Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
CRC Lacrosse is fast becoming a household name for both youngsters and teens living in Eastern Maryland and Delaware.
And, if CEO Christopher Clift had his way, his popular clinics may train the next top professional lacrosse players, such as Paul Gait and John Grant Jr.
“The overall goal,” Clift said, “is to train the kids to outperform on the field and have them perform well in the classroom as a student and a good kid to their parent with manners.”
Clift created Compete, Respect, Commitment Lacrosse in 2017 after being an assistant coach for Salisbury University’s club lacrosse team. He is building on a passion he’s had for the sport since he was 7 years old. He played lacrosse from elementary school through college, and then an injury stopped him from ever playing again.
The premise of lacrosse is basically the same as soccer and hockey, score the ball in the opposing team’s net. However, instead of a stick on the ground like hockey, or stick less and using your feet like soccer, lacrosse involves tossing the ball between players who hold sticks that catch and shoot the ball.
In creating CRC Lacrosse, Clift said he selected a name that would attract and motivate students.
“I wanted to name it how I want the kids to show up,” said Clift. “You want them to compete which is why they are there. You want to be respected. And lastly, you want the kids to have a commitment so that they won’t give up or quit.”
The clinic has grown from one child to 68 over the past year. The children come from all races and backgrounds. Clift said that some of the children have never played lacrosse, while others have a few years of experience under their belt. When the organization was smaller, meetings would be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. But as CRC Lacrosse grew, meetings also were scheduled on weekends.
Clift said he often reaches out to local lacrosse stars such as CJ Costabile and Chris Fennell of the Chesapeake Bayhawks to help run the clinic.
“While other lacrosse training programs focus on the money, CRC Lacrosse has taken a different approach for the kids and their families,” said Clift.
For example, AMG Lacrosse Camp for boys between age 10 and 18 costs parents nearly $2,000 per week. The Nike lacrosse camps in Maryland can cost as much as $500 per week. Prices vary depending on age, gender, groups vs. single, etc. But Clift said that the consensus is that lacrosse training programs are not cheap.
“Most of the other lacrosse competitors do it for the money charging an arm and a leg at $120 for one session,” said Clift, who said his fees are considerably lower. “I like to keep my local kids ready to get better each day. I want them to do something in school and do something in sports to get them to college.
“College isn’t cheap and by putting them in a good position on and off the field, that’s the end goal,” he explained.
However, setting up something so beneficial has its downsides, especially when using college students. Clift said that the training sessions became difficult the more that parents signed their children up for CRC. When sign up was low, however, he said that he managed to coach a group of children at Salisbury University’s stadium after classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“Once I started getting more clients,” Clift said. “[I] either had to tell them to do something on the weekend or work them in the schedule in a week or two. I never told a kid, ‘No’ because I’m in it for the kids. I’m not in it for the money, as I charged a third of what the competitors charge.”
The bigger the clinic gets, the better the stories get, said Clift. As numbers start to rise over the years for CRC, he said there comes along great kids who bring about the attitude CRC is looking for. CRC Lacrosse children participated at the Youth World Series of Lacrosse in Denver on July 4, 2018. The group ranked as the bottom 20th seed but still managed to be televised on ESPN,” he said.
“I remember my little brother Liam had the biggest smile on his face when he saw people from ESPN were there to watch him,” said Keira Sobeleski, Liam’s sister. “He definitely had the time of his life.”
Liam, 11, joined CRC Lacrosse at the beginning of 2018 and aspires to play at John’s Hopkins when he’s older.
“John’s Hopkins always has one of the top lacrosse programs in the league,” said Liam. “I think my training with [Chris Clift] will make me good enough to play for them!”
Recently, CRC partnered with a gym in Rehoboth and managed to open The Athletes Studio of Delaware. The Rehoboth gym is partly owned by Vivid Seats. CRC also is sponsored by New Balance and Maverick Lacrosse. Clift said he is working to land a deal with Warrior Lacrosse too.
Clift supplies the equipment used by the children, including sticks, gloves and helmets.
“I’d like to see the kids commit to a good college of their dreams and to do their best,” Clift said.