The European Lacrosse Championships are held every four years, and have been held since 1995 to determine the best national lacrosse team of Europe. Before 2002, the championships were held annually (except for men in 1998 because of the World Championships, and for women in 2001 because of the World Cup), but in 2002 the European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) changed it to every four years, occurring on the even years between the World Championships.