National Lacrosse League

(New York City)- The National Lacrosse League and the League's Scoop n' Shoot program is headed to the annual US Lacrosse Convention on January 11-13, 2002. The convention is being held at the Marriott Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Jim Jennings and members of his staff will be in attendance at the convention to represent the League and promote the Scoop n' Shoot program.

Scoop n' Shoot is a newly created program, run jointly through both the NLL and US Lacrosse, the national governing body of both men's and women's lacrosse. The game is open to boys and girls ages 6-14. During the upcoming season, the program will travel throughout the League and its home cities. On each city's designated Scoop n' Shoot date, the boys and girls will come to the arena before the game, accompanied by their families. Each child will scoop up six lacrosse balls and shoot them into the goal. The balls will be strategically placed within twenty feet of the goal crease. The idea of the game is to scoop the balls and shoot them into the goal as quickly as possible. Each participant will be timed. The fastest times in each age group will have the opportunity to compete at the NLL Champion's Cup Final in April.

In addition to playing in the Scoop n' Shoot contest, the child receives one ticket to the team's home game that evening; an official NLL game ball and a Scoop n' Shoot T-Shirt: all for just $20 in the United States or $25 in Canada (Canadian Funds). To register, visit www.ScoopnShoot.com, or call the League Office at (917) 510-9200.

The NLL has announced dates for the Scoop n' Shoot contests...Albany- March 24; Buffalo- February 9; Calgary- March 17; Columbus-March 9; Montreal- March 15; New Jersey- February 15; New York- Will hold trials at all games; Ottawa- February 16; Philadelphia- March 9; Rochester- March 16; Toronto-February 23; Vancouver- March 16.

For more information please visit the official Scoop n' Shoot website www.ScoopnShoot.com or the league's official website www.NationalLacrosse.com.