2022 Lacrosse Victoria Pride Cup

This year’s inaugural Lacrosse Victoria Pride Cup saw participants, new and experienced, take part in a fun, social and inclusive lacrosse round robin event at PJ Lynch Reserve in Altona North on Sunday, 16 October.

With the goal of showcasing the welcoming and inclusive nature of the lacrosse community, rainbows were flying all over the event from the outfits participants wore to the large rainbow heart marking the ground at the centre field. Even the Lacrosse Victoria logo got a colourful update for the cause.

Twenty-two teams took the field and competed across 3 divisions: Novice, Intermediate, and Experienced. Over 200 people ranging from 7 to 71 years old played the relaxed 3v3 game format which allowed all genders, abilities, and ages to join in on the fun.

At the end of the day, there were 3 Pride Cups awarded. Congratulations to the following teams who won their Division:

The inaugural LV Pride Cup Spirit Award, which is given to the team or person who best embodies the essence of the day, was presented to The Westies team for their enthusiastic support of not just their own teammates but everyone around them. The Westies played in the Novice Division. The team was formed by 2 lacrosse players who invited their footy teammates to give lacrosse a go.

The day was a success on and off the field. We are proud to announce that we raised $1574 for Proud 2 Play and Pride Cup Australia to help continue their great work in supporting LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport. We also had 21 people from the lacrosse community receive LGBTIQ+ Inclusion in Sport training from Pride Cup Australia. One of the powers of the Pride Cup is in its potential to change hearts and minds. Education on LGBTIQ+ inclusion in sport can help break down barriers, smash stereotypes, and make your club and our sport a more welcoming place.

Jazz Stout, one of the Pride Cup Ambassadors said, “I am very passionate about helping lacrosse be a really inclusive community. Because from my own personal story, MCC have been amazing. So I just want to keep passing that on, and try to help US, my second family, which is all of the you, to be the best that we can be as a community.” And the annual LV Pride Cup is just one of the ways Lacrosse Victoria plans to achieve this.

We would like to thank our incredible partners and volunteers who helped make this day possible. Proud 2 Play, Pride Cup Australia, VicHealth, Vicsport, Lacrosse Gear, the Lacrosse Victoria Pride Cup Working Group, the LGBTIQ+ Lacrosse Advisory Group, Woolworths, and Two Birds Brewing.

We are so grateful for everyone’s contributions and participation at our inaugural event, and we can’t wait to be back in 2023!