Looks like everyone back at Thailand Lacrosse HQ took a bit of a vacation it seems, well at least we are making up for it this weekend so quit your complaining. I am definitely not in the mood especially being blamed for the recent earthquake in Japan, just because I happen to be in town.

So let’s get to it shall we?  

Looks like 2012 season of College lacrosse is coming to a close very soon, definitely would have like to see the Orangemen not choked again this year. I guess We all here will be enjoying watching Sean Lindsay pulling his own hairs out instead when we talk about ‘Cuse with him in Bangkok. A better bracket for the semi would have been Irish vs. Terps, and the Devils vs. Hounds, at least for once the Final would be worth watching rather than wasted all the excitement in the semi games.  All I can say is three out of the four teams deserves to be there, the other well… you’ll be the judge.

The European Championship is coming up, so is the FIL General Assembly gathering. Which will be in Amsterdam, appropriately  since majority of the nation will be there. Yet somehow, a certain Blue division nation did not like that, protest saying it’s not right, and that sent a formal protest. In the letter it said “The GA’s should not be perceived as a marketing exercise nor a convenience of the majority” Really? Sure, it should just be for the convenience of a FEW Blue division nations… If that’s the case then FIL would be no different than the UN where it’s only cater toward the small group of the “big boys”. Anyway, that country seems to forget that on more than one occasion the FIL championship was held at that country ALL THE WAY on that corner of the globe, where there isn’t any lacrosse to be found within the 5,000 miles of that country. God forbid they had to send a representative to fly 20 hours to attend the meeting that’s held once every 2 years, when EVERYONE else out of 44 other member nations had to do it too… God forbid.

STX did a great job again on the team gloves for Thailand, this time they stepped up their game, and raised the bar with 3 different versions of their Cell2 gloves. They’re all looks good in their own way, check it out below (and let the hating begins). 412 post some more pictures of the Alternate version on his blog as well.. Pretty sure more will surface in the coming days.

Speaking of gear, wait for soon-to-be-release picture of TLA’s new Away helmet by Cascade… Is it Stormtrooper-tastic? Yes, indeed.

Did you see the helicopter shots of the team’s Stadium? and the 2012 Teaser by Enigma Film? If so where have you been..?

TLA now has their own Wikipedia, check it out HERE

Lastly, a quick word of advice for insurgents that keep ambushing TLA with the lies, stop telling lies about Thailand lacrosse and we’ll considered not taking a full page ad + a press release exposing the truth about you. Don’t try to re-write history, you have nothing to do with the rise, and the growth of lacrosse in Thailand. Stop riding on the coattail of OUR hard work, and pretend that it’s yours. It’s sad, and quite frankly pathetic.

Home Version

Away Version

Alternate Version

A very special birthday gift from our player to me

It’s been a while, but we’re back…

A lot been going on in the second quarter of 2012 for all of us at TLA after a decisive victory over Singapore in Bangkok.

I had a lot flying to do, bringing Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong on board with the coalition of Asia lacrosse initiative.

The TLA staffs are working and planning for the preparation of the GTG Invitational 2012, that’s being moved to July from June to accommodate a hectic schedule, and FIL General Assembly in Amsterdam in June. Where I’ll be discussing the future of not only TLA but Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia.

Of course the team could use a breather from this year’s busy lacrosse calendar, and more time to get ready to host the LAS boys again. This time we could see the appearance of a certain Premier Japanese club team, adding to the pool of mixed players from all over the world… Check out the uniforms for the match.

Setting up Enigma Apparel took up a lot of my time, but I guess you can’t really complain when the business is good. A lot of exciting partnership for 2013 which should bring up a step closer to be running with the big boys. As it turn out, soccer teams also really like our stuff with opening up another market for our products.

Our new STX gears are en route, check back from the first photo of it here. Also the new images and video from the photo shoot for the team’s PR and Marketing for our partners are coming… for now check out our 2012 teaser.

Anyway, we’re back.

Check back this weekend for all the postings from me, and our writers on TLA Official blog.

