IMG Nationals, year-end lacrosse national championship, to be held Nov. 22-24, 2013 at IMG Academy

Bradenton, Fla. (November 26, 2012) – The inaugural IMG Nationals, a year-end lacrosse national championship, will be held Nov. 22-24, 2013, at the world-renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Created to provide high school-aged players with a high-profile national platform for showcasing their talent in front of college coaches, the event will feature 48 club teams representing three divisions: U15, U17 and U19.

“Recognizing the need for a professional-quality, high-level national competition for North America’s fastest growing youth sport, we’re excited to launch the IMG Nationals,” remarked Bill Shatz, Director of Lacrosse, IMG Academy, and IMG Nationals Tournament Director. “IMG Nationals provides the ideal environment for players to focus on skill development, while continuing organized competitive play and gaining increased visibility outside of their regular lacrosse season.”

College coaches and media from around the nation will be present, granting players a unique opportunity for exposure. Participants will have access to the latest in sports performance products from IMG Academy sponsors like Gatorade and Under Armour. The event will also feature recruiting education from NCSA Athletic Recruiting to aid participants in their college pursuit.

IMG Nationals is an invitation and qualification-only event. A series of qualifying events will begin in the summer of 2013, with dates to be announced in the coming months. The qualifying series creates additional playing opportunities at the local level across the country. At each event, the top-two teams in each division will qualify for the IMG Nationals.

Divisional winners of the IMG Nationals will not only be crowned national champions, but will also receive a free week of lacrosse training at IMG Academy.

To learn more about the event, visit: http://www.imgacademy.com/img-nationals/. Teams interested in participating, or events interested in becoming an ‘Official Qualifying Event,’ are encouraged to contact Bill Shatz, Tournament Director (william.shatz@imgworld.com, 972-252-8476) or Jordan Satarawala, Tournament Manager (jordan.satarawala@imgworld.com, 941-739-7497).