New vision for youth development

We are now three weeks in—and it couldn’t be more exciting.

At the start of the summer, we set out to expand the reach of elite lacrosse training to the next generation of athletes. One of our guiding principles as coaches has been to create the kind of experience we wish we had growing up. I remember the lacrosse community in Cincinnati feeling scattered—spread thin across school districts, with no central place for serious development or guidance on how to pursue the narrow path to playing at the next level.

Back then, the East Coast was touted as the “hot spot” for lacrosse—seemingly the only place where college opportunities lived. But now, at the Cincinnati Lacrosse Academy, we’ve built the very place we once longed for: a central hub where aspiring players come together under a shared vision of excellence, guided by college athletes and experienced coaches who walk alongside them.

As we carry this vision forward, our focus has turned to building a truly elite youth development program. Our goal is to lay a firm foundation—of skill, vision, and the ability to leverage the support of teammates and mentors—as these young athletes grow into men and women who may one day take their game to the highest level.

Initially, we modeled our youth sessions after those of the older groups, with longer practices that included strength training, drills, and competitive play. But after a few sessions, we quickly realized something important: younger players benefit most from shorter, smaller sessions—where attention spans can be held and basic skills can be carefully developed with individual attention.

This adjustment became an unexpected gift. With the incredible pool of college athletes and coaches already part of our Academy, we began offering private and semi-private youth training. And in just two weeks, the results have been undeniable. Habit formation, understanding of the game, and passion have all surged. The small sessions allow the coaches to interact frequently with the players, and see that they do not slip into bad habits with technique.

If you're interested in youth training, my contact information is available on the youth page. From there, I’ll connect you with one of our coaches to coordinate a schedule that works best.

We are excited to continue with this method of training for the youth players, along with learning how to become more effective instructors ourselves. As with any new system of operations, there is a learning curve, and we certainly have been learning about the best ways to teach lacrosse to the younger groups. Change and iteration is inevitable while on the path towards high level performance. 

We feel as though we are just scratching the surface of this opportunity and are excited to keep pressing forward to establish the place we wished existed when we were young athletes: where the desire for personal excellence is encouraged to be sought after - in sport, faith, and character - alongside a community of like minded individuals.  

With faith and endurance,

Davis