For King and Country

Enigma Film (@EnigmaThailand) recently released the 2012 teaser of their documentary on the Thailand Lacrosse Association (TLA) “For King and Country: The Story of Thailand Lacrosse”  the footage from this teaser are fresh from Thailand’s recent victory over Singapore This is just a taste of what to come from this firm’s documentary about the effort of growing the game oversea, the movie is wrapping up in the editing room with a few interviews from Jeff, Conner, and other game growers to be added. Enigma Film released the first trailer back in 2011, and now the second trailer for the movie will be release soon, as well as the new date of release.

Check out the video HERE on YouTube

Enigma Apparel recently released the mock ups of Thailand Lacrosse hooded sweatshirt that got the green light for production for the national team. The hoodie is fully sublimated with all the TLA markings, and made from a light weight material that can be worn in the warmer climate like Thailand. Responding to the request of the fans, Thailand lacrosse will be offering this hoodie for the fans as well. The price for the Thailand sublimated hoodie will be $65 dollars (plus shipping) those who are interested can place the order at: info@thailandlacrosse.com before April 10th. 

Yesterday, Payu the President of Thailand lacrosse (@Misterstormy) tweeted this:

The said stadium is located in Ban Bueng, Chonburi, a short 45 minutes drive outside of Bangkok (also Payu’s home town). It will be the new home of Ban Bueng Football Club, the professional soccer team recently acquired by Payu. The field will be artificial turf with all the facility to support not only the pro soccer team, but the Thailand lacrosse program as well. It will  be use for the FC and TLA pre-season training camp, as well as lacrosse clinic to help grow the sport of lacrosse in this small town in Chonburi. For more info about the facility or the team, be sure to visit their Facebook page.

Ban Bueng Stingrays

Early this month, the Thailand vs Singapore Rival Cup game marked the debut of Thailand Volt helmet, and the partnership with Cascade helmets. Thailand Lacrosse Association signed an official 3 years partnership agreement with Cascade, which will see the New York based company supplying Thailand helmets until 2014. Prantarit Nerngchamnong, the President of Thailand Lacrosse said of the new partnership: “Cascade is the true leader in lacrosse helmets, we are very optimistic about the partnership. Cascade commitment to be the best in the sport is shown in their products, so I am very confidence that Cascade’s experience will benefit TLA. I’ve alway wore Cascade helmets since the start of my lacrosse career, and it’s only fitting that now 18 years on Cascade is now outfitting the our whole organization. I applaud their commitment to grow the game by partnering the international such as ours” .

Thailand will debut 2 more 2012 team helmets, as well as “development helmets” for their grass roots program. The similar partnership deal is in the work for Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia lacrosse. Ryan Hoffmeister of Cascade lacrosse add: “Cascade is extremely to partner with an organization as passionate about the sport as the Thailand Lacrosse Association. Their commitment to grow the sport throughout the region is unmatched, and Cascade hopes that this partnership will help TLA to continue their quest in spreading the game internationally.”  Expect more special and exciting stuffs from this partnership, for the time being be sure to follow them on Twitter: @Thailand_lax and @CascadeLacrosse

Wall of Cascade helmets at Payu's Office

Last friday, we were allowed to attend the Thai national team’s final practice before their Saturday game against Singapore. The game ended with the score of 9-2, Thailand walking away with the Rival Cup. Thailand coaching staff introduced the signage system at practice, and during the game. At the game, Thailand had their sideline staff holding up several square signs with logos, and mascot of several Universities on them. The Thai players on offense were then reacted to the sign, changing formation, and initiate the offensive play according to the sign being held up. We were told that the signs system, were adapted from the Oregon Ducks football signage play calling system. It designed to help speed up the offense, and prevent the delays of players not hearing the play call through their helmet/ambient noises. Along with the sign the coach will be calling out the related name to the sign, which helped the players recognizing what they’re suppose to be doing via auditory, and visually. During the game, in a single set of offense we could see as much as three different signs were being held up…

Did Thailand lacrosse being too fancy? and did it work?

Thailand held Singapore scoreless for the first three quarters, and Singapore only goals came both times on their man-up opportunity. Not having to call time out or wait to relaying each play calling to the whole offense allowed Thailand to catch the Singapore defense off guard. Most of all, it wore the Singapore defense down from the constant changed in formation/plays.. the Thai offense averaged over 8 shots per quarter. Whether or not Thailand will keep the signage system, or why they choose the logos/schools on the signage is still unknown to us. All we can say for now is that, the experiment seems to worked…

STICKING TO HIS GOALS by Vipasai Niyamabha

Real estate developer and founder/president of the Thailand Lacrosse Association Prantarit Nerngchamnong tells Vipasai Niyamabha how nice it is to no longer be Bangkok’s only lacrosse fan.

