Youth Boys Lacrosse Squads Turn Out For Inaugural PLL Play Cali Cup

Event coinciding with Premier Lacrosse League’s fifth weekend draws programs to San Diego 

SAN DIEGO — Youth boys teams from California and beyond enjoyed two days of competition and professional lacrosse right before their eyes at the inaugural PLL Play Cali Cup, a youth tournament held on June 28 and 29 and coinciding with the Premier Lacrosse League’s fifth weekend of action.

Co-hosted by PLL Play and San Diego-based Adrenaline Lacrosse, the Cali Cup invited youngsters to face-off alongside their friends at one of three venues in Coronado and then head to the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium—just minutes away—to take in two different PLL matchups on both Friday night and Saturday night.

Friday afternoon saw youth squads competing at Coronado High School, Coronado Middle School and Tidelands Park, each facility within a short drive of one another and all just a quick ride from downtown San Diego.

Teams traveled from up and down the California coast and even from Arizona to compete at the first edition of the Cali Cup, which is modeled on the success of the PLL Opening Weekend Classic held the past four years in Albany, N.Y. A modified field size and youth-friendly rules helped speed game flow and enhanced the fun for teams competing at the first edition of the Cali Cup.

Divisions ran from fourth grade up to ninth grade and featured round-robin play. Games wrapped up Friday evening in time for participating squads to make it to the stadium, where they packed the stands to see the Denver Outlaws outlast the California Redwoods 18-12 and then the New York Atlas edge the Utah Archers 10-8.

Fans returned the following night to Torero Stadium for two more battles, as the Philadelphia Waterdogs downed the Redwoods 12-9 and the Carolina Chaos were victorious over the Boston Cannons by a score of 14-12.

Each game was broadcast live on ESPN+, and the Waterdogs-Redwoods tilt aired on ESPN as the weekend’s Saturday Night Lacrosse matchup. The four intense games and an immersive atmosphere allowed young athletes and their families to relish the professional game in its fastest and most impressive form.

Guests donned their favorite PLL jerseys and moseyed through the Premier Zone, an interactive fan experience featuring surprise guests and amenities for athletes and families.

Much like the scene at the Opening Weekend Classic, Torero Stadium was transformed into a celebration of the game. And as it is during any PLL weekend, fan engagement was limitless. Participating programs bumped fists with the PLL stars and wished them well as they made their way to the field Friday and Saturday.

“What an incredible weekend this was to witness the PLL in San Diego and have all these young players observe the game at its highest level,” said Steve Sepeta, President of Adrenalina Lacrosse.

Before turning Adrenaline into an industry leader on the West Coast, Sepeta attended the University of Notre Dame, where he was a midfielder and eventually picked up the long stick for the Fighting Irish.

“We’re grateful for the PLL and the PLL Play staff for their vision and their dedication. These chances are still rare for lacrosse programs on the West Coast, and this turned out to be an experience that these kids will likely never forget.”

By pairing PLL game weekends with youth tournaments, the league and its leadership know they’re planting seeds that will ultimately grow the sport’s fandom.

“An event like Cali Cup inspires kids to dream about lacrosse and where they can take it,” said Kevin Leveille, PLL Play’s VP of Youth Sales Strategy.

A member of the newest class of Professional Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductees, Leveille himself was inspired as a kid, each summer attending the Lake Placid Summit Classic, an event founded by his father, George.

“When kids watch lacrosse played by the very best, they see how exciting and rewarding the game can be. We hope the Cali Cup experience helps young players and their families embrace the sport and its culture moving forward.”

Be on the lookout for Save the Date announcements for our 2026 events. Check the full PLL Play schedule for pro-led training and development opportunities from coast to coast. And be sure to follow the PLL, PLL Play and PLL Tournaments on social media to keep up with us all summer long.