By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/27/10
Registration for the 2nd Annual Philly Lacrosse Showcase – featuring the premier boys’ and girls’ scholastic lacrosse players from the Philadelphia area and beyond – begins in five days.
The recruiting event, being held again at Episcopal Academy, features a day for boys (Nov. 20) and girls (Nov. 21) on six fields.
Well over 100 college coaches are expected to attend the event at the Newtown Square campus. The showcase will feature more than 600 players in the rising senior, junior and sophomore classes on six fields (two turf). The event is open to all players seeking to play at the college level.
The showcase website can be accessed at http://www.phillyshowcase.com/ Registration begins Aug. 1.
The event director, Andy Hayes, is the head coach for Episcopal Academy’s boys’ team and the president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA). He has directed the EPSLA Showcase in each of its two years.
The girls’ event director is Jen Duckenfield, who has coached at the high school, club and youth levels for 15 years in the Philadelphia region. Duckenfield said the Showcase – co-sponsored by Phillylacrosse.com – was expanded to include girls this year to fill a void.
“What’s great about it is that the girls only get so many recruiting tournaments,” Duckenfield said. “The boys get a lot more opportunities. Last year some events were canceled due to poor weather and the girls just didn’t get viewed as much.”
All participants are guaranteed to play in at least three games. In the afternoon Fab 40 teams will be selected in all three classes to play in All-Star Games in front of the college coaches.
“The other thing is that the girls often get nervous at club tournaments,” Duckenfield said. “This way, you can can and just play lacrosse. If you already have an identity on a club team, you can come here and reinvent yourself.”
Duckenfield said she seeks high school coaches interested in serving as coaches in the Showcase. Those interested should e-mail her at jennyduck@verizon.net.
Hayes said each event will feature 16 teams with 21 players on a squad.
Last year’s coverage
