By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/11/22
The Performance Academy has announced its launch as a unique lacrosse training and consulting platform for boys, girls, clubs, individuals, townships, organizations and teams for all levels and ages of play.
The business features three trainers/consultants Todd MacFarlane, Adam Mueller and Chris Collins – each has coached, trained and worked with some of the top players in the world.
Performance Academy offers services to address (1) skill development for teams, individuals, and programs in the areas of offense, defense, and goaltending, (2) health, fitness, agility training, (3) college recruiting consulting and (4) SAT prep.
MacFarlane said Performance Academy is unique as the business is neutral in the sense that it caters to all boys, girls, township, club, middle & high school teams. We are not a club team; we are an extended training/consulting arm to all in the Philadelphia region.”
“With more kids playing lacrosse, Performance Academy understands that it’s tough for programs, teams, parents, and coaches to support all the needs of today’s student athlete,” said Macfarlane. “Maybe they just don’t have the time or resources to accommodate, so we are here to support them.”
Macfarlane is an assistant with the Redwoods LC of the Premier Lacrosse League and has previously been on staff with Penn, Maryland and Malvern Prep. Mueller was an 11-year pro in the National Lacrosse League and was head coach for the Philadelphia Wings, Minnesota Swarm and New York Titans. He is the only head coach in NLL History to lead three teams to the playoffs. Collins was an All-American goaltender at Delaware and played 15 years of pro indoor and outdoor; he is also an assistant for the Redwoods LC.
Even though each of the Performance Academy staff members have quite the lacrosse resume they are excited work with all levels. From beginners to elite players, township teams or clubs, the No. 1 HS team in the area or not, they are just excited to coach, train, or consult.
“We’re open to working with programs of all levels of ability,” MacFarlane said. “We can work with a program that needs a fresh start or one that just needs new ideas or needs to hear the same ideas from a different set of coaches.”
See the Performance Academy Summer Schedule
Mueller said Performance Academy also has had success training coaches, which strengthens the program in many other ways.
“We may not be able to cover everything in three sessions, but by working with the program’s coaches and training them, the coaches will be able to get the kids through the skills themselves the rest of the year,” Mueller said.
Mueller is considered one of the most experienced and elite American box lacrosse coaches. He also has trained many of the top field players from programs like Malvern Prep and the Haverford School. Mueller, MacFarlane, and Collins also coach box with Philly’s elite program, Penn Lax All-Stars.
“We love bringing Americans into the box game,” Mueller said. Box lacrosse when properly played and taught softens up your hands, makes you a more efficient shooter and ball handler, and forces you to react quicker on the offensive and defensive end. For most players moving onto the next level, it’s a difficult transition, we can help with that.”
“We have worked with individuals, small groups, teams, and organizations year-round. Some on a weekly, monthly, or seasonal bases and some as a tune up prior to an event or season on the skill development & fitness side of the house.” Teams and organizations also use Performance Academy for preseason, in season and offseason coaches training or as a recruiting consulting service as we understand what college coaches are looking for in a player and are versed in what the process is, especially during the time of COVID and a growing transfer portal.
Macfarlane said, “Chris works with the goalies and on defense; Muells focuses on the offensive side of the house and I support/coach O & D, fitness training, and run operations and recruiting.”
“When programs, teams or organizations hire us, we just want to support them and ask questions like… ‘What do you know, need us to work on, what offense or defense sets do you run, etc. It’s our job to facilitate training and work hand in hand with our clients.”
Collins embraces coaching goalies. Girls or Boys it doesn’t matter. “When I work with clubs or teams some coaches just step aside which is fine, said Collins. When this happens, coaches say ‘It’s nice my kids hear it from somebody else. It’s the same I think I have been telling them.’
“Then the lightbulb goes on and the player will say, ‘My coach has been saying that the whole time.’ Girls’ goalies are no different than boys and I worked with about 10 high school girls this past year and I’m looking forward to seeing them play this spring.”
