Dan Doyle, executive director of the Institute for International Sport, started the selection three years ago and received over 1,500 nominations. The core criterion for selection of the "Most Influential Sports Education ‘Teams’ in America" was the effective use of sport as a means to educate.

"In America and in many other countries, we honor elite athletes, winning coaches, wealthy team owners and media moguls. We praise sports educators yet we really do not honor them in a manner befitting their admirable impact on society," said Doyle. "This project is aimed at honoring individuals and organizations who have creatively and effectively used sport in the very best way - as a means to educate and shape positive values," he concluded.

"This is quite an honor for us," said Steve Stenersen, executive director of US Lacrosse. "As a young NGB, we’ve worked hard to create and evolve educational resources that provide comprehensive practical knowledge, as well as perpetuate a philosophy that emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high quality of experience for coaches, officials, athletes and parents. Our strategic alliances with organizations such as the Positive Coaching Alliance have really helped us to incorporate techniques and strategies focused on maintaining a positive culture in our fast-growing sport."

US Lacrosse provides various educational opportunities, including: coaches' education programs, officials training programs, sportsmanship education, a physical education curriculum for schools, and the Fast Break Initiative. US Lacrosse also works in conjunction with the BRIDGE Initiative, a program focused on introducing and expanding the sport of lacrosse in nontraditional and underserved communities to embody diversity of players, coaches, officials and supporters.

"US Lacrosse recognizes the platform that lacrosse provides as a means to educate and works to embrace and cultivate the positive impact that those involved in the sport can bring to growing the game," said Josh Christian, Director of Programs and Services at US Lacrosse. "Through a standardized national educational curriculum and clinic structure, US Lacrosse strives to offer its members the most comprehensive opportunity to further their development within the sport."

Christian added, "US Lacrosse strives to educate fans as to the rich Native American history and heritage of America’s oldest sport through the educational displays exhibited at the Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame." Online visitors can embark on a virtual tour through the US Lacrosse web site. 

During the Institute for International Sport’s selection process, numerous written and verbal comments regarding the honorees were received. From October 15, 2007 to October 15, 2008 the Institute’s web site will feature tributes to these teams.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) corporation, is the national governing body for men’s and women’s lacrosse. US Lacrosse provides a leadership role in virtually every aspect of the game throughout the United States, and offers a number of programs and information services to its national membership and more than one million lacrosse enthusiasts throughout the country.