20 years of Bats
From an idea in a Bratislava pub in January 2007 to the club that forms the core of the Slovak national team. These are the milestones we are proud of.
- 200711 January 2007
The club is born
The idea of a new club came up at the Slovak Pub in Bratislava. Around the table sat Martin Čulman, Patrik Pytel, Alex Majkrak, Milan Zifčák and the then president of the Slovak Lacrosse Federation, Marek Lichtner.
The goal was clear: help lacrosse grow in Slovakia. That is how Bratislava Bats were born.
Milan Zifčák, one of the club’s founders, today in the Slovak national team jersey. - 200721 November 2007
First game
We played our first game in field lacrosse against our city rivals on Nevädzová Street. Instead of jerseys we wore white T-shirts. The first goal in Bats history was scored by Martin Čulman, who still plays for us today.
- 200928 March 2009
First game in the Czech NBLL
We entered the Czech National Box Lacrosse League, one of the strongest in Europe, with a game against ForFun from Prague. We lost 6:12, but box lacrosse has never let us go since.
We still face ForFun today. NBLL 2018. Photo: LCC Radotín / Flickr - 2010
First time at the Aleš Hřebeský Memorial
The Aleš Hřebeský Memorial in Prague-Radotín is the biggest open-air box lacrosse tournament in the world. Every year it brings together teams from every corner of the globe. We first played there in 2010 and it has been a highlight of our season ever since.
Aleš Hřebeský Memorial 2019. Photo: LCC Radotín / Flickr - 2011
European Lacrosse League champions
In 2011 the pilot season of the European Lacrosse League (ELL) was played. We took part and finished the league as champions.
- 2012
First tournament win and the bat gets a face
We went through the KM Cup without a single loss and won it.
Around the same time the club got its own visual identity from designer Slavo Kiss: the bat with a lacrosse stick that is still with us today.
- 2017
The first European Box Lacrosse Championship
The first European Box Lacrosse Championship took place in Turku, Finland. Bats players represented Slovakia there and finished an excellent 9th in a strong field.
- 2020
A Slovak double
We played in both the Slovak Field Lacrosse League (SLL) and the Slovak Box Lacrosse League (SBLL). We dominated both and won both leagues.
- 2022
Celebrations in Radotín
The Aleš Hřebeský Memorial is a party for us every year, on the floor and off it. A group that plays and celebrates together has kept the club going for almost 20 years.
Aleš Hřebeský Memorial 2022. Photo: LCC Radotín / Flickr - 2023
SBLL title defended
In the second season of the Slovak Box Lacrosse League we managed to defend our title.
- 2025
Gold in the Czech 2nd Box Lacrosse League
We won gold in the Czech 2nd Box Lacrosse League (2. BLL), together with the league MVP award.
- 2026
The club behind the national team
At the European Championship in Prague, Bats players made up 85 % of the Slovak national team. Among them were guys who had started lacrosse only a year earlier. Read their stories.
Filip Huťan in goal for Slovakia. - 2027January 2027
20 years
In January 2027 we celebrate 20 years. Most of our team forms the core of the Slovak national team, and we regularly play at World and European Championships. The next chapters will be written by new players.