Federalism and Lacrosse

Federalism shapes Canada — and lacrosse mirrors it.
Canada’s political system balances power between Ottawa and the provinces. In lacrosse, the same dynamic exists between Lacrosse Canada and provincial associations. But unlike the country’s constitutional framework, lacrosse has no clear rules, no supreme court, and no national revenue system. This leaves Lacrosse Canada dependent on provincial fees, vulnerable to disputes, and unable to enforce true national standards. The result: a sport that is officially Canada’s national summer game, yet governed more like a patchwork of provincial fiefdoms than a unified national sport.