From August 24-27, the New York Riptide hosted the inaugural Riptide Training Academy Summer Camp.
Held at the Lou Anthony Sports Complex at the NCPAL Massapequa Unit, which includes the DekSuperstars rink, the camp focused on teaching box lacrosse skills across three age groups each day. Riptide players Connor Kelly and Cody Radziewicz coached the camp and were joined by Stony Brook women’s lacrosse assistant coach Greg Miceli.
Launched in July, the Riptide Training Academy provides exclusive box lacrosse instruction through camps, clinic and tournaments across Long island. Through the program, players across a variety of age groups are taught by some of the best box lacrosse players in the world in Riptide players and coaches.
“Lacrosse has given me so much as an athlete and be able to play in the professional game,” Kelly said after the conclusion of the inaugural Summer Camp. “To come back and give back to these kids and share the game is so important. This is the Creator’s game and it has given me so much happiness and joy, and we want to pass that along. I think we saw that this week with the kids. They had a blast so it was a lot of fun for me.”
During camp, Kelly and Radziewicz worked with players across three age groups – 3-4 grade, 5-6 grade and 7-8 grade from Long Island and Connecticut on their skills. The first day focused on the basics and skill assessment, while the second day saw a focus on skills demonstration by the coaches as well as development. The third and final day was one for fun, as the three age groups participated in a variety of contests to show off what they had learned. For the third and fourth graders, they also had the opportunity to shoot on a goalie as Radziewicz put on the pads and hopped in net for a few rounds.
“There was tons of energy,” Radziewicz said of the camp. “It was great to be able to get back out and be able to coach some kids again and get in front of them. They were awesome. It was hot and they battled through it and we had a great time with them.”
Since the inception of the Riptide on Long Island in February of 2019, a main goal of the franchise has been to give back to the local community. For Kelly, who lived in the area last season and worked with a lot of the community, he knows how passionate the area is about lacrosse.
“It’s huge,” he said. “This is the hotbed of lacrosse. As a Connecticut guy, competing against Long Island throughout my career, they always sort of got the best of me, and now to be here, you really realize why that’s the case. They continue to work all year round. Everybody is passionate about the sport, and that’s what is cool to see. All the passion and the joy that this game brings them so it’s cool to be around.”
The Riptide Training Academy will resume camps and clinics in the fall. For more information, visit NewYorkRiptide.com or follow the Riptide Training Academy on social media at @RiptideTraining.
