Lacrosse Unido
About CBL
Confederação Brasileira de Lacrosse
Our Core
History of Lacrosse in Brasil
The history of lacrosse in Brazil began in 2022 through a connection via Uruguay Lacrosse that gave way to planting the seed in the Amazon region of Pará. Thanks to the help and support of World Lacrosse and the Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) developers were able to visit Santarém, the place that would become the Headquarters of the CBL, and ignite the flame that would motivate and inspire our Brazilian athletes and coaches in the region. The development trip was aimed at taking the sport to various educational institutions, promoting it across radio and television news sources and running coaching courses for locals.
During this period, the Confederação Brasileira de Lacrosse (CBL) was formed, with Professor Manolo Aquino as its President. Among the trained coaches, Professor Gleicimara Alvarenga (and member of the CBL Board) kept the continuity of the programs with regular trainings at two educational institutions, a state institution, EETEPA, with the support of Professor Jone Oliveira (Board member of the CBL) and another federal institution, IFPA, with the support of Professors Amaro Damasceno and Carlos Sousa da Silva (Board members of the CBL).
Recent CBL history
In 2023 and 2024 additional development trips were orchestrated to further propel the growth of the sport in the Pará region, with international developers also running clinics (globo). The second development trip helped solidify foundations to continue with higher-level training and strengthen the youth programs. The Brasil Lacrosse national team made its international debut in November of 2023 with the Seleção Masculina competing at the PALA Sixes Cup in Jamaica. Later, in February of 2024, Brasil Lacrosse made its second international appearance and their European debut at the EuroLax Sixes Cup in Portugal. Both Seleções (Masculina & Feminina) finished 8th of the 12 competing teams in each bracket!
Interview with Cofounder and Head Coach: Cristina Vélez
Learn more about the CBL from the interview with Zach Heffner, former Professional Lacrosse Player and member of Team USA, who sat down with our Cofounder and trailblazing Head Coach at their international competition debut in Jamaica!
Question 1: How did you come to be the Head Coach of a men’s national program. How did this project get started? What are the origins of Brasil Lacrosse.
Question 2: Explain the upcoming tournament, the on-the-field stuff, the sentiment off the field? What’s the energy? What’s the vibe here?
Question 3: What do the next 5 years look like? What are the milestones you want to hit? What are some exciting events that you have on the calendar?