Patrick Collins, a spokesperson for Tufts University, said 12 members of the men’s lacrosse team were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, or rhabdo, which is a life-threatening condition after a workout on Monday. It’s characterized as a rare muscle injury when muscles break down into the blood, sometimes due to overexertion.

A recent story from Boston.com detailed the lacrosse practice and fallout in the aftermath. Below is an excerpt from the Boston.com story.

Rhabdo can damage kidneys, cause seizures, and lead to permanent disability or death, according to the Center for Disease Control.

The university said they are commissioning an external, independent investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the situation.

Collins said 50 people participated in the 45-minute workout on Monday on campus, which was led by the alumnus who is a recent graduate of the BUD/S Navy SEAL training program. Collins called the workout “voluntary” and “supervised.”

BUD/S Navy SEAL, short for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL, is a 56-week, multi-stage initial training program for Navy SEAL candidates, according to the Navy. The training “is designed to push you to your physical and mental limits,” according to the website.

No details about the workout itself were released.

The spokesperson said all lacrosse team activities are currently postponed, and the condition of the rest of the team is being monitored. He noted the number of rhabdo cases and hospitalizations could change.

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The Boston Globe reported that head coach Casey D’Annolfo was not present during the workout.

“Our thoughts are with the players and their families, and we are hoping for their quick return to good health under the care of local medical experts,” Collins said.

To read the full story from Boston.com about the lacrosse practice, click here. 

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New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas announced a new change to high school lacrosse, on Monday. According to a post on “X,” Zayas shared that New York State will be the first to implement an experimental shot clock for boys’ and girls’ lacrosse.

The experiment is set to begin in the Spring of 2025 and will be supported by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

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The college issued a statement earlier this week, saying it “condemns any actions that oppose the mission and value of the college and its athletic program and has no tolerance for the behavior displayed Sunday afternoon.”

A recent story from USA Lacrosse detailed the situation and response from both teams and the America East Conference. Below is an excerpt from the USA Lacrosse story.

The Eagle-Tribune originally reported that the player—who was unnamed—was kicked off the team.

The incident garnered attention after the Haudenosaunee Nationals shared a statement about the incident on X.

Albany issued its own statement to Times-Union reporter Mark Singelais, applauding the Great Danes player for reporting the incident immediately and Merrimack for handling it “with the seriousness it deserves.”

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“We reject all forms of bias,” the university said. “Our standards for athletic competition are no different, and the bar is even higher in games like lacrosse that have such deep cultural significance to our Indigenous students, teammates, and colleagues.”

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After discussion, the Council unanimously voted to sanction Boys’ and Girls’ Lacrosse beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

TSSAA become the 26th state high school governing body to recognize the sport

The Council then held a discussion concerning the Amateur Rule and the administration of penalties associated with violation of the rule.

The Council voted to change the penalty statement of the Amateur Rule to read that a student found to be in violation of the rule “may” be deemed ineligible for a period of “up to” 12 months in the sport of participation.

That gives the Executive Director and member schools the opportunity to take corrective action involving a potential violation prior to penalizing students with loss of eligibility.

A recent report from SI High School detailed the latest sport in Tennessee. Below is an excerpt from the SI High School story.

The sport has grown steadily in Tennessee since 1993 and more and more high schools have added the sport as a club program. To govern the club competition, the Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association (TSLA) was formed and the organization has helped the sport grow to a point where is viable for high school competition.

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The TSSAA Legislative Council held a special called meeting Thursday via teleconference to address two agenda items involving the sanctioning of lacrosse and to discuss implementation issues related to the recent changes to the Amateur Rule.

After discussion, the council unanimously voted to sanction boys’ and girls’ lacrosse beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.

The addition of boys’ and girls’ lacrosse brings the state’s athletic offerings to a total of 21 — and 10 in the spring months.

The council then held a discussion concerning the Amateur Rule and the administration of penalties associated with violation of the rule. The council voted to change the penalty statement of the Amateur Rule to read that a student found to be in violation of the rule “may” be deemed ineligible for a period of “up to” 12 months in the sport of participation.

This gives the Executive Director and member schools the opportunity to take corrective action involving a potential violation prior to penalizing students with loss of eligibility.

To the full minutes agenda from the TSSAA council and to find out more information, click here. 

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