By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 3/2/14
Liam Banks said adding Casey Powell to LB3 Lacrosse was a special hire.
“Casey came on board about 2 months ago (as VP of Education) and for me he is the best player ever,” said Banks, founder of LB3 and like Powell a former All-American from Syracuse. “Now I get the opportunity to work with him on a daily basis.
“Having him out here adds such a huge star factor; and it also increases our level of coaching. He is one of the best on the field and the kids are excited when he is around. I am always excited to step on the field with him.”
Powell led the instruction today at an LB3 Preseason Shooting Clinic at Shipley School’s Farm Turf Fields in Gladwynne. More than 60 boys aged 8 to 18 worked on all aspects of scoring to prepare for the 2014 season, which begins in earnest Monday as practice opens for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association.
“The message I spoke about is for them to set a goal by working hard,” said Powell, a 1998 Syracuse grad and four-time All-American who plays in the NLL with the Colorado Mammoth. “My high school coach said if you can do the little things, you can do something big.
“Kids today sometimes try to always do what they do great. But I feel they need to work on other things and learn to do everything well. One day you are going to go out there and the defenseman will be better. He’ll shut you down if you can’t adapt do other things.”
Powell was joined by many LB3 coaches, most of whom, like Banks, graduated from Ward Melville High on Long Island. Players worked on passing, proper cuts, moving with the ball and other keys skills geared to scoring. Goalies also received specialized instruction.
“Liam and I share coaching similar principals,” said Powell, who had flown from his NLL game Saturday in Colorado vs. Minnesota (14-12 win). “He and I are committed to growing lacrosse. We both came from the Syracuse background and he comes from a family with a deep lacrosse background.
“I am looking forward to the future with him.”
Banks enjoyed Powell’s introductory speech to the players, which focused on his own adjustments made during Saturday’s NLL game.
“One thing Casey always has been is truthful about where he is,” said Banks of Powell, the all-time MLL scoring leader. “He always relates to the kids. He talked about making a mistake as a member of the Mammoth and that proves nobody is perfect.
“We tell that to the kids. Casey sets a really good example for kids to be the hardest workers they can be on the field because that’s how he is.”
Notes – The clinic kicked off with a motivational pep talk by the HEADstrong Foundation’s Pat Colleluori, brother of founder Nick Colleluori.
