IMG Nationals, year-end lacrosse national championship, to be held 
Nov. 22-24, 2013 at IMG Academy

Bradenton, Fla. (November 26, 2012) – The inaugural IMG Nationals, a year-end lacrosse national championship, will be held Nov. 22-24, 2013, at the world-renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Created to provide high school-aged players with a high-profile national platform for showcasing their talent in front of college coaches, the event will feature 48 club teams representing three divisions: U15, U17 and U19.

The Rhode Island Lacrosse Classic, formally the Ocean State Lacrosse Classic, will be the New England Qualifier for the IMG National Tournament.

“Recognizing the need for a professional-quality, high-level national competition for North America’s fastest growing youth sport, we’re excited to launch the IMG Nationals,” remarked Bill Shatz, Director of Lacrosse, IMG Academy, and IMG Nationals Tournament Director. “IMG Nationals provides the ideal environment for players to focus on skill development, while continuing organized competitive play and gaining increased visibility outside of their regular lacrosse season.”

College coaches and media from around the nation will be present, granting players a unique opportunity for exposure. Participants will have access to the latest in sports performance products from IMG Academy sponsors like Gatorade and Under Armour. The event will also feature recruiting education from NCSA Athletic Recruiting to aid participants in their college pursuit.

IMG Nationals is an invitation and qualification-only event. A series of qualifying events will begin in the summer of 2013, with dates to be announced in the coming months. The qualifying series creates additional playing opportunities at the local level across the country. At each event, the top-two teams in each division will qualify for the IMG Nationals.

Divisional winners of the IMG Nationals will not only be crowned national champions, but will also receive a free week of lacrosse training at IMG Academy.

To learn more about the event, visit: http://www.imgacademy.com/img-nationals/. Teams interested in participating, or events interested in becoming an ‘Official Qualifying Event,’ are encouraged to contact Bill Shatz, Tournament Director (william.shatz@imgworld.com, 972-252-8476) or Jordan Satarawala, Tournament Manager (jordan.satarawala@imgworld.com, 941-739-7497).

About IMG Performance
IMG Performance, a division of IMG Worldwide, houses the world’s leading integrated academic and athletic training establishment, IMG Academy, as well as a number of extensions that have grown out of IMG Academy. IMG Performance’s primary focus is to continue to develop IMG Academy, as well as offerings such as Athletic & Personal Development Services, Performance Events, Labs & Research Collaboration, and Digital Products & Solutions.

About IMG Academy
IMG Academy is the world-leading provider of integrated academic, athletic and personal development programs. With expert instruction, a proven training methodology, professional-grade facilities and a challenging and motivating learning environment that brings together individuals of all ages and backgrounds, IMG Academy provides the ultimate foundation for future success.

The Bradenton, Fla.-based campus annually attracts nearly 200,000 athletes, coaches, event participants and spectators from 100 countries. IMG Academy offers sports camps and academy programs, in addition to training opportunities for adult, collegiate and professional athletes, as well as teams and leagues. IMG Academy is also the host venue for countless international amateur and professional sporting events.

IMG Academy (imgacademy.com) is housed within the IMG Performance (imgperformance.com) division of IMG Worldwide (imgworld.com). 
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Contact: Johnny Esfeller, IMG Performance PR-Coordinator, 941-752-2461, john.esfeller@imgworld.com