USA Lacrosse Festival in Sebring – May 19th-21st!
SEBRING, Fla. (March 24, 2023) – The North and South Florida Chapters of USA Lacrosse, the governing body of the sport in the United States, are hosting a weekend of activity in Sebring, FL at the USA Lacrosse Festival on May 19-21, 2023.
The event will be broadcast/live streamed on Varsity Sports Network Florida, a cutting-edge provider of high school sports coverage in the Sunshine State.
Discounted hotel rates have been arranged for players and families for the weekend Festival. Click on this LINK to reserve a room.
According to Bill Shatz, President of the North Florida Chapter, “Across the United States, this event is like no other; it will serve as a role model for USA Lacrosse Chapters across the country. The USNTDP tryouts, the recognition of Hall of Fame inductees, alongside the Boy’s and Girl’s All-American selections and the Sixes event, in a Festival Format, is unprecedented, placing Florida at the forefront of lacrosse in the eyes of USA Lacrosse. The future of lacrosse in Florida is unlimited.”
The festivities are as follows:
#1 – Friday, the 19th – USA Lacrosse NTDP Tryouts for U-18/U-16 Boys/Girls
USA Lacrosse will be holding a regional tryout on Friday, May 19th, for the USA National Team Development Program (NTDP) for the U-16 and U-18 programs.
NTDP Regional Tryouts serve as the first of three steps towards earning a spot on the USA Select U16 and U18 teams.
The regional tryouts are one-day, 180-minute evaluations. The top 150 players will be invited to the National Combine, hosted in Maryland in August, and eventually 44 men and women will be named to the USA Select Teams to compete against international competition in October.
IMPORTANT:
- You are trying out to make a national team NOT a regional team. Players are nationally ranked and tryout as individuals. Players can try out at any regional tryout they prefer, and as many times as they want. However, players must either choose to try out in-person or via the virtual portal; they cannot register for both.
- GOALIE SPOTS ARE LIMITED. For quality standards, and to make sure all goalies get a fair and equal amount of playing time, there will be limited spots for the goalie position at each tryout location.
- Regional tryouts may sell out! There is NO waiting list.
Curriculum
The drills and competitions featured in the USA Lacrosse NTDP tryouts have been developed by the U.S. National Team coaches & personnel, with the goal to mirror the same level of elite training and evaluation used at the national team level. Each aspect of this event will provide participants with the opportunity to showcase their skill and also give them insight as to what it takes to become a top-level player. Drills include an emphasis on stick work, dodging, clearing, small-sided play, man-up/man-down situations, full-field play, and Olympic model 6v6 play. Throughout the tryout, individuals are evaluated on athleticism, stick work, positional skill, game IQ, decision making, and overall field presence.
The purpose of the regional tryouts is to identify the elite players to move on to Stage 2 while giving all of the participants a first-class experience with a hands-on look at what the National Team pipeline looks like. Given that the tryout is only three hours, in-depth, individual instructional feedback is NOT guaranteed.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2023 National Team Development Program, individuals must be born on or between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2009.
- U18: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2004 and August 31, 2006.
- U16: The player must be born on or between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2009.
The Development Program is for high school athletes only.
*You must be enrolled in high school by the start of the 2023-2024 academic school year to be eligible. If you are age-eligible, but are enrolled in the 8th grade or in college at the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic school year, you are not eligible to participate this year.
**Any age-eligible 2023s who are not enrolled in college by fall of 2023 are welcome to apply as well.
Scholarships
For more information on need-based support, please contact USA Lacrosse at nationalteams@usalacrosse.com.
#2 – The North and South Florida Chapter Joint Hall of Fame Induction Dinner – Friday Night, May 19th
The dinner will be held at the Sebring Civic Center and will recognize Hall of Fame inductees from both Chapters while honoring this years’ All-American and Academic All-American recipients.
