The Fly 2025: Pioneering Lacrosse Sixes Ahead of LA28 Olympic Debut

Looking towards the LA Olympics in 2028, several sports are being reintroduced after years of absence, such as lacrosse in its dynamic sixes format. This version of the game sees six players on the pitch per team on a smaller field, incorporating a 30-second shot clock to enhance the game’s pace and spectator appeal.

In anticipation of lacrosse’s return to the Olympic Games in 2028, England Lacrosse established The Fly in 2021, pioneering the transition of lacrosse in tournaments from tens to sixes. The initiative aimed to familiarise players and audiences with the format, fostering a sporting excellence prior to its reintroduction onto the Olympic stage.

The Fly’s 2025 tournament is set to be the most competitive yet. The recent player draft, posted live on The Fly’s YouTube channel, unveiled the rosters for the eight participating squads — four women's teams and four men's teams. Each player drafted is picked to be in either Team Forge, Team Hustle, Team Rise, or Team Swift. Notably, England Women’s field lacrosse captain, Laura Merrifield, was the first pick for Team Rise. In addition, there are many student-athlete draftees, including England internationals and University of Nottingham students Ana Green, Rachael Ball, and Nina Sherwen. These players, instrumental in securing the 2024 BUCS Sixes Championship, underscore the significance of student-athlete contributions to the league.

The upcoming season will follow a two-weekend structure: 17-18 May at Blackheath Rugby Club in London and the Championship from 31 May to 1 June. The dual weekend aims to enhance competitive intensity and broaden the geographical reach of lacrosse, allowing fans from different regions to engage with the event and thus reflecting The Fly’s commitment to inclusivity and the nationwide growth of the lacrosse community.

To delve deeper into The Fly’s impact and direction, The Saint spoke to Nina Sherwen, an England international and University of Nottingham standout, who was part of the victorious Team Forge last season.

How does it feel to be picked to be part of the Forge squad at The Fly 2025?

It honestly feels so great. I was super happy to be selected again for Team Forge, especially as we won it last year. The team vibes were so much fun, as well as the standard being super high. Hopefully we can bring back the trophy again!

How is The Fly aiding your development as a player?

Getting to play in the Fly means I get to play with and against senior international players who have played at many more international tournaments than me. This pushes my ability, helping to improve my own performance. Also, as the Fly is [in] the sixes format, it gives another opportunity to play the Olympic version of the game, which we otherwise don’t get much exposure to. Last year, I was the youngest player on my team and maybe even in the entire tournament. This really allowed me to step up and rise to the challenge of playing with, and against, incredible international players.  

You were part of the victorious Forge squad last year. What team strategies or dynamics do you believe were pivotal to the team's success? 

The team dynamics and vibes were so good last year, and we all gelled really easily. A lot of us had already played together before in previous lacrosse games, matches, and training, which helped with this, but also, we had great leadership from super-experienced captains who played for Senior England. Quick subbing allowed us to have fresh legs on the pitch as often as possible; this is vital in the sixes format, as it is such a fast-paced game.  

The Saint also spoke to Helen Amos, Lead for Competitions at England Lacrosse. As the creator and the lead organiser of The Fly, Amos has overseen the tournament's growth and development since its inception in 2021.

How has The Fly evolved since its launch in 2021?

The Fly was created to provide the highest level of competition for sixes lacrosse in the UK, attracting our best and brightest talent from the UK and beyond. Since launching in 2021, The Fly has rapidly developed into the UK’s premier six-a-side lacrosse competition, setting new benchmarks for high-performance lacrosse. What started as a pioneering concept has now become a key platform for elite athletes, bridging the gap between domestic competition and international success.

In 2023, we moved towards a more spectator-focused event, taking The Fly from Lilleshall National Sports Centre and heading to Rosslyn Park in London. This shift allowed us to refine the league format and focus more on the spectator experience and audience engagement, whilst creating a commercially attractive competition which elevates the sport’s profile.

Looking ahead to 2025, The Fly continues to grow with the largest player pools to date for The Draft. Each season builds towards our long-term ambition — positioning The Fly as a crucial step in raising the profile of our sport through the Olympic platform, and preparing athletes for the international stage.

What initiatives are in place to prepare the athletes for the 2028 Olympics?

The Fly has always been geared around providing athletes and coaches with a high-performance environment where they can learn and develop — without the pressure of an international medal. Our standards and expectations are set high and aim to mimic those found in Olympic competitions, pushing, and challenging our athletes to be the best they can be both on and off the field.

For 2025, we have introduced a closer collaboration with British Lacrosse, including British Lacrosse player placements. These player placements have strategically allocated members of the BL squads across teams to ensure Olympic-level preparation. This not only strengthens competition, but also fosters team environments that push players to develop the tactical, technical, and mental resilience required for global success.

Beyond the athletes, we’re also focused on coaching excellence, ensuring that our development pathway aligns with international standards. We work with a number of external coach developers from Olympic sports to help prepare and develop our coaches on a 1:1 basis. We have taken a much more collaborative approach to the development of the tactical and technical aspects of sixes lacrosse this year, with coaches pooling knowledge and sharing ideas, both within The Fly and with our colleagues at British Lacrosse. 

How do you think we can make lacrosse more accessible to play and to watch?

Accessibility is key to growing lacrosse — both in participation and as a spectator sport.

To make it more accessible to play, we need to break down barriers to entry. That means increasing opportunities at the grassroots level, simplifying pathways into the sport, and ensuring lacrosse is visible in schools and community programs. The six-a-side format is a great tool for this — it's fast, dynamic, and requires fewer players and less space than the traditional game, making it easier to introduce in new environments.

This year, we are working hard with members of the local community around our host

venues for The Fly (Blackheath Rugby Club, and Manchester Regional Arena) to run activation sessions and skills festivals for local schools. We will also give away free tickets to primary schools in the area who are participating in local POP lacrosse festivals.

To make it more accessible to watch, we need to package the sport in a way that engages modern audiences. That means high-energy, short-format competitions like The Fly, designed for fast-paced action and digital consumption. The more we integrate lacrosse into the wider sports entertainment landscape — through social media, streaming platforms, and immersive event experiences — the more we’ll build a fanbase that connects with the game. We have a few new things in the pipeline for this year so watch this space!

Ultimately, lacrosse needs to be seen to be played — and The Fly is a great way (I believe!) to get our sport seen!

Exposure and accessibility are indeed crucial for the growth of lacrosse. In previous years, this tournament has been streamed on The Fly’s official YouTube channel. As of now, The Fly sixes tournament has not officially announced its broadcast plans for 2025. Securing broadcasting partnerships is essential to elevate the sport’s profile and reach a broader audience. As Amos emphasises, integrating lacrosse into the wider sports entertainment landscape through social media, streaming platforms, and immersive event experiences is vital for building a fanbase that connects with the game. With lacrosse’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics, The Fly offers the UK the prime opportunity to engage with the sport ahead of the event. All that is needed now is for broadcasters to come on board and amplify the excitement that Sixes and The Fly have to offer.

Image by Anna Sherwen