Grow the Game®

sea to sky lacrosse camps
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on reddit
Share on whatsapp

Fireside Chat With Kevin Crowley of Sea to Sky Lacrosse Camps

Editor’s Note: For this new Fireside Chat, Connor Wilson got the chance to sit down with Kevin Crowley of Sea to Sky Lacrosse Camps to discuss their upcoming camps in New Westminster, British Columbia this December 27th and 28th, as well as what makes Sea to Sky different from all the other camp opportunities out there. The camp is open for boys aged 8-16, costs $125 and runs from 9am to 4pm on both days.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Where did the name Sea to Sky Lacrosse come from? It’s certainly a welcome departure from names like “awesome explosion lax camps”…

We wanted a name that captures the essence of the west coast of British Columbia and I think we found it in Sea to Sky Lacrosse. Living in Long Island for 4 years really gave me an appreciation for the mountains, which I took for granted seeing everyday growing up. As our license plate states, it really is Beautiful British Columbia.

The name is kind of a metaphor for a young lacrosse player too. When I was growing up I always wanted to play division 1 and go on to playing in the pros. Cliche as it is, “reaching for the sky” in terms of dreams is what I did, and I am fortunate to be living them out right now.

sea to sky lacrosse camps

People will see that you’re based out of Canada, and many will instantly think “box lacrosse”. Where is the actual focus for your camps?

The focus for our lacrosse camps is to develop overall athletes. I think players are forced to play a specific position at too early of an age. Whether you play box or field, offense or defense, it is always beneficial to know what is going on on the other side of the ball. The more versatile a player is, the more opportunities he will have going forward in his career.

What does your team of directors and coaches bring to the camp circuit that no one else does?

Our coaching staff is unique in that we have all played at the highest level, and know what it takes to get there. We’ve spent countless hours on the field developing lacrosse players of all ages and from this experience have a great ability to connect with the player. Personally, coaching under Taylor Wray at St. Joseph’s University in Philly was an awesome experience and let me see the game through a Division 1 coach’s eye, which I think is beneficial to the players at our camps.

How has the game changed in the last 5-10 years? How will it continue to change?

The game has become more athletic. I’ve been living in the States for 5 and a half years now and I’ve come to realize there is not enough emphasis on developing athletes at home. Canadians are known for their stick skills more than their athleticism, but why not have both? That is a potent player in my mind.

What can Sea to Sky do to prepare future lacrosse players for the ever-improving landscape out there?

Our coaching staff is committed to growing the game in the area that provided us with so many opportunities. I am based out of the east coast now, but I would consider it a crime to not come back and impart my knowledge on the young lacrosse players in BC. Our coaching staff is extremely knowledgable and can arm our players with the skills they need to play at the next level.

If you had a kid who had never played lacrosse before, what would be the three fundamentals you would want them to learn first?

Passing and Catching, Ground balls and defensive positioning.

Desrcibe the best pocket for your average high school player…

I think it’s up to the individual player to find a stick that works for him. I’ve used a pocket in the middle of my stick all the way up.

Where can we expect to see Sea to Sky go in the future?

We would eventually like to expand into women’s lacrosse. It’s just starting to pick up now and there is some serious talent coming out of BC. So we want to bring in the best coaches to grow the game even further.

Any closing thoughts? Got a message you want to get out to the lacrosse world?

I think it’s important to always give back to your community. In my view, it’s a way of thanking all the coaches who guided you on you’re journey to where you are today.