The names Self and Evans are synonymous with sports in our great city that is known for producing some of the greatest athletes to ever step foot or skate inside of an arena. As current Senior Peterborough Lakers, both Brad Self and Shawn Evans are the epitome of what it is to be tremendous athletes both on and off of the floor.

Between the two of them, they have won almost too many medals and honours to count. Both Brad and Shawn are multiple time MLS Mann Cup Champions with the Senior Lakers. They have also both won National Lacrosse League Championships with their respective teams at different times. Individual awards abound as well with MVPs, Scoring Championships, Rookie of the Years, and Transition Player of the Years between them. Lacrosse aside, both Brad and Shawn were excellent hockey players with Brad suiting up in the OHL for the hometown Peterborough Petes as well as having the honour of being drafted to the NHL and playing pro hockey in Europe for years.

In October of 2012, the two came together with the idea of providing the opportunity that both were afforded as youngsters in teaching kids the game they both love. This is when Nationwide Lacrosse was born. With the straightforward goal of introducing and growing our country’s national sport to kids in and around our sports mad community, they set off and haven’t looked back.

Over the past year, the two have done some extraordinary work. Along with a few volunteers when necessary, they have been able to bring the game of lacrosse to over 35 schools in and around our region. They have also created day camps of various lengths that have run in Cobourg, Curve Lake, at Trent University and at the Spiplex to name a few.

In school settings, Brad and Shawn have been bringing grassroots lacrosse to boys and girls of various ages and skill sets. Teaching up to 6 classes a day, they focus on fundamentals and always aim to bring a fun learning environment that all participate in regardless of skill. From trapping and scooping to passing and shooting, they emphasize on honing skills necessary to learn in order to grow and play. Using sticks and balls provided to the students by Under Armour, they always finish with a controlled scrimmage to allow the kids to try techniques in a game setting.

Brad and Shawn at one of their school visits

In their camps, the setting is the same but in a longer format that allows for more specific skills to be practiced in groups that are split up to have kids playing with others of the same skill level. As the days are longer, they are split up with time to focus on lacrosse but also other time set aside to play other games, swim if possible and also use the rock wall and row when at Trent University.

The guys want to make a difference to the kids they teach. On the floor, Shawn plays offense, while Brad plays defense and transition so between the two of them they cover pretty much everything there is to know. As current professionals, they know that teaching kids hands on at a younger age can be invaluable in building their love for the game and succeeding in the sport down the line.

Brad and Shawn are extremely dedicated to their Nationwide Lacrosse venture and aim to continue growing the business and run it year-round. They know that as lacrosse is only played in certain seasons, they can help prepare and keep players sharp during the downtimes and lead them into seasons being as fresh as possible.

They are looking to expand their school visits across the region, open up more camp opportunities—which are already filling up fast—with repeat camps happening, and bring more kids and associations in to learn about the game.

Their motto with Nationwide Lacrosse: Dream. Believe. Achieve.

Here is a list of their exciting upcoming camps—and winter league which is new this year:
WinterCamp: Trent University, Peterborough Jan 2nd-4th
WinterLeague: Trent University, Peterborough Jan 9th-Mar 6th
MarchBreak: Spiplex, Peterborough Mar 10th-14th
SummerCamp: Cobourg July 7th-10th
SummerCamp: Six Nations July 21st-24th
SummerCamp: Trent University, Peterborough Aug 5th-8th
SummerCamp: Trent University, Peterborough Aug 11th-14th
SummerCamp: Sundridge, Aug 24th-30th

Nationwide Co-Founders Brad Self (far left) and Shawn Evans (far right)

If you’re interested in signing up your boy or girl for any of these camps or the winter league, don’t hesitate to contact Brad and Shawn for more details!