Shannon Smith Named Speaker at US Lacrosse National Convention
Hofstra University women’s lacrosse coach to host clinic Jan. 12 in Philadelphia
BALTIMORE, Dec. 11, 2012 — US Lacrosse has named Shannon Smith, head women’s lacrosse coach at Hofstra University, a speaker at the US Lacrosse National Convention, presented by Champion. Smith will join roughly 150 of the sport’s best coaches, officials and administrators as presenters at the lacrosse world’s largest professional development event Jan. 11-13, 2013, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
Smith will host “Stick Skills” for girls’ lacrosse coaches at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12.
“Shannon Smith is one of the most recognizable names in women’s lacrosse and one of the game’s rising coaches,” said Beth Porreca, director of special events at US Lacrosse. “She got right into coaching after her national championship playing career at Northwestern, and we’re thrilled to welcome her as a presenter at the US Lacrosse National Convention.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to share some tips with other coaches at the US Lacrosse National Convention,” Smith said. “Attending the convention is one of the best things coaches can do to better themselves. I’m looking forward to a great event in Philadelphia.”
Smith is in the midst of her first year at Hofstra. She was a three-time first-team IWLCA All-American at Northwestern, helping the Wildcats win three NCAA championships during her four-year career. Smith won the 2011 Tewaaraton Award as the best player in the nation and remains active as a player, earning a spot on the 25-member U.S. team for US Lacrosse’s Champion Challenge Jan. 25-27, 2013, in Orlando. Team USA will play exhibitions against Northwestern and Syracuse, and following that will finalize an 18-player roster for the 2013 Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL) World Cup in Oshawa, Canada, in July. While setting New York high school career records for points (729) and goals (505) at Long Island’s West Babylon, Smith helped Team USA win the 2007 FIL U19 women’s world championship.
Lacrosse coaches, officials and administrators can purchase convention tickets online at uslacrosse.org/2013convention before Jan. 2 for just $105 (a savings of 30 percent on the walk-up price). The convention ticket includes advance access to speaker handouts and post-event access to audio/video recordings of all convention presentations. Two-time Super Bowl coach Dick Vermeil will kick off the convention with a keynote address at 7 p.m. Jan. 11.
The US Lacrosse National Convention annually draws upwards of 5,000 participants, and it includes four live demonstration areas, approximately 150 educational sessions, and business meetings for numerous leadership groups within the sport. Hotel discounts are available for attendees. For information on schedules, speakers and hotels, and to purchase a convention ticket, visit uslacrosse.org/2013convention.
The US Lacrosse Fan Fest opens the convention center to the public Jan. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fan Fest includes roughly 150 exhibitors inside the sport’s largest expo hall, demonstrations and autographs from the U.S. National Teams and the Philadelphia Wings, the Champion Shooting Tunnel, and other interactive displays and prizes. Fan Fest tickets will be sold on site at the convention center’s Grand Hall entrance Jan. 12. Info at uslacrosse.org/2013fanfest.