Warrior Lacrosse, based in Lansing, MI, and Athlete’s Connection Inc., a retailer based in Lansing, MI, has filed a lawsuit against the NCAA seeking damages of more than $30 million they say will be caused under new men’s lacrosse equipment rules. The rules in question detail the size of the lacrosse stick head.
Under the new rules, the head of the stick will shrink a half inch in the middle and extend a quarter inch on the ends. The lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, claims that decades of investment in design of lacrosse stick heads will be lost and their current inventory will be obsolete, according to the Grand Rapids Press. The suit alleges that the change will cost players at least $58 million to replace outdated equipment.
“Rather than provide guidelines and parameters within which manufacturers may compete on lacrosse head designs, the new version of the rule sets arbitrary, illogical, unreasonable and overly restrictive design specifications that significantly inhibit competition and innovation,” the suit claims.
All manufacturers will have to scrap their inventory, accept returns of unsold goods and overhaul their designs and production equipment.
“Moreover, the new rules will stifle future innovation … and, consequently, will severely limit the choices available to consumers.”
The NCAA disputes the allegations and expects to prevail, a spokeswoman said.
“The NCAA believes this lawsuit is without merit, and we look forward to its dismissal by the court,” Stacy Osburn, associate director for public and media relations, told the Grand Rapids Press
