Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse

If you are a boys’ or girls’ lacrosse coach and you have been wondering how you might increase your knowledge of the game and of coaching techniques so that you could coach smarter and better, then the US Lacrosse Level-1 Certification Clinic is for you.Presented by US Lacrosse Coaching Trainers as part of the US Lacrosse Coaching Education Program, the Clinic covers the following: basic game strategies and tactics, how to coach and evaluate basic player skills, how to run effective practices, how to communicate with and motivate players, and how to instill in players a sense of sportsmanship and enjoyment of the game of lacrosse.

For more information on these Clinics, see our promotional flyers here and here.  To register for one of these Clinics via UL Lacrosse, click here.  If you have questions or desire additional information, contact Bob DiGiovanni at robert.digiovanni@gmail.com.

Lacrosse Friends-

Well it was bit chillier than last year but the sun shined just as bright on Northville Community Park for the 17th annual 7v7 Lacrosse Tournament. The Michigan Chapter of US Lacrosse would like to thank everyone for making this year’s event run so well. This was our second year of 2-day operation and we ran 11 fields on Saturday and 13 fields on Sunday hosting a total of 135 teams. We thank you for the support you’ve shown us over the years. Net income from the 7v7 is spent on developing lacrosse. Money will be spent on new programs, equipment grants, scholarships, youth teams, our Michigan Lacrosse Hall of Fame and other means of growing and improving the experience of “the fastest game on feet.” The tournament is an all-volunteer effort. As it grows larger, it grows more difficult, but it’s a product of our love of the sport.

The 7v7 is intended as a fun day of lacrosse, a last day of outdoor play, a preview of next spring’s matchups, and a chance for lacrosse opponents, friends, parents, officials and coaches to join in a low-stress and fun event. We appreciate those of you who “get it” and enjoyed the day.

This was our second year at Northville Community Park. Mary Barberio, Jason Nezich and the grounds staff of the Northville Parks and Recreation Department were incredibly helpful in making this event happen. The Township and City of Northville put no undue requirements on our event as well.

The 7v7 could not happen without our supporting vendors, and IN PARTICULAR, our amazing staff of volunteers. Our crew spends countless hours in making this event happen.

Special thanks go to:

Owen Blank, who turns a large park into a mecca for lacrosse by organizing the lining with the help of Jason Watts, Mike Wagner and the Michigan Dearborn lacrosse team. Owen also arranged the loans of the 13 sets of goals that were in use this weekend.

People that helped us by loaning their goals to us for the weekend are Northville Lacrosse, Northville HS Lacrosse, Detroit Catholic Central HS, Grosse Pointe Select Lacrosse, Champion Lacrosse, and the University of Michigan Dearborn Men’s Lacrosse Team.

Kristy Zelenka, who handled the crazy registration task and coordinated the tournament communication!

Jason Gratson, who took the 135 boys, girls, varsity, JV, and youth teams and turned it into a workable schedule. Jason and Corinne were also on hand during the tournament to help make sure the event went smoothly.

Bob Stevenson Co-Director and this year’s parking Czar for his imaginative solutions to the massive inflow of lacrosse people that happens both mornings. Also on hand to help from the chapter were Charley Lawler, Bob DiGiovanni, and Michael McCue.

Jaime Corl, our trainer who was able to fix most boo-boos on the spot.

The women’s and Men’s officials and Kim Hagan who secured the girl’s umpires and the Michigan Lacrosse Officials association for securing the boy’s game officials make this tournament run on time with minimal to no issues.

Emilia Ward and her Adrian Women’s Lacrosse team, for graciously serving as parking marshals.

Ken Rymiszewski and Detroit Lacrosse Co., for supplying the cool Northville 7v7 staff pink hoodies that made our crew easy to locate.

Michigan Lacrosse Store, your west side source for everything lacrosse- www.michigan-lax.com

Judy Roberts and the crew from AMJ Distributing, extraordinary BBQ catering specialist’s- was on hand at two locations this year. They fed the staff and officials gratis.

Warrior Lacrosse, Michigan based, and world leader in performance lacrosse equipment- www.warriorlacrosse.com donate the balls for the event.

We are working hard to improve this tournament. If you have any suggestions or just want to help in the effort with the tournament or other chapter events please contact us. It is the people that make this Chapter work.

We also suggest you join US Lacrosse, if you’re not already a member. The benefits are great. Nice supplemental insurance, equipment and other discounts, and Lacrosse Magazine. You will benefit, and you will support the sport. We are working hard to improve the Lacrosse experience in the State of Michigan. Your membership would help.
We look forward to seeing everyone back for next year’s tournament.

I took a few photos at the site on Sunday. To check them out click here.

Until next year, Happy Laxing!
Clark Bell, President, U.S. Lacrosse Michigan Chapter

Dear Lacrosse Fanatics!

Welcome to the 17th Annual US Lacrosse Michigan 7 v 7 Tournament! From a handful of teams in the first few 7 v 7’s, we’ve grown to 135 teams from several states and two countries (welcome to the Canadians, and your great stickwork!)

The schedule for this weekend can be found here: Saturday Girls, Saturday Boys, Sunday Girls, Sunday Boys, the field map can be found here. Look for your team name, and the corresponding letter code. Find that letter code in the applicable schedule, and that will show your game times and fields.

Boys’ teams should park from the Beck Road side of the park, and girls’ teams from the 5 Mile Road side. We have special areas designated for RV parking. Please follow the parking guides directions when you arrive. Northville has a Dog park for their constituents and we will try to leave some spots open for them. Please make sure that parents/spectators understand this rule. Please help us when we ask you not to park there.

