The game of lacrosse is growing in popularity in the Grand Duchy, with the Blacksmiths formed as a club as well as the Luxembourg Federation of Lacrosse coming into existence eearlier in the yeaar.

Now, the Luxembourg Federation of Lacrosse has been accepted as aa member of the International Federation of Lacrosse (FIL) as its 59th member nation. Luxembourg was approved via a vote of federation members during its General Assembly meetings in Guildford, England in July. The meetings took place following the 2017 FIL Rathbones Women’s Lacrosse World Cup.

Bob DeMarco, FIL Development Director, stated "FIL is pleased that Luxembourg is now a member. We would like to thank the European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) for their hard work in assisting in the development of lacrosse in Luxembourg.”

The Luxembourg Lacrosse Federation (LLF) leadership team includes President Pit Bingen, Vice President Scharel Kirchen and Development Officer Henning Schmidt. Pit Bingen, President of the Luxembourg Lacrosse Federation, discussed the impact of becoming an FIL member and stated “Acceptance by the FIL is an important step in the development of Lacrosse in Luxembourg and the neighbouring region. The LLF’s focus is to help grow this sport in Central Europe and is confident that FIL membership gives the LLF the necessary boost to build a sustainable lacrosse community in Luxembourg. Luxembourg, being a very small country, provides young and committed players the unique opportunity to compete internationally very quickly.”

Luxembourg becomes the 32nd member from Europe, FIL’s largest region, which represents 54% of its membership.

FIL Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr offered his perspective on the addition of Luxembourg to the growing FIL family of nations. "The addition of Luxembourg affirms the appeal and allure of lacrosse as a sport for all. The physical and mental benefits and the sheer joy of participation continue to result in one of the fastest growing sports in the world today.”

Lacrosse in Luxembourg began in the spring of 2015 when Bingen and Kirchen found each other online. They discovered they shared a mutual interest in lacrosse and decided to get together each week. It started as a couple of guys tossing a ball around. It turned into weekly lacrosse games with a group of enthusiasts in local parks around the city of Luxembourg.

As interest grew, it drew the attention of neighbouring countries and the ELF. With the outside assistance and the hard work of its own players and coaches, Luxembourg was regularly participating in men’s regional events and friendly tournaments.

Bingen and Kirchen founded the Luxembourg Lacrosse Club in November 2016. Shortly after that, on the recommendation of the Olympic Committee of Luxembourg (COSL), they modified its statutes so it could act as the national federation for lacrosse in their country as the Luxembourg Lacrosse Federation.