US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates
Encyclopedia
The US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates (USLIA) are programs created by US Lacrosse
, the national governing body for lacrosse in the United States, to foster intercollegiate teams for both men and women prior to the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) organizing national championships for men in 1971 and for women in 1982. After the NCAA became involved, US Lacrosse shifted it's focus to supporting collegiate teams at NCAA schools that did not actually field varsity teams. This has eventually expanded to also include National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
schools, because the NAIA at this time does not recognize lacrosse as a sanctioned sport.
These programs were designated the US Lacrosse Men's Division Intercollegiate Associates (MDIA) and US Lacrosse Women's Division Intercollegiate Associates (WDIA). Over time, it was decided that the MDIA had become too complicated for US Lacrosse to administer and on August 24, 2006 the MDIA Board of Directors announced formation of a new organization called the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
(MCLA) as its replacement. It was agreed that the MDIA would cease to exist, that the new MCLA would run its own national tournament and control its own budget, but still sit on US Lacrosse boards and committees. The WDIA in January 2011 was also reorganized and renamed the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates
(WCLA).
US Lacrosse
US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men and women's lacrosse in the United States, primarily serving the youth game. It provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game, boasts 63 chapters throughout the United States, and offers programs and services to inspire...
, the national governing body for lacrosse in the United States, to foster intercollegiate teams for both men and women prior to the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) organizing national championships for men in 1971 and for women in 1982. After the NCAA became involved, US Lacrosse shifted it's focus to supporting collegiate teams at NCAA schools that did not actually field varsity teams. This has eventually expanded to also include National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
schools, because the NAIA at this time does not recognize lacrosse as a sanctioned sport.
These programs were designated the US Lacrosse Men's Division Intercollegiate Associates (MDIA) and US Lacrosse Women's Division Intercollegiate Associates (WDIA). Over time, it was decided that the MDIA had become too complicated for US Lacrosse to administer and on August 24, 2006 the MDIA Board of Directors announced formation of a new organization called the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...
(MCLA) as its replacement. It was agreed that the MDIA would cease to exist, that the new MCLA would run its own national tournament and control its own budget, but still sit on US Lacrosse boards and committees. The WDIA in January 2011 was also reorganized and renamed the Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates
Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates
The Women's Collegiate Lacrosse Associates is a national organization of 200+ non-NCAA, women's college lacrosse programs organized and run by US Lacrosse, the national governing body. The mission of the WCLA is to promote the growth of women’s lacrosse nationwide...
(WCLA).