Please keep the park clean. Bring garbage bags, and pick up your stuff. We’ll be handing out extra bags. No pick up trash, no come back next year…

Play hard this weekend, but leave your anger at home. This is about fun and a little pre-spring diagnosis. Appreciate your opponents: without them, you don’t have a game! And please thank the game officials for being there and helping with the tournament.

“Judy the Foodie” will have plenty of chow for all, and it is really special on a cool day. They will have grilled hot dogs, sausage, chicken breast and other items. Also they will have coffee , tea, hot chocolate, bagels, muffins to start the day! There will be 2 food locations this year.

The following vendors and sponsors help us produce the tournament. Stop by and say hello to them:

• Warrior Lacrosse has donated the game balls.

• Detroit Lacrosse Company has donated the staff hoodies (we’ll be the ones in pink!)

• The City of Northville and Northville Parks and Recreation.

• The Michigan Lacrosse Store

This tournament is an activity of the Michigan Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse. Most of these activities can be found on our website.

Our other activities include:
• The Michigan Lacrosse Hall of Fame
• The high school senior Hall of Fame games in June.
• Grants for startup lacrosse programs.
• College scholarships to colleges and universities in Michigan.
• Youth travel teams – Information coming soon on tryouts!
• Clinics for players, coaches and officials.
• MYLA – Look for upcoming info on Youth State Championship

Our incoming class of 2010 Hall of Fame members is being recognized in a party at Cranbrook/Kingswood Schools next Saturday evening, November 13. We hope you can attend for a great evening among other lacrosse people.

If you aren’t already a member, you should join U.S. Lacrosse today. Benefits include:
• Lacrosse Magazine
• Insurance
• Special deals, discounts and opportunities
• Travel team options
• Scholarship opportunities
• A portion of your dues helps to support lacrosse in Michigan

THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE 17TH 7 V 7!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!

The Michigan Lacrosse Hall of Fame celebration will be held at the Cranbrooke House in Bloomfield Hills on Saturday, November 13th at 7:00pm. For more information click here.

To: Michigan US Lacrosse Members,

From: Clark Bell, President, US Lacrosse Michigan

Subject: 7v7 Tournament Update and Save the Date!

17th Annual 7v7 Tournament, November 6-7th

We will be returning to Northville to follow up on our two day event last year with another Fall classic 7v7. Last year we had 112 teams and the registrations are piling in already. Don’t wait! We may sell out. Again we will have Boys and Girls, JV and younger on Saturday with HS varsity level contests for Boys and Girls on Sunday.

Two things to take note of: This year we may have 3rd-4th grade teams if enough sign up. The growth of lacrosse has spread to the younger ages and we want to give them an opportunity to play as well. So get those younger boys’ and girls’ teams together and contact other younger programs so we can have enough competitive games to host these age groups.

Second: If high school Varsity age teams create a jersey-numbered roster and submit it along with the roster, we will make the roster available to college coaches in the hopes they will come see the fine talent that Michigan and the surrounding states (and Canada!) have to offer. The roster should include names, jersey number, grade, and high School attended. Do not name your team after your high school as that may be a violation. This was requested by college coaches, so we know there is interest. Come see and be seen!

For more information click here.

Again: we sell out this tournament every year. If you’re coming, you should sign up soon. We are sad to deal with disappointed parents and players each year!

Save The Date – November 13th – Michigan Lacrosse Hall of Fame Party!

Come honor our “Famers” in November. The site and details will be coming soon. Please set aside the date to honor our 2010 inductees Vicki Oakley, Deb Pavle, Tom Graesser, Gene Reilly, Mike Jolly, and Roger Pattee as well as past inductees. These folks have given us much for Lacrosse. Save the date and be prepared to meet with your friends for an evening of Lacrosse camaraderie.

This is the year’s best off-field lacrosse party. Active players, coaches, officials and fans, and “old-timers” will all be there. We hope to see you too.

HALL OF FAME DAY, 2010.  The Michigan Chapter of U.S. Lacrosse held its annual Hall of Fame Day and games at Detroit Country Day School on Saturday, June 19.  Top high school graduating senior boys and girls provided a great display of lacrosse skills, six new people were inducted into the Michigan Chapter Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and four USLM Scholarship winners were announced.  The Boys’ and Girls’ programs may be viewed here.

GIRLS STATE ALL-STAR DIVISION 1

Kylie Miller–Plymouth Canton

Lauryn Ebersole–Plymouth Canton

Jennifer Herzfeld–Plymouth Canton

Lindsay Butterfield–Lake Orion

Jodie Parker–Lake Orion

Sarah Cech–Lake Orion

Click here to read this year’s All American & All Academic All American winners.

The 2010 U.S. Lacrosse Michigan Scholarships have been awarded. We had a large number of applications this year, reflecting lots of great lacrosse student-athletes. The following four persons were awarded scholarships:

Joey McCormick (Okemos/University of Michigan)

There will be a tryout in Hartland on, Sunday, June 13th from 3 pm to 5 pm for the Michigan Select Boys 15U National Championship Tournament team. The tournament is for players that will be 15 years of age or younger until 2011. High school freshman players are eligible. The address of the field is 9525 E Highland Rd, Howell, MI 48855. This is just west of US 23 on M-59. Registration will be from 3 pm to 3:30 with tryouts lasting from 3:30 to 5 pm. The link to the tournament page is:

http://www.uslacrosse.org/TopNav2Right/Events/U15NationalChampionship/EventDescription.aspx

Click here to get the player information sheet.