On Tuesday, 24-January-2017, the boys’ high school lacrosse coaches from the greater Evansville area met to discuss the creation of the Hoosier Southern Lacrosse Conference (HSLC).  With representatives from Castle, Memorial, Harrison, North, Reitz, Central and South Gibson present, the group unanimously voted to approve creation of the conference under the umbrella of Southern Indiana Select Lacrosse, Inc. (SISL).   SISL is a 501(c) (3) non-profit located in Southern Indiana with a mission to help grow lacrosse in the region.   SISL is best known for its Eville Storm summer travel lacrosse program, which launched in 2015.

SISL will provide administration for the new, membership required, lacrosse conference for Southern Indiana and surrounding communities. The conference represents a formal partnership between area high school programs (varsity, junior varsity and feeder teams), the travel program, lacrosse officials, and the community with a mission to grow lacrosse in the region. 

While administered through SISL, the conference will be developed/approved through the members and monetarily separate from the SISL general fund.  The annual cost of membership is expected to be no more than $300 per year, depending on conference programs.  A sponsor has been obtained for 2017 to assist with the conference launch, reducing 2017 membership dues to $25 per program/high school. 

For the 2017 season, the coaches have elected to invite all boys’ high school lacrosse programs in Vanderburgh, Warrick, and Gibson County in Indiana, and Davies Country in Kentucky to participate. HSLC members, working with SISL, will develop and approve guidelines and policies for membership for 2018 and beyond over the course of the next six to nine months. Additionally, members will formalize conference activities and development plans, including the Officials Development Program, conference team selection and awards, and conference tournament over the next several weeks.

HSLC members will meet quarterly with the following preliminary focus for each meeting:

1. May – Conference Awards and HSLC All-Conference Team Selection
2. August – Lacrosse growth and strategy development working session, including approval of budget and annual membership fee
3. November – Pre-season planning, feedback to and from the Indiana High School Lacrosse Association (IHSLA)
4. January – Season kick off

As part of the conference launch, we are very proud to introduce the Hoosier Southern Lacrosse Conference Officials Development Program (HSLC ODP).  The intent of the HSLC ODP is to increase both the quality and quantity of licensed and experienced lacrosse referees/officials in Southern Indiana. New referees who apply, are approved for the program, and officiate eighteen (18) games in a season are eligible for reimbursement of their US Lacrosse fees and uniform expenditures.  

The program is intended to help recruit and retain officials for the high school and middle school levels.  Additionally, we hope it will improve relationships with the officials by investing in their training and supporting uniform investments.

In return for providing the ODP, the following is being requested of area referees:

• HSLC teams get priority when scheduling ODP participants during their first 2 years.
• ODP participants will support recruiting efforts for new lacrosse officials in Southern Indiana.

This is an exciting time in the development of lacrosse.  We are honored to be part of this growth and will work tirelessly for the betterment of boys’ lacrosse in the region.  If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please feel free to send us an email at HoosierSouthern@gmail.com or to SouthernIndianaSelectLacrosse@gmail.com.

Best wishes,
Kristen Hurst, President, Southern Indiana Select Lacrosse, Inc.

SouthernIndianaSelectLacrosse@gmail.com

812.760.4904