The FACA conference is going to be a “must attend” event for FHSAA boys and girls coaches.  It is the first lacrosse conference in Florida specifically addressing the needs of both the boys and girls scholastic high school coach. One objective of the conference is the incorporation of both boys and girls lacrosse into the formal fabric of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association.  Although the conference is divided into boys and girls clinics, the shared theme is the “Coaching and Development of the complete scholastic lacrosse athlete.” Topics covered at the conference will include officials and rules, injury prevention, philosophy and leadership, recruiting, and game play (skills/drills/tactics/strategies.)  In addition to the speaker presentations a round table discussion is planned to create an informal opportunity for high school coaches to engage in Q & A with some top collegiate coaches.  Coaches will have the opportunity to browse a “vendor and representative” area where you will also be able to meet and speak with the folks from FloridaLacrosseNews.com! Roy Kelly of Ransom Everglades and Donna Rose of Hollywood Hills have put together an impressive list of presenters for the first Florida High School Lacrosse Coaches Convention. The Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) who is in charge of the event and the FHSAA who are assisting, have both been extremely helpful and continuously positive in their promotion of our Convention.

“This has been a huge undertaking for us, but as you would expect, the Lacrosse guys who I have talked to or communicated with, all say the same thing, ‘this is going to be great, what can I do to help?’ I have heard it from guys I played with or against, guys I’ve coached, guys I’ve coached with or against and all of the referees I know, everybody seems to be behind this event. The forty years of friends that I have been fortunate to make on the lacrosse fields of Florida are the ones who are going to make this the best event Florida Lacrosse has experienced, and they all deserve it.” The formal inclusion of both Boys Lacrosse and Girls Lacrosse in FACA is a milestone.  The FACA has been around since 1936.  FHSAA coaches from over twenty sports have come together under the umbrella of the FACA and held conferences and clinics.  Now, boys and girls lacrosse will join this group.

Donna Rose said, “This conference is exciting and being made possible due to the strong bonds within the lax community. It’s purpose is to provide coaches with professional growth and  educationally sound development opportunities.”  By attending the Leadership, Sports Medicine and several of the Lacrosse presentations coaches are awarded a certain amount of CEU’s toward their Teaching and Coaching recertification. This is being achieved by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, the Florida High School Athletic Association and schools and local districts working together to accredit this convention. FACA has provided the attendees with a $99 rate at the Daytona Beach Hilton. Coaches should call the hotel at 386-254-8200 to make reservations by November 12th.  More information on the hotel can be found at www.DaytonaHilton.com. Check out the list of presenters Coaches Kelly and Rose have managed to assemble for the first convention.  This incredible line up of speakers and the entire convention is completley free to members of FACA, which most FHSAA coaches probably already are whether they know it or not. Coaches can go to the registration website and register for the convention. Lyndsey Boswell – Big South Coach of the Year in 2014 and The only head coach in the history of High Point University

Kelly Buikus- the first women’s lacrosse Head Coach of the Ave Maria University Missy Doherty – A winner of five national championships as a player and coach currently at Penn State University Christy Leach – Four-time national champion and head coach at Stetson University Mikey Meagher –First ever female goalie to be named a top five finalist for the Tewaaraton Award, unanimous selection as National Goalie of the Year, and current assistant coach at Jackonsville University Matthew Nein- Coordinator of Sports Performance at Salisbury University Dennis Short- Back to back final four appearances as head coach of Rollins College Corrine Desrosiers – First ever Head Coach at Florida Tech Womens’ lacrosse

