Lacrosse Association Feedback

Armstrong Cooper Youth Lacrosse Association

Three years ago Armstrong Cooper Youth Lacrosse Association (ACYLA) wanted to provide winter training opportunities in order for our players to stay active, keep a stick in their hands and improve their skills during the off season.

The problem was finding staff at that time of year.

ACYLA contracted Homegrown Lacrosse to lead these winter clinics and the programs have been a huge success. Each year over 50 young men take advantage of these clinics where Homegrown provides amazing instruction. The Homegrown coaches have a unique ability to work with players at all levels, from beginners suiting up for the first time, to more advanced athletes who've played for several years. But Homegrown goes far beyond teaching just skills and drills, their training sessions give kids confidence and also foster a love of the sport.

The ACYLA players who have trained with Homegrown during our winter clinics have become the most dedicated competitors in our programs and the players who lead our teams.

Many of our players have taken advantage of Homegrown's year round training programs, including the Fall Ball and many summer camps. Every player that we have that has attended one of these programs has come back more knowledgeable about the sport, more enthusiastic about lacrosse and more of a leader for our program.

Julie Carpenter

ACYLA Chairperson

Dated February 14, 2011

Northwest Lacrosse Club

I would like to take a minute and say thanks for all the great work you have done for NWLC programs. There are so many areas that your knowledge and help have lead to direct improvements with the players at NWLC and the assistance you have provided with the board members of NWLC has helped immensely.

I think one of the most important things NWLC loves about Homegrown is your focus on the game and how you can help bring more kids to the sport and do it in a positive way.

A great example of this is your help in running a “try-it-clinic” for kids that have never played the sport but wanted to understand it more. NWLC brought the issue to you of never being able to get enough kids to have a 3rd-4th grade team. We were trying to figure out what we could do to get the message out to that age group, set something up for free and then see how much the young kids would love the sport. After we spoke with you about the idea you came up with some great ideas on how to do a try-it-clinic for free and then even ran the clinic for us to help us get our younger kids started. All I can say is that the job Homegrown did at the clinic was amazing and because of the success of it, NWLC had a 3rd-4th grade team for the very first time in the 2010 summer season of YLM.

The other feedback that NWLC got from the parents was how awesome the Homegrown summer camp was at the University of St. Thomas. The youth just kept going on and on about how much they learned in that one week and what a great environment it was for lacrosse. The most amazing part was the coaching staff and how great of a job they did interacting with the athletes.

Once again I can’t say thanks enough for what a wonderful resource Homegrown Lacrosse has been for NWLC and without you guys, NWLC wouldn’t be as strong of a program as it is today.

Joe Dalman, President

NWLC

Dated November 11, 2010

Lakeville Lacrosse Association

During the past several years, lacrosse has exploded in the State of MN, much due to the fact that we now have a professional team. Although this gives the sport much needed visibility, the true reason why the sport of lacrosse has seen such an increase in interest is due to the hard work of organizations like Homegrown.

Over the past few years, the LLA has developed a great relationship with you and your staff, mainly due to having similar philosophies in how we coach and promote the sport. We have been lucky to partner with Homegrown on and off the field, through training programs, camps, in school PE classes and various leagues.

Your staff’s ability to connect with the kids, improve their game and teach new skills is phenomenal. The kids work hard, and at times don’t even realize how hard they are working because they are having so much fun. Your staff’s passion for the game and desire to develop these boys into not only great players on the field, but young men off the field is evident in everything you do.

Thank you for being a positive influence on not only the sport of lacrosse, but also in the lives of the kids throughout the metro area. We look forward to a continued relationship with Homegrown and will continue to rely on you to help grow participation and increase education with regard to lacrosse in Minnesota.

Jenny Scheer

Boys Coordinator, Grades 3-8

Lakeville Lacrosse Association

Dated December 3, 2010