Professional Partnership

LAKEWOOD RANCH — The possibilities are endless.

Athletes can receive professional-level coaching on a regular basis.

They have a chance to play alongside some of the sport’s top athletes on a national stage.

And there’s an opportunity to further promote lacrosse in the area while building upon the philosophies and fundamentals the Monsters Lacrosse Academy has already put into place.

Earlier this month, LB3 Lacrosse, a national lacrosse training organization led by Syracuse University All American and 2000 NCAA Championship Most Valuable Player Liam Banks, announced a new partnership with the Monsters Lacrosse Academy, based out of the Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.

Through the partnership, the Monsters Lacrosse Academy will be able to use LB3 Lacrosse’s coaches and training programs throughout the year.

Monsters Lacrosse, which offers recreational and competitive youth lacrosse programs to 250 children and youth locally, becomes only the second location in Florida to have an LB3 partnership. LB3 offers programs in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Greensboro, N.C., St. Louis and Jacksonville.

It’s a win-win situation for the two organizations, and Monsters Lacrosse Academy players and coaches alike are ecstatic.

“My first reaction was that I was psyched to be coached by new professional coaches and former players,” 10-year-old Ryan Sforzo says. “LB3 has a great staff that is going to make our program even better.”

“The sport has grown so much in the area, and our organization is growing by leaps and bounds,” Monsters Lacrosse Academy board member and coach Dr. Chris Sforzo says. “We’ve had a really good working relationship with LB3 Lacrosse, and we decided to join forces to basically help grow the game of lacrosse.”

The Monsters Lacrosse Academy first became involved with LB3 Lacrosse several years ago after some of its coaches attended some of Banks’ clinics. Since then, Banks, the founder and CEO of LB3 Lacrosse, has offered his expertise through a series of coaching clinics, position clinics and summer camps.

“I have worked with the Monsters for the past four years, and they are truly a first-class organization,” Banks says. “They have done a great job of creating a positive culture in the area, and we are excited to support the continued growth of that culture.”

Through the new partnership, LB3 Lacrosse will work with the Monsters Lacrosse Academy and its director of coaching, Jason Morales, to implement LB3 Lacrosse’s developmental curriculum across the Monsters’ boys and girls spring recreational programs.

“I was happy because they are good and can teach us more moves and positioning,” 11-year-old Hayden Coakley says.

The Monsters Lacrosse Academy is home to more than 250 players.

“The kids are extremely excited because they are going to have the best coaches available to them in the country,” Chris Sforzo says.

In addition, the Monsters club teams now will play as the LB3 Monsters. The Monsters club program will offer summer and fall travel teams for boys and girls. The teams will become a part of the LB3 family of club teams with players from the LB3 Monsters being eligible for LB3 Lacrosse’s national teams.

LB3 Lacrosse Director of Coaching Casey Powell will work with the Monsters Lacrosse Academy on camps, clinics and instructional leagues and tournaments. Powell will act as the director of the LB3 Monsters while also helping with the Monsters’ spring recreational teams.

“We have formed a solid relationship with the Monsters Lacrosse (Academy) over the past few years,” Powell says. “Both LB3 and the Monsters share similar philosophies and passion for the game of lacrosse. We feel this is a great opportunity to work together and provide the Monsters kids the best in lacrosse training.”

The LB3 Monsters summer program will begin in April and run through mid-July. Each team will compete in roughly three to four tournaments each summer. Last year, the Monsters Lacrosse Academy partnered with LB3 Lacrosse to create the Rippin at the Ranch tournament, which will be held again this June.

Through the partnership, LB3 Lacrosse will bring professional coaches, as well as NCAA players and coaches, to Lakewood Ranch this summer to help coach the LB3 Monsters teams.

“I am looking forward to getting better myself and hopefully having the opportunity to play with other talented kids nationally,” 12-year-old Hunter Coakley says.

In addition to helping grow the Monsters Lacrosse Academy, the organization’s board members, along with Banks, hope to continue to implement the ROOTS of positive play, which include rules, opponents, officials, teammates and self, while eventually implementing lacrosse into the public schools.

“Our goal has always been to not just develop and train fantastic lacrosse players to go on and play at the highest levels but to help develop great citizens,” Monsters board member and coach Chris Markowski says. “We want kids that not only do well on the field, but also perpetuate core values of high moral character, honor and relentless hard work that they will perpetuate in all aspects of their lives. This partnership is another tool in helping us achieve that goal.”

Chris Sforzo agrees: “As a non-profit, we pride ourselves on growing the game in a positive and fun manner while making it accessible to all. We feel it’s imperative to maintain the ability for anyone to be able to play that wants to play.”

For more information on LB3 Lacrosse, visit lb3lacrosse.com. For more information on the Monsters Lacrosse Academy, visit monsterslax.com.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected]