NLD – Qasim’s Story
As part of National Lacrosse Day 2022 which falls on Saturday 17 September, we’ve been chatting to a few members of the lacrosse community to hear their personal lacrosse stories.
To start us off this week, we spoke to Qasim Alli about how he came to start playing lacrosse, and how his journey through the sport has evolved since then.
When and where did you first start playing lacrosse?
Aged 20 in 2013 at Cambridge University.
What made you start playing lacrosse?
One of my friends from mixed netball invited me along to a new team she was setting up and I love trying new sports. A whole group of us went along as beginners and though we could not catch a ball to save our lives, we had the most fun!
Who has been the biggest influence in your lacrosse career to date?
I've had the opportunity to play with and learn from so many amazing sportspeople (huge shout-out to everyone I get to train and play with at Lions and Centaurs for constantly pushing me), but if I had to choose one person, I would say Julie Wise (England International and former Cambridge University attacker).
I've known her, almost as long as I've been playing lacrosse, and she's one of my favourite training buddies. Since I first met her I've played with and watched so many amazing athletes, but she remains one of the most inspiring and skillful players I know.
Where do you play lacrosse now, and for whom?
I founded, coach, and play for my own club, London City Panthers, which focuses on promoting inclusion and racial diversity in lacrosse.
I'm also one of the captains for Lions, the world’s first elite mixed lacrosse club, and for the Rainbow Rexes LGBTQIA+ inclusive touring team. I also train with Centaurs Women's Lacrosse Club and do some coaching - I always want to find more lax to play!
Have you come up against any challenges so far in your lacrosse career, and if so, what were they?
As someone who has only ever played women's rules lacrosse in mixed gender environments, I often find myself fighting against gender normative expectations of players - I think athletes are individuals and should be treated as such, gender does not define or limit your skill set or impact as a player.
As one of few people of colour I know playing lacrosse, it can be difficult in traditionally white environments, but it's always such a joy to meet other non-white lacrosse players, and to keep working away at improving the representation within the English Lacrosse community!
What aspects of lacrosse do you love the most?
I love learning new skills - when I see something new, I instantly want to practise it till I get it down and incorporate it into my game! I find mixed gender team sport environments simultaneously supportive and competitive, and I am at my most joyful driving to goal against a friend who is making it a challenge!
Check back each day this week as we speak to more people across the lacrosse community.