DULUTH, GA. (July 6, 2023) – The Georgia Swarm Box League and the Atlanta Box Lacrosse Association (ABLA) recently announced a partnership which will merge the two organizations into the premier box lacrosse league in metro Atlanta. The combined league will be known as the Swarm Box League (SBL) and will begin play in December 2023 and conclude in late January 2024.
The Swarm Box League (SBL) will provide leagues for boys and girls of all ages. The ABLA has had more than 700 players participate annually, and this merger will help Atlanta become the hub of box lacrosse in the South. The SBL will play its games at Silverbacks Indoor (4285 Brogdon Exchange NE, Suwanee, GA 30024.) Registration and additional information can be found here.
“We couldn’t be more excited about joining forces with the ABLA to grow box lacrosse in Atlanta. From my involvement in youth lacrosse with my own son, I know that there is tremendous desire for young players to play indoor lacrosse,” said Andy Arlotta, Co-Owner and President of the Georgia Swarm. “With the accelerated pace of play, the ability for players to play both offense and defense, and the tighter spacing which requires different stick skills, box lacrosse is a great way to enhance a player’s skills. We witnessed this firsthand while operating Minnesota’s Youth Box League which featured over 1,200 players annually.”
Interested players can register as individuals or as a team. In addition to playing league games, players will have the opportunity to register for individualized training academies with professional Swarm players and to compete on the Jr. Swarm team, which travels to Toronto for the national box lacrosse tournament each summer. These training academies allow young players – from beginners to advanced – to learn the fundamentals from the world’s best lacrosse players, right here in Atlanta. Swarm head coach Ed Comeau will also be available for instruction with local lacrosse coaches to grow the game of box lacrosse.
“The ABLA was formed to facilitate box lacrosse games in Atlanta in 2013 and spread box lacrosse in the South. That vision continues today with our decision to join forces with the Georgia Swarm to continue the growth of box lacrosse by utilizing their vast resources and expertise,” stated Ryan Covert, the ABLA Founder. “ABLA players now have access to the world’s best players, coaches, and referees that can help build Atlanta into the box lacrosse hub of the South.”
About the NLL
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. The League is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (Fort Worth, TX), Las Vegas NLL, Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors.
For more information on the NLL, visit NLL.com. You can also find the NLL on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@NLL).
