Category Archives: Boys Lacrosse

Important Topic Covered On CT High School Lacrosse Fields

Change and progress come slowly. Often too slowly. The much-needed conversation about challenges with mental health, and depression particularly among athletes is happening with greater frequency. Recently NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love both opened up about their battles with anxiety and depression, further bringing the conversation into prominence and helping to reduce stigmas. Tragically, these conversations came too late to save the life of Brian Dagle, but through the efforts of The Brian Dagle Foundation the conversations are expanding to the high school lacrosse fields in Connecticut.

On April 10 Waterford High School hosted Old Lyme High School in a boys lacrosse game. The game was one of five Lax2Live events sponsored by the Dagle Foundation that will be held in conjunction with high school boys lacrosse contests this year. The goal of Lax2Life is to use the Lacrosse Field as a platform to begin the difficult conversation about mental illness and suicide.

“This is our second year hosting and being part of such an important issue of suicide awareness and mental health,” Waterford coach Chris Landry explained. “It is so important to let our students know that it is okay to talk about it and that there are people to talk to and talk through their issues.”

Players who took part in the game were asked to complete a brief anonymous survey both before and after the game with questions regarding mental health awareness and resources. A booth with information from the Dagle Foundation was present at the game providing information and resources, and money from the game’s 50/50 raffle was donated to the Foundation. In addition an announcement about the program was read prior to the start of the junior varsity and varsity games.

Perhaps most impactful element of the program came when the players heard directly from the organization’s Vice President Paul Dagle following the game. He shared the message reminding  players “to keep an eye out for each other both on and off the field.”

Awareness and conversation are the tools that hopefully keep this group of high school student-athletes from the same tragedy that launched the Dagle Foundation. Perhaps none of the players gathered on the field to hear the message are suffering from the same challenges that Brian Dagle faced. Brian loved playing lacrosse, which he did for East Lyme High School, yet he like many other athletes struggled with depression, anxiety and hopelessness. He died by suicide in November of 2011.

Change and progress come slowly. They can start with a conversation or information collected on a lacrosse field that maybe saves the life of a student-athlete who was suffering in silence. Or they can come as the students on the field or the fans in the stands take that message to their schools and their friends bringing it to someone who needed to hear it. 

That’s how things get better and progress on these challenging and scary issues of mental health get made. One day, one game, one conversation at a time.

For more information on the Dagle Foundation or the Lax2Live events please go to: http://brianshealinghearts.org

Click here to view the letter shared with the players when they received t-shirts after the game

CIAC Boys Lacrosse Championship Celebrates Anniversary

What do you get a championship tourney for its 25thanniversary? The 25this typically the silver anniversary, but the six teams taking the field at Brien McMahon High School for the 25thCIAC boys lacrosse championships are going to be more concerned with bringing home the golden state championship plaque. That leaves it up to the restContinue Reading

2019 Spring Rules Interpretation Meeting Schedule

Below is the schedule for the 2019 spring rules interpretations meetings provided to CIAC by officials’ organizations and leagues. CIAC rules and regulations require head coaches or their designee to represent your school at these important meetings. Other coaches are encouraged to attend. If your coach cannot make the meeting in your area, I amContinue Reading

2017-18 CIAC Championship Moment #1

2017-18 CIAC Championship Moment #1

CIACsports.com gave fans the chance to choose their favorite CIAC Championship NFHS Network moment from 2017-18, with 20 choices. And the fans have spoken. After counting down numbers 5-2 the previous four days, it is time to reveal the top choice. The previous entries in the top-5 are listed below. #1 – Ridgefield holds onContinue Reading

Linked Up – Spring Championships 2018

Forty-six stories. After a fast and furious few weeks, that is the final number of championship stories included in this Linked Up – Spring Championships 2018. As has become custom around here, this story has put those championship stories and memories all in one place for easy consumption to help celebrate these champions. For thoseContinue Reading

2018 Spring Rules Interpretation Meeting Schedule

Below is the schedule for the 2018 spring rules interpretations meetings provided to CIAC by officials’ organizations and leagues. CIAC rules and regulations require head coaches or their designee to represent your school at these important meetings. Other coaches are encouraged to attend. If your coach cannot make the meeting in your area, I amContinue Reading

Linked Up – Spring Championships 2017

Just like that, it’s all wrapped up. Forty-six championship stories in all, recapping a thrilling few weeks of high school sports. The thrilling sprint of the spring championship season concluded over the weekend, (on the team side, we will add stories on the individual track and field events in the coming day) and Linked Up has allContinue Reading

2017 Spring Championship Headquarters

One of the biggest weekends of CIAC competition is coming up 16 championship games taking place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. To help get everyone ready for the big weekend of action here are some handy links and tournament histories for all of the championship match-ups. Fans can buy tickets to the finals online here to save timeContinue Reading

Schedule Set For 2017 Spring Rules Interpretation Meetings

Below is the schedule for the 2017 spring rules interpretations meetings provided to CIAC by officials’ organizations and leagues. CIAC rules and regulations require head coaches or their designee to represent your school at these important meetings. Other coaches are encouraged to attend. If your coach cannot make the meeting in your area, I amContinue Reading

2017 Spring Sports Tournament Packets Now Available

The 2017 CIAC spring sports tournament packets are now all available online at CIACsports.com and linked below. CIAC spring sports are baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls golf, boys and girls outdoor track and field, softball, boys and girls tennis, and boys volleyball. Each tournament packet includes valuable information including tournament dates andContinue Reading