Lacrosse, America’s oldest team sport, has made a comeback. Enjoying increased popularity in the West over the past few years, the sport’s appeal also seems to be spreading quickly around the rest of the world. Coverage of lacrosse can now be found in the sports section of many international newspapers, while the ancient sport has also found audiences in one of the world’s most modern media – YouTube (with some over two millions hits). Which is all of special significance to Prantarit “Payu” Nerngchamnong, founder and the first president of the Thailand Lacrosse Association (TLA) – who finds himself no longer Bangkok’s only lacrosse fan.

“My big brother (sort of assigned mentor) at Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Massachusetts, was the captain of the school lacrosse team,” Payu begins. “So I decided to have a go at the sport, under his introduction and guidance, and got hooked right away.”

Sitting in the Premier Lounge of Novotel Impact overlooking the Yamaha stadium, the home field of Thailand’s national lacrosse team, the TLA founder recalls how, as a 10-year-old, he left his hometown in Chonburi to attend a private boarding school on the other side of the world.

“There were compulsory sports activities each season, so I was able to try something new. When Spring came, it was time for lacrosse. I played from grades 6 to 9 at Eaglebrook then continue on at Suffield Academy thru 12 grade,  and have been passionate about the game ever since.”

Before taking on any new sports, Payu had to obtain permission from his parents. He recalls sending them a photographs of the equipment, which included a crosse or lacrosse stick, a long-handled stick used for holding a small rubber ball. They were very amused and wrote back saying it looked exactly like the long stick strung with loose mesh that was used for gathering mangoes in Chon Buri” he say with a smile.

His late mother Sunattee, supported Payu in his passion for the sport from the start, right up until she passed away in 2009 (right before the founding of TLA). “When she saw I was so passionate about lacrosse, she encouraged me to make something special out of the sport I loved. She helped me plan the lacrosse project from the very beginning. All that is happening now is what she and I had planned together. She is still my driving force. She taught me never to give up,” he says.

Taking over as chairman of his late mother’s real estate development group, Payu has been forced to focus on business at hand. Despite the challenges, he say setting up the TLA has been worth every minute, as it’s a tribute to his beloved mother.

“Last year; the Federation of International Lacrosse, or FIL, the lacrosse version of FIFA, approved TLA as an official associate member. I owe special thanks to Tom Hayes, the FIL Director of Development and also the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, who support Thailand lacrosse in our quest.”

For Payu, lacrosse is a face-paced team sport, but one that does not require raw athletic ability like football or hockey. “The game is about stick skills, strategy, and finest. The lacrosse stick is used to catch, cradle (carry), and pass the ball, and strike at opposing players to repossess it. The objectives is to shoot the ball into the opponent’s goal to score,” he explains, adding how much fun it is to watch the game and how easy to follow even for those seeing it for the first time.

“From the start, I’ve tried to make lacrosse accessible to more people, not just to those who have attended boarding school abroad. Twice a week, the team practices at Arena 10 in Thonglor to promote interest in the sport and attract newcomers. We’ve even recruited a new potential players this way. We’re also building a lacrosse community through social media like Facebook, Twitter and it gives us incredible exposure.”

Payu is only too aware of the team’s need for more experience through, and was instrumental in launching the Thailand vs. Hong Kong Friendly Cup back in 2010. The team won the ‘Friendly Cup’ against Hong Kong national team in the first ever lacrosse game to be played in Thailand (and in 2011). ”I’m now Singapore Lacrosse’s interim president also, and I’m hoping to create a community for the sport in the region so we can grow our teams together in the years to come,” he says.

The TLA president admits lacrosse is a hobby that is taking up more and more of his time, often at the cost of his regular work. He devotes himself to the sport, from training to marketing, etc. and say he has no regrets at all. ”There are objectives to reach and I’m doing my best as a catalyst to achieve them. Although the game may not reach its ultimate success in my lifetime, I’m grateful to have had the chance to do my part in establishing lacrosse in my motherland.”