Our U17 box lacrosse teams earned their place at the Ontario Summer Games by qualifying on the floor. Every player who stepped onto the floor throughout the season committed countless hours to practices, games, travel, and sacrifices away from family, friends, and other activities. Together, these athletes worked toward a goal and earned the opportunity to represent their teams at this event.

After qualifying, several teams were notified that some of their players would not be eligible to participate because they are American and Indigenous players from the U.S. side of the border despite these athletes having played under OLA rules, being properly rostered, and representing their teams throughout the entire season.

What makes this situation especially difficult is that this eligibility concern was not clearly communicated before or during the qualification process. Had teams and families known that certain players would be deemed ineligible for the Ontario Summer Games, they could have made informed decisions months ago. Instead, these athletes are finding out after earning their place that they may not be able to participate in the very opportunity they worked all season to achieve.

For many of these players, this is not just another tournament — it is their final year of minor lacrosse. They have dedicated years of commitment, countless hours of training, and made significant sacrifices to reach this point. To have that opportunity taken away after qualifying is incredibly disappointing for the players, families, coaches, and teams affected.

This is not about asking for special treatment or changing the rules after the fact. It is about fairness, transparency, and ensuring that eligibility requirements are clearly communicated and consistently applied before athletes commit an entire season toward a goal.

These young athletes deserve the opportunity to know the rules before they compete, not after they have earned their place. We respectfully ask the Ontario Lacrosse Association and the Ontario Summer Games organizers to review this decision and consider the impact it has on all of the players who have worked so hard, represented their teams all season, and earned the right to compete.

We are calling on organizers, coaches, and game officials at the Ontario Lacrosse Association and  the Ontario Summer Games to ensure that all players who qualified and participated throughout the season are given the chance to play in the final six.

If the Ontario Summer Games will not allow all eligible American and Indigenous players from the U.S. side of the border to participate, then we respectfully ask the Ontario Lacrosse Association to withdraw the U17 Final Six Championship from the Ontario Summer Games and hold it at a separate location.

The Final Six should be a true OLA Provincial Championship where every player who was legally rostered, registered, and helped their team qualify has the opportunity to compete. No team should be forced to leave behind players who earned their place simply because of eligibility rules imposed by a separate event.

The championship belongs to the players and the teams that qualified on the floor—not to the venue. If the Ontario Summer Games cannot accommodate all eligible OLA-rostered athletes, then the championship should be moved to a location where every qualified team can compete with its full roster.

By signing this petition, you are supporting the dreams and efforts of young athletes and promoting a culture of fairness in sports.

Please sign this petition to let the voices of these young athletes be heard and to uphold the integrity of the sport we love.