Welcome to the Free Play Academy.

Where lacrosse players come to become uncommon.

Immersion > Instruction

Join the Academy.

We’re always looking for new athletes to work with!

We seek only the highly-motivated individuals that wish to tap into their true potential.

The Free Play Academy Method

We believe that there are three cornerstones to becoming uncommon on the lacrosse field…

  • Location/date/time:

    Freedom High School

    25450 Riding Center Dr, South Riding, VA 20152, United States

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    Days & times for the High School & Youth groups will vary, please contact Coach Mike @freeplayacademyva@gmail.com to be added to our training GroupMe!

    A Free Play Session will guarantee two things:

    1. Full freedom to allow the game of lacrosse to do the teaching in real-time.

    2. Athletes will grow in their ability to allow the rhythm of the game to move through them and become better players as a product with professional direction.

    What does a Free Play session look like:

    • Athletes being put in situations with context, selected restraints and allowed the freedom to “make the play in front of them”.

    • My role as a coach is to provide professional direction in terms of the environment (i.e. the drill) with certain parameters, to be clear of what is expected behaviorally, provide points of insight and reinforcement of one’s growth in the game.

    • Each Session will be filmed, broken down and distributed to each athlete with coachable notes attached.

    Structure of a Free Play session:

    5-10min Warm-up/partner passing/goalie warm-up

    45-50min Free Play, Player development

    (IMPORTANT: We do not believe in “skill-development” in group a setting, it is too big of an opportunity cost in our eyes. Rather, in group settings, we believe in “player development”.)

  • It is essential for the player to be able to watch himself and be directed through visual feedback.

    Each Free Play Session will be filmed and after participation of the athlete, the staff will cut up the film highlighting certain aspects of that player’s game and distributed!

  • These principles are to be studied and emulated by the player in order to reach their full potential.

    A Guide carefully crafted to support Free Play athletes through a sport psychology approach specific to the sport of lacrosse.

    The Free Game is..

    The part of lacrosse that is played with the mind.

    What will be covered are the 8 Principles of Performance.

    The combination of Free Play and the Free Game is a potent combination that will lead to extraordinary growth as a player.

    Extra time off the field with Coach McDonnell will also be available to better integrate The Free Game.