USA Lacrosse and Franklin Sports Expanded Partnership

The organizations have collaborated to create youth-focused equipment to increase accessibility to the sport.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Other Sports

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USA Lacrosse and Franklin Sports have expanded their partnership to provide affordable equipment and resources to youth players nationwide. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should youth sports programs prioritize lower-cost equipment to help families join the sport?

USA Lacrosse and Franklin Sports have expanded their strategic partnership to lower entry barriers for families. The initiative includes the production of co-branded lacrosse equipment and resources to introduce the game to new youth players.

Why it matters

By combining youth-development expertise with retail capabilities, the partnership seeks to increase accessibility for children. The initiative focuses on reducing the cost and complexity typically associated with starting the sport.

The USA Lacrosse PE Grant Program has successfully reached 50,000 students across seven states since 2024. The initiative is supported by a broad product line of co-branded sticks, balls, and goals.

The players

USA Lacrosse

USA Lacrosse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that serves as the national governing body for the sport.

Franklin Sports

Franklin Sports is a sporting goods manufacturer founded in 1946 that is headquartered in Stoughton, Massachusetts.

The details

The collaboration leverages the USA Lacrosse PE Grant Program to provide schools with necessary equipment and curriculum resources. Instructional videos are also being utilized to teach fundamental skills to new players in regions including California, Colorado, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

Timeline

  1. 1946: Franklin Sports was founded.

  2. 2024: The USA Lacrosse PE Grant Program began reaching students.

  3. 2027: The program is scheduled for further expansion.

Season Trajectory

This partnership expansion scales the reach of the USA Lacrosse PE Grant Program to widen the future talent pipeline for the sport. By embedding equipment access into schools, the organization is effectively altering the long-term growth trajectory of lacrosse participation.

The initiative increases equipment availability for school physical education programs, directly impacting the number of students introduced to lacrosse in the seven participating states. This lowers the initial investment required for families to participate in the sport.

The takeaway

Increased cooperation between nonprofits and manufacturers can effectively lower the financial barriers to youth sports participation. This model demonstrates how equipment integration in schools can serve as a primary recruitment tool for organized leagues.

What happens next

The USA Lacrosse PE Grant Program is slated for a further expansion phase in 2027.

Further reading

Learn more about the latest developments in Other Sports.

Source note: This article includes information reported by USA Lacrosse.

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Should youth sports programs prioritize lower-cost equipment to help families join the sport?