A couple weekends ago, I jumped into the Nashville Ignite 3v3 tournament—and it reminded me exactly why free play matters.
We had six small teams, each with just three or four players. First to three goals or eight-minute max. My squad made it to the finals, and even though we lost on some funky little sneaky goals, it was exactly what I needed.
Behind-the-back goals. Between-the-legs shots. Reps on reps. No pressure—just play.
This kind of low-stakes, high-rep environment lets you stretch your game and try new things, which is exactly what we want for our athletes in the Sixes League.
And speaking of high-level reps… Nashville Ignite is off to a strong start this season. We went on the road for a grueling four-hour drive, played back-to-back games, and came out with wins against both Cincinnati and Detroit.
It wasn’t pretty, but as Nick Saban once said after a gritty win at Florida:
"An ugly win on the road is still a win."
That mentality—grind, adapt, grow—is what carries over into everything we do, and it’s at the heart of the Sixes League.
This league is informal by design—but competitive at its core. It's where athletes build confidence by experimenting, playing freely, and learning through reps.
If your athlete is looking to take that next step, challenge themselves, and have a ton of fun while doing it—this is where it starts.
Let’s grow the game the right way—through creativity, toughness, and fearless play.
– Coach Elliott
The Box Lacrosse Guy