse, one that bodes well for the program’s future.
“The predictions have gone my way and it’s a good feeling considering the overall development of the sport, and the headaches and uphill battles we had to ensure we got to the World Championships,” said Jamaica Lacrosse Association president Calbert Hutchinson.
And the overall development and direction of the sport looks good.
In 2022, there were 15 schools and 19 teams competing in local leagues. Those numbers are expected to grow as the success of the country’s teams continues, especially in international competition.
While the 2023 World Men’s Lacrosse Championship was the international debut for the Jamaican men’s team, the Jamaican women actually opened the door to international competition a year earlier when the team debuted at the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, becoming the first Caribbean nation to compete in the tournament.
While the women’s team didn’t have the success of the men’s team, going 0-6 at the Championships, it made its impact on the country as more young girls and women are getting into lacrosse, some of which are playing at college programs in the U.S. like Howard, Detroit Mercy and St. Mary’s (DIII).
Through grassroots efforts, lacrosse is growing in Jamaica. Many high schools are incorporating the sport into their physical education programs, which will help foster interest and talent in the sport and possibly help to start new teams.
With lacrosse hopefully being included in the 2028 Olympic Games, the JLA, now an official member of the Jamaica Olympic Association, is working hard to have its teams ready to play in LA.
As one would expect, the JLA faces the challenges of financial resources and equipment, which is why they’re aggressively raising money and hoping that the international appearances of its teams will aid in those efforts.
But in the meantime, the teams and players will continue to develop and make their mark on the sport. And they’ll do it the only way they know how.
“We unite,” said Jamaican National Team goalie Tyrese Findlay. “We’re just always spreading love, the culture, the vibe, everything.”
