Maryland's Sports Commission has partnered with Major League Lacrosse (MLL) to host the Youth Skills Clinic on Saturday July 27th, prior to the 2019 MLL All-Star Game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. The MLL All-Star Game returns to Maryland for the first time since 2002 and this is the first time the state has hosted a Youth Clinic of this kind.
“The MLL Youth Clinic allows young players to see and meet professional players that have grown up in their communities, have worked extremely hard, honed their craft in their college years and are now playing at the highest level,” said Carrie Gamper, Director of Marketing for Major League Lacrosse.
In the 17 years since it was last in Maryland, Gamper says the game has been traveling the country visiting other MLL cities and hosted by potential expansion markets. According to Gamper, MLL Commissioner Sandy Brown - a Baltimore native - made it a priority to bring tent-pole events to team markets and saw value and depth in the Maryland lacrosse market and thought it was important to bring the game back to Maryland.
This year's game will definitely have a Maryland feel, and not just because it is being played in Annapolis. A number of players are from the state or played collegiately at universities across Maryland. Two-time MLL All-Star, Brian Phipps, who played and coached at the University of Maryland, will be leading the goalie instructions during the clinic. Phipps, who is a current member of the Chesapeake Bayhawks, is also head Boys Lacrosse Coach and a learning specialist at Archbishop Spalding High School in Anne Arundel County.
“MLL values any opportunity to share the game with the next generation of lacrosse players. With so many players in the league from or having played in Maryland, we know these players are our future,” said Gamper, who played lacrosse in high school at Roland Park Country School in Baltimore before playing at the University of Denver.
“There are very few professional organizations which give young fans the type of access to players like Major League Lacrosse does,” said Terry Hasseltine, Executive Director of Maryland Sports. “The kids participating in the Youth Clinic aren’t just meeting the best players in the game for a quick photo-op or autograph, they’re learning from them, they’re picking up skills and encouragement which will help them gain the confidence to reach their full potential. We’re really excited about the Youth Clinic, the partnership with MLL, and the All-Star Game’s return to Maryland.”
The Youth Clinic is open to boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 13, and will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A number of 2019 All-Stars will be coaching a range of skills from lacrosse basics to advanced specialized positional techniques, shooting contests and 1-on-1 challenges. Gamper said, most importantly, the clinic will be an overall good time during what’s expected to be an incredible celebration of the game of lacrosse in the state capital this weekend.
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will open at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and feature a number of pregame events including a fan zone. Maryland Sports will have a table set up at the fan zone with giveaways for spectators. Face-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
For more information about the 2019 MLL All-Star Game, including ticket purchase, visit:
https://majorleaguelacrosse.com/news/2019/5/8/2019-mll-all-star-game-tickets-on-sale-now.aspx
About Major League Lacrosse: Major League Lacrosse (MLL), based in Boston, is the premier professional field lacrosse league. MLL has led lacrosse’s growth into the mainstream of competitive team sports since 2001. In the spring of 2018, MLL entered into new leadership for the first time in 14 years when it selected Alexander Brown as the Commissioner. Since that time MLL has been on an aggressive path towards sustainably developing and growing the league. The league currently features six teams: The Atlanta Blaze, Boston Cannons, Chesapeake Bayhawks, Dallas Rattlers, Denver Outlaws, and New York Lizards. Tickets for the 2019 season and the 2019 All-Star Game are available on majorleaguelacrosse.com
About Maryland Sports:
The mission of Maryland’s Sports Commission is to enhance Maryland’s economy, image and quality of life through the attraction, promotion, retention and development of regional, national and international sporting events.
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