Once the cold months of winter pass, lacrosse players will be eager to get back outside and begin training for the upcoming season. To help players better prepare for the season ahead, FLG Lacrosse offers a one-of-a-kind spring training program for its 3^rd through 8^th grade FLG Select Teams.

In the past few years, the sport of lacrosse has become extremely competitive, even at the elementary school level. Now, more than ever, young players find themselves battling for starting positions, which subsequently places an increased importance on quality training programs. FLG Spring Training gives players the opportunity to build a strong foundation prior to the start of tournament season while providing them with an edge over competitors in PAL, town leagues and middle school leagues. It also promotes team bonding for the upcoming summer season.

FLG Spring Training is not your run-of-the-mill instructional clinic; using its proven methodology, FLG combines a variety of techniques to provide athletes with a top-notch training regimen that will improve all areas of play. Overall, coaches will work with their teams on various aspects of the game, such as creative play, transition play, riding and clearing, offense and defense and odd man situations. Training days will be used for system implementation, team development and game planning. Game days will serve to put FLG teams to the test, tracking each player’s progress. In addition, FLG Select teams will compete in organized scrimmages against other elite club lacrosse programs. 

FLG 2018, Chris Jordan, drives to the cage against Leading Edge defender!

“Although scrimmages are an important training element, ignoring drills and the fundamentals can be detrimental to a player’s progression and skill development,” said Corey Winkoff, FLG Lacrosse, program director. “FLG Spring Training offers the whole package, allowing a player to hone in on important skills and test their ability against others in their age bracket.”

While this program is not required, it is highly recommended. Registration can be done online through your player profile. For more information, please call the office at 516.750.6500 or visit the FLG Lacrosse website.

The college recruitment process represents the culmination of the hard work and dedication put forth by a young athlete throughout his or her middle and high school years. Although the process is extremely exciting, the thought of choosing a college can be quite overwhelming, as there are several factors to consider, both athletically and academically. Furthermore, there are many rules and regulations put forth by the NCAA, such as when an athlete can begin to speak with college coaches and when coaches can begin contacting recruits via email or phone.

To help athletes and parents better understand the process, FLG hosted its inaugural recruiting night at LIU post on December 18, 2013. There, a panel of ten FLG alumni, who currently attend Division I, II, III and MCLA schools, discussed their personal recruiting experiences, answered questions and offered valuable advice to a crowd of over 250 people.

“College decision-making is more than just choosing what coach you will play for or what jersey you will wear. It is important to talk to former student-athletes with first-hand experience to gain further insight,” said Corey Winkoff, program director of FLG Lacrosse. 

The panel answered various questions about lacrosse, college programs, the decision-making process, recruitment and much more. Parents and players listened as each panelist shared his or her experience. Among them was FLG alumnus and HarvardUniversity sophomore Stephen Jahelka, who gave the audience insight into what to consider when choosing a college.

Jackie Jahelka, Marie Christoforo and Jackie Ferri all spoke on the FLG Alumni Panel during FLG’s Inaugural Recruiting Night

“There were so many factors that weighed on my college decision,” said Jahelka. “Although lacrosse is an important part of the college experience, it is critical to consider a school’s academic programs as well. You want to select a university that suits both your athletic and academic needs.”

Jackie Ferri, FLG alumnus and AmericanUniversity freshman, also shed some light on this topic. “Above all, it is important to find a good balance between your athletic and academic needs. You should never lower your academic standards just to play lacrosse in college,” said Ferri.

The audience also shared their questions and thoughts on the role of college coaches when it comes to recruitment. Aside from sifting through video footage, it is common for college coaches and scouts to attend lacrosse games/tournaments. Players often become nervous and, as a result, do not display their true talent.

“College coaches can sense when you are trying too hard to impress them. Stay calm, trust in your training and, as coaches typically preach, play within yourself,” said David Murphy, junior at Weslyn University.  

Following the panel presentation, parents and players were invited to participate in a meet and greet session with an additional 20 FLG alumni. There, they were given the opportunity to talk one-on-one with FLG alumni and ask more in-depth questions about the recruiting process. 

“As a high school student, there is so much pressure to choose the right college, team, and academic program,” said Kevin Mack, current FLG player. “Hearing former FLG Select players speak about their experiences really helped me put the process into perspective and gave me better insight into how I should move forward.”

“We enjoyed having our alumni come back to share their experiences and guide our current players along the road to recruiting success,” said Mike Winkoff, FLG Lacrosse president and CEO. “It was great to see the alumni reunite with the FLG Lacrosse family. We had an overwhelming positive response to this event and we are looking forward to making this an annual tradition.”

FLG Takes Learning Lacrosse to the Next Level with its Fusion Program

At its most basic level, learning the sport of lacrosse should be fun and engaging; children should be given the opportunity to expand their horizons, hone in on important, fundamental skills, and have an enjoyable experience that helps them grow fond of the sport. The FLG Fusion program is a new, innovative way to teach lacrosse to elementary and middle school aged children. Through the fusion of multi-sport concepts, rules, and techniques, children remain attentive while developing undiscovered aspects of their game. 

The concept of FLG Fusion is simple: less talking, more playing. Rather than drills that require long explanations from coaches, the program incorporates a variety of highly active, game-based drills that evoke a competitive atmosphere. The games and drills change from week to week to keep children interested and engaged in the curriculum.

“Constant interruptions from coaches can be distracting and discouraging to young athletes,” said Corey Winkoff, program director at FLG. “The free flow of play, offered by the FLG Fusion program, lets children learn from their mistakes and get right back into the game.”

The FLG Fusion program breeds success through competition: its fast-paced game has children playing at 100% for the entire session.  Children in this program are in a fun environment, which lets them perform freely and creatively. The lack of inhibition to learn and excel in lacrosse allows young athletes to develop skills and play at a level they never thought was possible.

Click here to register!