Lacrossing Barriers All Abilities and All Possibilities Adaptive and Inclusive Lacrosse Programming

The Cause

Lacrossing Barriers is a Not For Profit Organisation dedicated to providing opportunities to play sport, move and learn skills to those in marginalized communities who have not always been given a choice.
Lacrosse, Canada's National Summer Sport, is not something a vast number of people can choose.
In Alberta over 45,000 people use a wheeled mobility aid daily or to recreate. On top of the many issues that marginalize their communities they are denied the right to choose Lacrosse. This extends to the brain injured, blind/visually impaired, globally and cognitively delayed, financially marginalized, at risk/apprehended youth, the homeless or those rebuilding their lives as well as newcomers to Canada.
Our plan is to reach out to agencies and groups supporting and representing these communities in four to six cities/centre.
We will:
- secure venues
- supply all necessary equipment (with a range of sticks to allow anyone who chooses to be able to learn and participate)
- offer experienced, accredited, educated and passionate coaching and supports
- opportunities to experience mainstream lacrosse events alongside friends from these teams

We approach this by designing Adaptive and Inclusive Lacrosse Programming that addresses the needs and interests of each participant. We make the connection and people the priority. Within this we learn of their strengths and passions rather than categorizing and pigeonholed people by their diagnoses or what has happened to them.
Our aim is to ensure participants, support staff and families know they are heard and supported.
Our staff and facilitation teams include collegiate, professional and internationally accredited coaches as well as grass roots players and youth. Our programming and it's culture are safe, authentic, collaborative, kind and above ALL, fun.
The programming would consist of 8 to 10 weekly sessions of 90 minuyes each. These run twice in each of the 4 to 6 cities/centres between April and October 2025.

Who Will it Benefit?

Lacrossing Barriers programming benefits members of marginalized communities such as the mobility impaired and challenged, the blind, cognitively impaired, the neurodiverse, domestically fragile, and Newcomers to Canada - to name but few.
Alongside those participating, their families and friends also reap significant benefits seeing those who have struggled to be active, grow in health, confidence and be part of new activities and accepting communities.
Conversely, those involved is facilitating and supporting our programs benefit by creating new communities, developing authentic and sincere new friendships, and, sharing the sport they love with grateful and willing people.
The Adaptive and Inclusive Sport Community also benefits by seeing a successful, sustainable amd viable sport model in action.