Interest high in IMLCA clinic

[Sonny]

December 01, 2005

There are promising signs for the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IMLCA) Clinic next week. Organizers originally said they expected 750-800 coaches to sign up, but 809 coaches have signed up to date. Coaches come from 203 colleges and 299 different high schools.

The clinic, which will be held at the Baltimore Marriott Hotel from December 8-11, may also draw up to 200 walk-in participants, according to a press release from organizers.

The clinic features speakers that include Dave Pietramala, head coach of Johns Hopkins, Richie Meade, head coach of Navy, and Mike Pressler, head coach of Duke.

”Basically, what I tried to get to do was get the national championship coaches and head and assistant coaches on Saturday so we would get a very good cross-section of coaching philosophies,” said Air Force coach Fred Acee, an organizer of the clinic.

Years ago, many coaches talked about having a NCAA certified coaches association to deal with college issues arising in the sport of lacrosse. Thus, the IMLCA was formed. The IMLCA, which is an affiliate of the ECAC, expanded clinic opportunities this year to better meet its mission statement in educating coaches at the college and high school levels.

“Besides listening to the lineup of pretty good college coaches," said Acee. "It’s just a bunch of people sitting down with the same backgrounds and talking about the same things.”

One other event to be held at the clinic is a recruiting roundtable, where college coaches can set up tables and high school coaches can come around and talk to them about prospects they have.

The Clinic is sponsored by the three Founding Partners of the IMLCA, Harrow, STX and Warrior. Participation is also high among exhibitors, as the exhibit area is sold out. Inside Lacrosse will be an exhibitor at the clinic.

For more information on the clinic or to register, visit http://www.ecac.org/feature/feature.asp?id=1811.