Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/10/13
From Release
The US Lacrosse National Convention, presented by Champion, and the US Lacrosse Fan Fest, sponsored by Moe’s Southwest Grill of Philadelphia and deBeer/Gait Lacrosse, will bring upwards of 6,000 lacrosse coaches, officials, administrators and fans to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Downtown Marriott Friday through Sunday.
The US Lacrosse National Convention runs all three days and annually is the largest professional development event in the world for lacrosse coaches, officials and administrators. The convention includes some 150 educational clinics, the sport’s largest exposition hall, business meetings, and ancillary events. Two-time Super Bowl coach Dick Vermeil, who led the Eagles to Super Bowl XV as part of his seven-season tenure in Philadelphia, will deliver the keynote address at 7 p.m. Friday.
Walk-up registration will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday in the convention center and continue throughout the event. Price is $150. Membership in US Lacrosse is required to attend the convention and can be renewed or initiated on site.
“We’re excited to have many of the lacrosse’s most knowledgeable coaches and officials share what they know with their colleagues at the youth and high school levels,” said Beth Porreca, director of special events at US Lacrosse. “US Lacrosse remains focused on developing coaches and officials to help make lacrosse participation a positive, character-building experience for athletes from the youth level through college. We’re looking forward to a great weekend in Philadelphia.”
Several NCAA-champion coaches, such as Duke University’s John Danowski and the University of Maryland’s Cathy Reese, will host clinics. The convention also will feature a number of coaches with ties to the tri-state area, including: National Hall of Famer Bonnie Rosen (Temple University), National Hall of Famer Tom Marechek (formerly of the Philadelphia Wings), Mike Murphy (University of Pennsylvania), Mark Petrone (Haverford School), Brendan Dawson (Widener University), Kristen Carr (University of Delaware), Andy Hayes (Episcopal Academy) and Johnny Mouradian (Philadelphia Wings). Former NBA official and New Jersey state policeman Bob Delaney will deliver a featured address at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Additional convention info is at uslacrosse.org/2013convention. Follow @uslaxconvention on Twitter and Tweet using the hashtag #laxcon.
The US Lacrosse Fan Fest opens the convention center to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Fan Fest attendees will tour the expo hall and enjoy demonstrations and clinics at four live demonstration areas. The U.S. women’s national team and the Philadelphia Wings highlight the schedule of demonstrations, and both will sign autographs. General admission tickets to Fan Fest are $10. Any fan wearing a Wings jersey will be admitted for $5, as will any youth or high school player wearing his/her team jersey.
Additional Fan Fest info is at uslacrosse.org/2013fanfest.
