Archive for the 'Youth' Category
VAIL — The Vail Lacrosse Shootout had its humble beginnings with a keg of beer.
Really. That’s what the Shootout was when it started in the 70s — a few lacrosse players and a keg of beer.
As the sport has grown, so has the tournament, a nine-day lollapalooza from the high school level to grand masters (50 and older players). And we’re pretty sure the event needs more than just one keg.
The masters (33 and up) super masters (40 and up) and grand masters kick their divisions off today. While these divisions are more social in nature — here’s a hint: Bridge street is where these guys are when not on the field, — there is some strong competition.
The masters have their title game Monday at 12:30 p.m. at the Vail Athletic Field, while the grand masters crown their champ earlier in the day at 8:30 a.m. at Ford Park. The super masters wrap their tournament Tuesday at 1 p.m., also at Ford Park.
High school lacrosse is exploding across the country and that is also true at the Shootout. The boys start pool play Sunday at Nottingham Park in Avon, Freedom Park and Berry Creek Middle School in Edwards. The top-two teams in each pool advance to the knockout round, starting Monday.
While there are 16 teams in boys’ competition, there are a whopping 23 in the girls’ high school division. The young ladies will also have pool play, starting Sunday at Freedom Park on the turf and the grass fields. The girls title game is Wednesday at noon on the turf, while the boys wrap on the same day up at Ford Park at 1 p.m.
The Vail Lacrosse Shootout returns for its 36th edition in 2008, running from Saturday, June 28 – Sunday, July 6. As the premiere club tournament in the United States, Vail is home to some of the very best lacrosse in the world and will play host to over 60 men’s teams and 30 women’s teams in what has become a pilgrimage for any true lacrosse fan.
The Vail Shootout started in Aspen in 1973 and was founded by Flip Naumburg and Jim Soran. After making its permanent move to Vail in 1979, the tournament has enjoyed steady growth and become a fixture on the lacrosse landscape. More than just a lacrosse tournament, the Shootout is almost a spiritual gathering. It has become a place for lacrosse “people” of all ages to come together and celebrate their sport in a tribal manner, much in the same way their Native American forefathers did.
With players competing in seven different divisions, the Vail Shootout has enough lacrosse to satiate any fan’s appetite. The Men’s Elite division is the headliner, taking place from July 3rd – July 6th and coinciding with the Women’s Elite tournament. Preceding the Elite Divisions, Men’s Masters, Supermasters and Grandmasters kick off “8 Days at 8,000 Feet” on June 28th. The Boys and Girls High School Divisions take the field on June 29th.
Over the years, some of the world’s best lacrosse players have played in the Vail Shootout. Gary and Paul Gait (Syracuse), Jen Adams (Maryland), Casey, Ryan and Mike Powell (Syracuse), Kyle Harrison (Johns Hopkins) and Michele DeJuliis (Penn State), some of the most recognized names in the sport, have all graced the Vail Valley at some point in their lacrosse careers.
With a newly created pool play element to the Men’s Elite division, look for this year’s Shootout to be extremely competitive from start to finish.
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2008 Schedule of Events
Men’s Supermasters (ages 40 +): June 28 – July 1
Men’s Grandmasters (50 +): June 28 – June 30
Dr. Tom Watts Memorial Boy’s U-19:
June 29 – Pool Play
June 30 – July 2nd – Tournament Play
Girl’s U-19
June 29 and June 30 – Pool Play
July 1 and July 2 – Tournament Play
Chumash 3-on-3 Youth Tournament: June 28, June 29 and July 5
Contact Nickie Soran at (303) 257-7196 for registration and other information
Men’s Masters (ages 33 +): June 28 – June 30
Men’s Elite:
July 3 – Pool Play
July 4 – July 6 – Tournament Play
Women’s Elite:
July 3 and July 4 – Pool Play
July 5 and July 6 – Tournament Play
For schedules detailing teams and fields, please visit www.vaillacrosse.com.
**Men’s and Women’s Elite championship games will be held July 6 at Ford Field**
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What’s New for Vail 2008?
Just because Vail is one of the longest running tournaments in all of lacrosse does not mean that it has stopped being progressive. Several new features have been added to the 2008 version to ensure that it continues to be on the cutting edge.
The first and most noteworthy is the addition of pool play in the Men’s Elite division for the first time. After several years of mis-seeding teams in the tournament draw, the consensus this year was to make an attempt to give all teams a fair shake at the coveted “Championship Bracket.” Pool play in the Men’s Elite will take place on Thursday, July 3. The top two teams from each of the four pools will move on to the top half of the tournament draw while the remainder of the teams will play in the Consolation Bracket.