Inductees – North Chapter
North Florida Chapter Class of 2020
| NAME (FIRST, LAST) |
|---|
| Jake Bernhardt |
| Rory Whipple |
| Tom West |
| Jeff Goldberg |
| Kevin O’Leary |
North Florida Chapter Class of 2021
| NAME (FIRST, LAST) |
|---|
| Jesse Bernhardt |
| Brian Theiss |
| Lee Roggenburg |
Inductees – South Chapter
| NAME (FIRST, LAST) |
|---|
| Jim Jacobs |
| Bridgette Laskey |
| Rich Mullen |
| Robert Rose |
As one of the central functions and features of the North and South Chapters, the purpose of our respective Halls of Fame is to identify and honor those lacrosse athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and others who have served to extend the heritage of lacrosse across the State of Florida. Those so honored are recognized as having had the largest impact and influence in the development and advancement of our great sport.
Inductees are from all facets of the sport, and they strive to keep on giving back, passing on their experiences to the high school honorees and the youth coming up that will play in the Si6xes event.
A link to the Ticket Sales for the Hall of Fame event will be posted as soon as it is available.
#3 – The North and South Chapters All American Games – Saturday, May 20th
The Boys and Girls All Americans, as selected by the Chapters, are invited to play in this select game.
All lacrosse games will take place at the Highlands County Sports Complex (216 Sheriff’s Tower Road, Sebring).
Boys and Girls All-American Player Registration will open immediately following this years’ selections.
There are four regions (the Southeast Region also nominates All-Americans in two geographic breakdowns) that acknowledge both All-Americans on the field, as well as Academic All-Americans, Coaches of the Year, and for some Chapters, a Man/Woman of the Year.
#4 – The Sixes Event – Sunday, May 21st
USA Lacrosse
North & South Florida Chapters
Bill Shatz
Tel: 727-252-8476
SUNDAY MAY 21, 2023
GIRLS & BOYS
YOUTH, HIGH SCHOOL & ADULT DIVISIONS
Florida SI6XES Lacrosse Festival held in conjunction with The USA Lacrosse Florida Hall of Fame/All-American Festival celebrates the best that the sport of lacrosse has to offer.
Have questions before you register?
Format
30-Minute Game Play Orientation before the start of game
6v6 (1-goalie, 5-field players aside)
Ideal team roster size of 10-12 players
4 games , Two 12-minute periods, 3-minute half
Divisions
Youth 9U, 10U 11U, 12U, 13U, 14U
High School JV & Varsity
Adult Open & Elite
USA Lacrosse Age Grouping Chart Here
Eligibility
All players must have a valid USA Lacrosse Membership number and a SI6XES Lacrosse National Player Pass to be eligible for play.
The SI6XES Lacrosse National Player Pass is already included in the team registration fee providing for age & grade verification, player waiver compliance, and official team rostering. Eligible players will receive a SI6XES Lacrosse National Player Pass at check-in.
Cost
$590 per Team (Minimum of 10 players. Maximum of 12)
Rules & Requirements
Venue
Highlands County Multi-Sports Complex
216 Sheriffs Tower Road
Sebring, FL 33870
This event was conceived and initiated by USA Lacrosse North Florida Chapter and is being delivered in collaboration with the South Florida Chapter, Airstream Ventures, Florida Sports Foundation, and the host destination, Visit Sebring. Sponsors include Varsity Sports Network, Maverick Sports Media, and Lax.com. Major product and service providers are also in negotiations to participate in an event that will expose them to one of the great demographics to market themselves to. Contact Bill Shatz at (727)-252-8476 for details on how you can be involved.
“We are excited to host this prestigious lacrosse weekend in Sebring and look forward to welcoming the players and their families to our wonderful sports complex and the charming city of Sebring,” said Casey Hartt, Visit Sebring.
Lee Roggenburg, Executive Director of Florida Lacrosse News, noted “as the sport of lacrosse continues its’ growth throughout the state, it’s important to recognize those who have given so much to the lacrosse community. A successful weekend of celebration is just another step towards highlighting what the spirit of ‘honoring the sport’ means to all our participants. Bringing this weekend to the City of Sebring, a major part of my youth, adds an extra layer for me.”
Join us in Sebring on this weekend and help Grow The Sport!
