2006 US Lacrosse National Convention Set For Philadelphia From January 12-15

BALTIMORE — The US Lacrosse National Convention, an event that annually brings together nearly 5,000 coaches, officials and lacrosse administrators, is set for Jan. 12-15, 2006 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Philadelphia Downtown Marriott.

This year’s convention will feature the largest vendor area in the history of the event with more than 100 manufacturers, retailers and related organizations showcasing their goods and services in an 80,000 square-foot area. A live-field area where coaches can demonstrate drills, plays and techniques will be in use for the second straight year. The area is approximately a quarter the size of a regulation field with expanded seating for approximately 1,000.

Online registration is available on the US Lacrosse Web site at www.uslacrosse.org/events/convention06.phtml. Attendees must be members of US Lacrosse and the convention fee is just $40 for those who register prior to Nov. 15, 2005. After Nov. 15, the fee goes up to $60. If space remains, walk-up registration will be available on site for $85. Discounted hotel rates are also available at the Philadelphia Marriott, Loews Philadelphia Hotel and Courtyard Marriott. Information can be found on the convention link on the US Lacrosse Web site.

This year’s convention will feature the 23-member 2006 U.S. Men’s Lacrosse Team putting on a clinic with its head coach, Syracuse’s John Desko, who will also present an individual session at the convention. Other prominent men’s college coaches lined up to speak at this year’s convention include Scott Anderson (Harvard), John Danowski (Hofstra), Tony Seaman (Towson), Jim Stagnitta (Rutgers), and NCAA Division II champion coach Jack Kaley (New York Tech). Recently retired coaches Jack Emmer (Army) and Sid Jamieson (Bucknell) will be honored at the US Lacrosse Men’s Division Coaches Council Awards Luncheon on Saturday, Jan. 14.

Included among the women’s coaching speakers will be four-time U.S. team member Danielle Gallagher, three coaches that led their programs to the NCAA Division I tournament — Ricky Fried (Georgetown), Sue Murphy (Richmond) and Janine Tucker (Johns Hopkins), and three NCAA Division III regional coaches of the year from 2005 — Celine Cunningham (Stevens Tech), Liz Grote (Bowdoin) and Susan Stuart (Colorado College). Members of the U.S. Women’s National Team Program will also participate in the convention.

Coaching sessions at the convention are available for youth coaches up through the highest levels of collegiate lacrosse. A full slate of speakers and topics will be available on the US Lacrosse Web site in October.

Educational opportunities for officials are also available at the convention. Women’s umpires will be offered a full menu of sessions geared towards their respective rating levels as well as the annual new rules seminar. In addition to the traditional NCAA rules interpretation clinic for men’s collegiate officials, this year’s convention will feature approximately four to six additional sessions for men’s officials.

Numerous business meetings for the sport, including two meetings of the US Lacrosse Board of Directors, will also be held during the weekend.

US Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is the national governing body for men's and women's lacrosse.

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