SPARKS, Md. — The speaker lineup for LaxCon 2023 is beginning to take shape and it features some of the leading voices in the game to help coaches and officials get ready for the 2023 season. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
The USA Lacrosse Convention takes place at the Baltimore Convention Center from Jan. 20-22, 2023 and USA Lacrosse members can save on the gold, silver and bronze levels by registering by Nov. 30, 2022.
Among the enhancements for this upcoming year’s LaxCon is extended “classroom to field” sessions where coaches combine a classroom session discussing how drills and strategies are designed to work and then demonstrate those points on the live field:
Karen Healy-Silcott, the head women’s lacrosse coach at Howard University, will lead one of those sessions with Alexis Joseph (assistant coach, Howard) and Megan Whittle (bronze medalist, England) handling breakout sessions on the offensive and defensive aspects of the presentation.
Stephy Samaras, a longtime college coach and now the director of strategic growth for ScoreBreak, will lead a classroom to field session with USA gold medalist Molly Hendrick focused on the defensive ride.
Jim Stagnitta, best known for his two Premier Lacrosse League championships with Whipsnakes LC and success as a college coach, is also a current high school coach at The Hun School (N.J.). Stagnitta will lead a classroom to field session focusing on the fundamental concepts that can make any offensive set work.
Men’s Coaching Track
One of the best to ever play the sport, Casey Powell, is among the debut speakers at LaxCon. Powell, a National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member as a player, also has a long history of coaching and teaching. He will share his passion for the game and showcase the skills, drills and thrills that make it so much fun. Another Hall of Famer and former national team star speaking is Roy Colsey (head coach, Ridgefield High School). Among the other men’s coaching speakers confirmed are: Chris Collins (assistant coach, Redwoods LC), Greg Gurenlian (co-founder, FaceOff Academy) and Michael Sowers (player, Waterdogs LC).
Women’s Coaching Track
The women’s coaching track includes college head coaches Brittney Morris (St. Mary’s, Md.) and Lindsey Teeters (American University) alongside top high school and club coaches. One of the USA stars of the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship — Ally Mastroianni — will lead a session on explosive dodging and one of the breakout presenting stars from last year’s LaxCon, former UMass draw specialist Caitlyn Petro, is back for an encore presentation.
Box Track
The box track includes some of the biggest names in the sport, including current Buffalo Bandits head coach John Tavares who set a record as the National Lacrosse League’s all-time leading scorer. Also speaking will be two star players from the Bandits — Josh Byrne and two-time NLL MVP Dhane Smith.
Men’s Officials Track
Taught by leading officials, there are numerous sessions to help men’s officials improve their skills and advance in the ranks. Among the featured presentations are Gordon Corsetti (Reverse War Stories: Adventures in Epic Failure), Kevin Forrester (Are You a Good Lacrosse Official), Michael Hyland (Seeing Fouls From a Coach’s View), David Malquist (An Assignor’s View: How to Climb the Ladder) and Sean Murphy (You Make the Call).
Women’s Officials Track
The women’s officials track includes many of the top officials in the sport. Among the featured sessions are Lynn Bowers (Mechanics and Protocols for the Collegiate Game), Barbara Martinichio (Sportsmanship: Bringing Integrity and Civility Back to the Game), Jodi Michna (Dangerous Use of the Stick: A 2023 Point of Emphasis), Colleen Spiegelhoff (A 3D Look at Shooting Space) and Mara Wager (An Assignor’s View: How to Climb the Ladder).
FanFest
LaxCon is also a time for players and fans to get involved with a one-day FanFest on Jan. 21. FanFest showcases some of the sport’s biggest stars participating in demos and clinics and offers autograph options. Get up close and personal with your favorite players and favorite gear. Advance FanFest tickets are as low as $10 for students.
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With nearly 400,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