Performance Academy has partnered and affiliated itself with some of the elite in the business to help it provide professional training and consulting.
“Can’t thank Good Clean Fun Life Productions, Franklin Yard, Elevate, Pro Athletics, Stylin Strings, and SummerSkates enough for their support! We just want to give back to the community and pass on lacrosse knowledge and couldn’t do it without them,” said MacFarlane.
The Performance Academy instructors:
Adam Mueller
COACHING & TEAM ACCOLADES
- Head Coach- Philadelphia Wings, Minnesota Swarm and New York Titans
- Only head coach in NLL History to lead 3 teams to playoffs
- 2008 NLL Coach of the Year- New York Titans
- USA Box Offensive Coordinator 2015
- World Champion- Philadelphia Wings Offensive Coordinator
PROFESSIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE & ACCOLADES
- 11 Year Pro- Philadelphia Wings, Baltimore Thunder, Albany Attack, Detroit Turbos
- 2x World Champion
- All-Star Selection
- 1998 Team USA Tryout selection
COLLEGE PLAYING EXPERIENCE & ACCOLADES
- Michigan State University
- 2x Captain Selection
- 4x All-Conference Selection
- Conference Player of the Year
Todd MacFarlane
COACHING & DIRECTOR
- 2019- present Redwoods LC (PLL) Assistant Coach
- 2016 -2017 University of Pennsylvania Assistant Coach
- 2015- 2016 University of Maryland Director of Men’s Lacrosse Operations
- 2011-2015 Malvern Preparatory School Assistant Coach
- 2004-2005 University of San Diego Head Coach
- 1999-2001 La Costa Canyon High School Head Coach
COACHING AND TEAM ACCOLADES
- 2016 Big 10 Conference Regular Season and Conference Champions
- 2014 Inter-Ac High School Invitational and League Champions
- 2013 Inter-Ac High School League Co-Champions
- 2005 Men’s Division Intercollegiate Associates, B, Coach of the Year
- 2005 Men’s Division Intercollegiate Associates, B, National Champs
- 2005 Western Collegiate Lacrosse League, B, Coach of the Year
- 2005 & 2004 Western Collegiate Lacrosse League, B, League Champions
- 2001 San Diego County Lacrosse Association, League Champions
- 2001 United States Lacrosse Association (San Diego) Coach of the Year
- 2001 United States Lacrosse Association (San Diego) Man of the Year
- 1999-2001 San Diego County Lacrosse Association, Coach of the Year
PROFESSIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- NLL Veteran- Anaheim Storm
COLLEGE PLAYING EXPERIENCE & ACCOLADES
- Pfeiffer University
- All-Conference & Academic Teams
- Team- Captain & Most Valuable Player
- Ranked top 20 Nationally in Points
MILITARY SERVICE
- 1994-1998 United States Marine Corps
Chris Collins
PROFESSIONAL COACHING & SCOUT CAREER
- 2020- present Redwoods LC (PLL) Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator and Goaltending)
- 2020- present Philadelphia Wings Scout
PROFESSIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- 15-year pro MLL & NLL Baltimore Bayhawks, Washington Bayhawks, Chicago Machine, New York Titans, New England Black Wolves, and the Philadelphia Wings.
COLLEGE COACHING & TEAM ACCOLADES
- 2006-2009 University of Delaware Offensive Assistant & Goaltending Coach
- 2007 Conference Champion & NCAA Final Four Finalist
- 2009-2019 Drexel University Defensive Coordinator & Goaltending Coach
- 2014 Conference Champion & NCAA Quarterfinalist
INTERNATIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- 2015 Team USA in the World Lacrosse Box Championships
INTERNATIONAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE
- 2015 Team USA in the World Lacrosse Box Championships
COLLEGE PLAYING EXPERIENCE & ACCOLADES
- University of Delaware (‘05)
- 3-year starter & Team Captain
- 2005 All American