Dr. Donnie Horner – Former Army Quarterback, Professor of Leadership and a member of the Admiral Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership at the U.S. Naval Academy and current Chief Athletic Officer forJacksonville University Robbie Lindeman – FHSAA Sports Administrator for Lacrosse Richie Meade – Head coach at Navy for 17 years, US National Team coach, and Head Coach of Furman University Jim Berkman – All-time winningest coach in NCAA Men’s Lacrosse history, Head coach of Salisbury University Chris Burdick – Head coach of Providence College for 14 years leading the Friars to 7 MAAC Championships, current Top Assistant at University of Tampa John Danowski – Led Duke University to NCAA Final Four Championship Weekend 8 years in a row Kevin O’Leary – Official at more than 14 straight NCAA Championship weekends Stan Ross – Head Coach of Florida Launch and Oxbridge Academy Guy Van Arsdale – Hobart  3 time All American, Head coach at RIT,  Colorado College, Rochester Rattlers, and, of course, currently at Jacksonville University Marty Ward – Iroquois National Team goalie and Head Coach at Florida Southern College Rory Whipple – all-time winningest Lacrosse coach in NCAA  DII, Head Coach at University of Tampa The schedules for the Mens’ and Womens’ “clinics” are below; Girls Event Schedule Thursday, December 4, 2015 8:30 – 5:00 pm CLINIC REGISTRATION 11:00 – 5:00 pm VISIT EXHIBITS 1:30 – 2:30 pm Kelly Buikus Head Coach, Ave Maria University “Team Building and the NAIA “ 3:00– 5:00 pm Recruiting Roundtable – Collegiate Coaches 5:15 – 6:15 pm Dr. Donnie Horner, Athletic Director, Jacksonville University “Leadership in Athletics” 6:30 – 7:30 pm FACA Coaches Reception in Vendor Area 7:45 – 8:30 pm Shelton Crews, FACA Director “Welcome & FACA Info” Friday 8:00 – 4:00 pm CLINIC REGISTRATION 8:30 – 9:30 am Robbie Lindemann, FHSAA Lacrosse Administrator” FHSAA Rules Update” NCAA/NFHS Official “New Rules & Points of Emphasis” 9:45 – 10:45 am Lyndsey Boswell, Head Coach, High Point, University “Fundamentals and Practice Planning” 11:00 – 12:00 pm Matthew Nein, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Salisbury University “Strength & Conditioning for the High School Athlete” (Part I) This presentation will look at developing the high school lacrosse player to help reduce the risk of injury while enhancing player performance with a focus on optimal program design fo both off-season and competitive season play 12:00 – 2:00 pm LUNCH & VISIT EXHIBITS 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Christy Leach, Head Coach, Stetson University “Defensive Tactics/Strategies” 3:15 – 4:15pm Missy Doherty, Head Coach, Penn State University “Skills and Drills” 4:30 – 5:30 pm Mikey Meagher, Asst. Coach, Jacksonville University “What a Coach Needs to Know to About Developing Their Goalies” Saturday 8:30- 9:30am Dennis Short, Head Coach, Rollins College “Offense Made Easy “ 9:45 – 10:45 am Matthew Nein, Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, Salisbury University “Strength & Conditioning for the High School Athlete” (Part 2) 11:00 – 12:00 Richie Meade, Head Coach, Furman University “Your Lacrosse Season” Boys Event Schedule Thursday 8:30 – 5:00 pm – Clinic Registration 11:00 – 5:00 pm – Vendor Exhibit Area Open 3:00 – 5:00 pm – College Recruiting Roundtable in Lacrosse Hall 5:15 – 6:15 pm – Keynote Speaker in Lacrosse Hall – Dr. Donnie Horner Athletic Director at Jacksonville University – Leadership in Athletics 6:30 – 7:30 pm – FACA Coaches Reception in Vendor Exhibit Area 7:45 – 8:30 pm – Shelton Crews – Executive Director of FACA – Welcome Friday 8:30 – 9:30 am – Guy Van Arsdale, Jacksonville – Recruiting the H.S. Athlete 9:45 – 10:45 am – Robbie Lindeman, FHSAA, NFHS New Rules Kevin O’Leary, NCAA & NFHS Official – New Rules, Points of Emphasis 11:00 – 12:00 noon – Stan Ross, Florida Launch & Oxbridge Academy – Transition Defense 12:00 – 2:00 pm – Lunch 2:00 – 3:00 pm – John Danowski, Duke – Decision Making / High Performance Organizations 3:15 – 4:15 pm – Dr. Aaron West – Sports Medicine Presentation – Injuries and Prevention 4:30 – 5:45 pm – Rory Whipple – Team Offense / Chris Burdick – Team Defense Saturday 8:30 – 9:30 am – Jim Berkman, Salisbury – Transition Offense 9:45 – 10:45 am – Marty Ward, Florida Southern – Developing the Complete Goalie 11:00 – 12:00 pm – Richie Meade, Furman By attending the Leadership, Sports Medicine and several of the Lacrosse presentations you will awarded a certain amount of CEU’s toward your Teaching and Coaching recertification. This is being achieved by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, the Florida High School Athletic Association and your school and/or local district working together to accredit this convention.