By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/13/13
The first day of the 2012 US Lacrosse National Convention here at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia was capped by a rousing pep talk by keynote speaker Herman Edwards and two special presentations before a crowd of several thousand people in the ballroom.
Edwards is the former Eagles standout defensive back who is most famous for scoring the touchdown that won the “Miracle of the Meadowlands” in the Dick Vermeil era of the late 1970s and early ’80s. Edwards, who later coached in the NFL with the Jets and Chiefs and now is an ESPN analyst, spoke about setting a good example for younger athletes and giving back to the game.
Before Edwards spoke, US Lacrosse presented the much-awaited trailer of “Crooked Arrows,” the first full length feature lacrosse movie set to debut in April. The movie, starring Brandon Routh of Superman fame, features an underdog team of Native Americans and their quest for a New York high school state championship.
The movie will clearly have some great lacrosse action, but also plenty of humor to go with a feel-good story.
The next presentation before the keynote speech was made for the FIL World champion US U19 women’s team, which claimed its fourth straight gold medal last August in Hannover, Germany. The squad featured two Philly girls – captain Taylor Trimble (Episcopal Academy, now at Duke) and goalie Allie Murray (Downingtown East, Notre Dame).
Videotaped interviews of Trimble were shown and head coach Krystin Porcella spoke about the gratifying experience of winning the gold and coaching a talented and gracious group of girls – all of whom were either in high school or had just graduated. Later, the US team was presented with its medals in a special ceremony by US Lacrosse; Murray was present and Trimble’s mother, Janet accepted her medal because Trimble was with the Duke team on a retreat.
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Philadelphia Wings players will be demonstrating today at the Convention:
1:45 – 2:45 – Wings players participate in an indoor demo on Life Turf Field. Players participating include Max Seibald, Ned Crotty, Matt Danowski and Stephen Fryer
2:45 – 3:45 – Autograph session with Dan Dawson and Brodie Merrill (they’ll be signing the Inside Lacrosse magazines that they’re featured on the cover)
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NXTsports invites lacrosse players to come attend a coaching lecture given by NXT’s President Andy Hayes, also head boys’ lacrosse coach at Episcopal Academy, on Sunday, January 15 at 10:15 AM on the live demo field at the U.S. Lacrosse Convention.
In this talk, Hayes will demonstrate and discuss “core” drills that every youth practice should include. In addition, he will show how minor changes in these drills can be included to modify them for peak effectiveness when working with age groups from as young as U-11 all the way up through high school practices.
These drills Coach Hayes will lecture on are designed to all be high energy and up tempo, and will focus on stickwork, 2v1 situations, shooting, fundamental defense and communication. Players from the Episcopal Academy varsity lacrosse team will join Coach Hayes on the live field to demonstrate these concepts.
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