E News February 2013

New ELA CEO appointed

David Shuttleworth will be retiring as the Chief Executive Officer of the ELA in May of this year.

The position of CEO had been widely advertised in sporting and other circles and attracted 67 applicants. Some were from the lacrosse community and quite a number who held senior positions in sports National Governing Bodies and similar organisations.

The calibre of the applications was such that the ELA Selection Committee, comprising of four people, long-listed 11 candidates for presentations and interviews. These took place in early December and following this a short list of 3 was formed for the next stage of interviews. After this extensive process the position was offered to Mark Coups and the ELA Board was pleased that Mark accepted the position. He takes up the role from April 1st.

Mark was educated at Stockport Grammar School and Sheffield University and been a part of the Sport England Leadership Programme. Candidates for the Leadership Programme are selected by Sport England with views to the future. Mark has an extensive lacrosse background with the current role being Director of Development and Coaching holding this position since the merger of the men's and women's lacrosse organisations to form the English Lacrosse Association. A specific responsibility held is that of leading on the preparation, submission, presentation and subsequent delivery of the four year Whole Sport Plans (WSP). Lacrosse is one of the funded 46 sports and WSP 2009-13, which is just about to complete, regarded as being very successful and has lead on to increases in funding within WSP 2013-17.

Mark has been Head Coach of the men's England team (1994 -98), set up the Sheffield Steelers Lacrosse Club (1990) and also the Cirencester Club (2011).

Fund Raising

As we near the end of our financial year our funds run low. The US lacrosse veterans run a charitable fund raising website. Working with SELET we are seeing if we can run a UK site that would enable individuals to make charitable donations to the development of lacrosse.

University of Kent

John Maynard and I visited the university to discuss them starting a second team. We meet in a local pub that brews its own beer which made the visit to Canterbury particularly worthwhile! They have a strong lacrosse programme at the University. So working with the Athletic Union we have funded eight sets of kit to help ensure our continuing success in Kent

Derby University

The club has provided 10 sets of kit to launch yet another new university into BUCS.

Exeter Club

The far south west is now the fastest growing area of lacrosse. Falmouth University recently joined the local lacrosse community of Exeter and Plymouth Universities along with Marjons with the club entirely funded by the athletic union. Now we are looking to support a new ‘town' club in Exeter. How long before we see a south west league forming?