Next, the Chumash tournament will take a step forward in 2008 as well. With games on two weekends, instead of one, this youth favorite will continue to expand. Chumash is a form of lacrosse created by Vail co-founder Flip Naumburg that allows for a “portable” lacrosse game to break out wherever you might be. With no goalies and a long, skinny goal that two teams of three players each attack, it is similar to half-court basketball and is a great way to teach younger players the game. The Chumash tournament is a friendly, non-competitive event that will take place on both weekends of the tournament. Dates are June 28 and 29 as well as July 5. Contact Nickie Soran at (303) 257-7196 for more information and to register your team or player.
Steamboat Springs — More than 10 local lacrosse players competed in the War rior Vail Colorado Lacrosse Tournament last week.
The tournament attracted some of the top select teams from across the country.
Jasper Gantick, Gus Worden, Tyler Samlowski and Andrew White competed on the Mountain All-Star team in the U-17 division. Tyler Saxe, Aleck Gantick and Jace Worden played for a Colorado Springs team in the U-15 division, and Logan Banning, Trent Trask, Christian Ramirez, Andrew Farney and Peter White competed for a Western Slope All-Star team in the U-13 division.
What would it take to bring a new varsity sport like lacrosse to northeast Colorado? Apparently, a lot of work.
STERLING — There comes a time, unfortunately, when high schools may have to drop varsity sporting programs because of a lack of funds or simply when the school doesn’t have enough athletes to participate in a certain event.
Fleming was a victim of this, with its track program being dropped because only four girls came out for the team. Recently, Sterling High School added a girl’s golf team after an extensive absence from the scene.
But what if a school wants to start up a brand new program, what does it take to get there? What if Sterling High School wanted to get crazy and start up a lacrosse team? What is the procedure to kick start it off the ground?
Qwest and the Colorado Mammoth are committed to Colorado’s communities and are pleased to work together to advance youth education and activities across our state.
For that reason, Qwest and the Mammoth would like to invite you to participate in a unique lacrosse clinic. The Mammoth Lacrosse Skills Clinic presented by Qwest will provide a special opportunity for youth lacrosse participants to interact with Mammoth players and learn the fundamentals of lacrosse from professional players and coaches. This unique skills clinic will be held at Pepsi Center on Sunday, June 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is no cost for the clinic.
During the clinic, Colorado Mammoth players will teach kids ages 10-14 (entering grades 5th-8th) fundamental skills of the sport and serve as a resource for your players and coaches. The clinic will run for two hours: approximately 75 minutes of instruction, 15 minutes of questions, and 20 minutes of autographs for the clinic participants. A light snack will be provided following the clinic.
Team Centennial, led by a balanced attack that included eight goal scorers in the championship game of the boys’ high school elite division, claimed its first Dick’s Sporting Goods Colorado Cup championship on Sunday. With the win, Team Centennial earned the program’s first berth in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions to compete for the high school club national championship.
Coached by the 2005 National Federation of High School Coaches’ lacrosse coach of the year Bryan Perry, and donning red retro Cherry Creek High School jerseys, Team Centennial cruised to the emphatic victory over Fort Collins. Matt White, Michael Veinford, Henry Halle and Mac Bolling each scored two goals in the championship game. Bolling was named Toyota Player of the Game in the victory.
LaxDog, coached by Robert Singer, took home the boy’s high school elite bronze.
Open to: Boy’s and Girl’s of all Ages, Beginners/ Intermediate/Advanced playersInstructor: Current High School coaches, nationally ranked top 20 D-1 collegiate players and graduates.Dates: June 23rd- 27th
Times and Locations: 9:00am-1:00pm at Grandview HS
Description: This lacrosse clinic is designed to teach beginning players the fundamentals of lacrosse and advance the skills of the intermediate/ advanced players. Beginners will be learning catching and throwing, cradling, ground balls, etc. Intermediate players will cover offensive and defensive strategies, and all around advanced lacrosse skills.
Intermediate and advanced players will model a college level practice with advanced drills and concepts- offensive and defensive strategies such as, attacking plays and zone defense.
*Team discounts available; please contact info@crslax.com . *Contests and prizes. *Each player will get T-Shirt, lanyard and water bottle.To Register Online at www.CRSLAX.com, click the “Camps and Clinics” button. Questions: Info@CRSLAX.com, 720.274.1985
