The US Lacrosse Convention and Fan Fest (LaxCon) will welcome an anticipated 7,000 lacrosse coaches, officials, leaders, industry representatives and fans to the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) tomorrow through Sunday for a weekend of professional development, networking, demonstrations and fun.
Online sales for the Saturday Fan Fest continue at uslacrosse.org/laxcon with a $5 discount vs. the day-of rate. Walk-up sales and credential pick-up for the full US Lacrosse Convention run 5-9 p.m. today, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. tomorrow, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday on the 300 level of the BCC, above the Pratt Street entrance or accessible via the skybridge from the Hilton Baltimore.
LaxCon will feature nearly 150 of lacrosse’s best coaches, players and officials hosting clinics on a wide array of topics. The convention center’s expo hall will house four live demonstration areas and more than 175 equipment manufacturers, apparel and service providers, retailers and other business in the lacrosse and sports industries, many of which will offer giveaways and conduct contests Saturday.
Some of the prominent men’s game speakers include: John Tillman of NCAA champion Maryland, John Danowski of Duke and the 2018 U.S. men's team, National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Jim Berkman of NCAA champion Salisbury, and new Delaware head coach Ben DeLuca.
Among the featured women's game speakers: Cathy Reese of NCAA champion Maryland, National Lacrosse Hall of Famer Cindy Timchal of NCAA semifinalist Navy, Georgetown's Ricky Fried, who led the 2017 U.S. women's team to gold in the FIL World Cup and IWGA World Games, Janine Tucker of Johns Hopkins and Regy Thorpe of Syracuse (and the 2019 U.S. men's indoor team).
“LaxCon represents the best event for coaches and officials to attend to get better at what they do,” Kim Rogers, director of events at US Lacrosse, said. “In addition to the formal sessions, there's plenty of informal networking opportunities. And for fans of all ages, the Fan Fest on Saturday is great family fun to get excited for the upcoming season.”
New this year is a mobile app for LaxCon to enhance the attendee experience.
US Lacrosse Coach Development Program clinics kick off LaxCon at 8:30 a.m. Friday. Formal educational sessions begin at 3 p.m. The keynote, featuring highly regarded author and motivational speaker and former Cornell lacrosse player Jon Gordon, begins at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday highlights include live-field demonstrations by Team USA players Paul Rabil and Taylor Cummings, several box lacrosse sessions in a new partial box arena, and clinics on Wheelchair Lacrosse USA and the Lacrosse Athlete Development Model. Educational sessions conclude at approximately noon Sunday.
Saturday evening, Thorpe and his staff will evaluate player-hopefuls for the U.S. men's indoor team at a Blue-White Game at nearby Du Burns Arena in the Canton neighborhood. The exhibition is open to the public. Admission is $5 or free with a US Lacrosse Convention credential or Fan Fest bracelet.
STX, Nationwide and SI Play lead more than two dozen event sponsors. Visit Baltimore is the event’s official CVB partner.