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Total posts: 2
Blog URL: http://laxspot.e-lacrosse.com/blogs/lax_spot_interviews
By: Lax Spot
Interviews with some big names and interesting people in the sport of lacrosse.
LaxSpot.com’s Glen Doss and Mark Breier recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Marc in the clubhouse.
In the lacrosse hotbed of
By our calculations Marc has probably played in more lacrosse games than anyone else in the history of the sport. Toyota Lacrosse head, and guru lacrosse statistician, Hunter Francis once calculated that Marc has played in close to 950 games over the past 10 years. It’s tough to come up with a solid figure, but after talking with Marc we would estimate he has played in close to 3,000 lacrosse games over his career. The key has been that he has been able to compete in three different age brackets in tournaments and in several leagues over the past few years – elite (open ), masters, and grand masters , plus club and Indoor . When you play on two or three separate club teams in the spring season, three different teams in every tournament and run a summer league where you play 3, sometimes 4 nights a week, the numbers add up quickly.
Hoffman’s first game took place in 1972 for
Marc later went on to have a long career in the early years of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) which is now the National Lacrosse League (NLL). In those days (1980’s) the league was almost entirely American born players. There were a few exceptions such as John Grant (Senior). The Canadian players pretty much stuck to the indoor leagues in their own country. It wasn’t until the Gait made their entrance into the MILL that most Canadian players began to take interest in the US League. Around that time new teams were established in
We asked Marc if he thought the trend would ever reverse and start to see a larger percentage of American players. Marc had this to say; “The reality is most of the teams are owned and run by Canadians, and they’re going to take care of their own first. The Canadian players also obviously grow up playing a different game, and are better prepared for the NLL. For that to change US youth coaches have to teach their kids the indoor game. But that’s not what happens. When they go inside here in the states, it’s playing the field game indoors, not box lacrosse. I don’t think were going to see it change anytime soon.”
After his professional indoor days were over Marc moved on to play with a number of talented teams in the
Over the years he has obviously had the opportunity to play against some very talented club teams. We asked who the best opponent was. “When the Gaits got out of college there was a team put together and sponsored by Coors Light – the Coors Light Silver Bullets. It was the 1st time I believe that any of us had gotten paid to play; $200 per player per game. They didn’t play in a league; they were basically an exhibition team that would travel around to different cities. So the team was made up of all the great
Hoffman also played in an age where club ball was the premier level for lacrosse. Colleges were able to schedule and play against club teams throughout the country. There were no pro teams and local papers ( The Sun ) covered club ball fairly regularly many times as the top story especially if the game was between local club teams like Mt Washington Club and John Hopkins . While at Salisbury Marc had the opportunity to play against
Hoffman also had the honor of playing for various teams in numerous World Games including Lax World who won the masters division in 1989 at
Another highlight was when Marc’s club team at the time – Hampshire Lacrosse Club – had the opportunity in the late 80’s to play games in the infield during “The Preakness” horse race. “It was packed and very funny to see everyone rush the field to claim turf to setup on after the game ended.” He said. Those games in the infield were later discontinued for various liability reasons.
Hoffman has seen club lacrosse grow and change in many ways over the years. Club lacrosse used to be the premier level of lacrosse in the World. Teams like
Back in the day there used to be only 10 USCLA teams. Tryouts were held, teams had regular practices, it was extremely competitive and the resulting teams were comprised pretty much entirely of college - All Americans. Because of the talent level on these teams there were lot’s of players who had no where to play after college. Which is why the CALL started. ”The CALL league started because if you weren’t an All-American you weren’t playing for any of the USCLA teams back then.” Hoffman added. As the number of people playing lacrosse increased over the years the number of CALL teams grew proportionately. The USCLA however, did not grow as rapidly and generally supported under 15 teams.
The ALL was appealing for guys that didn’t want the heavy time commitment of playing on a team that held practices or required a lot of travel. Players that really wanted to, and could, play at the top level eventually ended up playing in the MLL. Many say it was the MLL that killed the USCLA, but Hoffman’s take on it is that “the lack of teams and amount of travel probably had just as much to do with it. But in general, the overall importance of club ball started to shift once colleges stopped playing club teams, and the local paper [
But the ALL has continued to grow and prosper and is the biggest post-collegiate league in the world with 50+ teams stretching from
In addition to playing in the Masters and Grand Masters Spring league, Marc loves to compete on Sundays in the ALL league against players sometimes 30 years younger. His most recent teams included the former Lax World team, now Dewalt, then Team Toyota (before the USCLA folded), and now Magerks lacrosse club who were semi-finalists in 2007.
Marc hints at retirement - “The way my knees are feeling this is going to be about it”- but those who know him will only believe it when they actually see it. Marc sent out an email to friends and family a few years ago saying he was retiring. That retirement lasted a couple months at most.
“The key to playing on two or three teams in a tournament is to simply keep playing. I would rather play for six hours straight, which this reporter has witnessed, then sit out 2 hours between games and get stiff. A lot of pain killers help too. The position I play now [Crease Defense] also helps limit the running with the younger faster guys . Attackmen are coming to me. I’m not chasing them.” It’s also not uncommon to see Marc jumping in as goalie or playing attack for a team short on numbers. Playing 10 games in one weekend was not uncommon for him a few years ago.
Hoffman has been playing long enough that he has had the opportunity to play along side his son Josh ( Messiah Collage , All American 2005 Defenseman) for the last few years. “It’s been great. Its definitely the “greatest” highlight of my playing days! The first game we played together was a scrimmage against a College D1 varsity team. We didn’t have enough guys so he played with us. He was only 14 and did a good job” Father and son now always play on the same summer league team in the competitive Scott Boyle Summer League at Gilman school and in some Open tournaments .
This year Hoffman’s summer league team won the Summer League, as they have many times in the past. The team had a good mix of young, medium, and “old” players, with ages ranging from 19 to 55. We asked him how they make a team with such a wide age range work. “We actually had four or five father-son combinations play on the team this year. The key is putting the smarts and experience at defense and attack, and putting the young legs in the midfield and pole. And a good young keeper. We try to get the right guys; guys that get along and like to go hard.”
Marc just also happens to run the summer league .We asked Marc if he had any plans to step down from running the league in the near future. “As long as the Gilman is gracious enough to let use the fields, I’ll continue to run the league even after I stop playing” he said. It’s a great opportunity to bond young players in collage , with veteran club and pro players which create long term relationships that can span all ages. Like its supposed to be.
In addition to being a player for over 35 years, Hoffman has been a longtime assistant coach at
But Hoffman and anyone else that has played club ball long enough knows the action on the field is only part of the experience. Club games are almost always followed by post game sodas, laughs, TALL tales, and some stories only repeated in the bar, parking lot, or clubhouse.
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David on 02/05/2008
Hoffy is in a class by himself! He is Maryland lacrosse.
Erik on 02/05/2008
Great work boys!
I never would have had the career I had at Salisbury or the ability to play in the NLL and MLL with out Hoffy!
Get that man in the Hall of Fame!
Thanks for everything HOFF!
Laxpunk on 02/07/2008
The "Tall Tales" are great. Hoffy and that group of Masters guys in the Baltimore area surely like to have a great time and they deserve it.
But don't tell those guys that you have a tab open!! LOL!
Glen on 02/08/2008
I was fortunate enough to get hooked up with Hoffy and Lax World right out of college in 2000. Right off the bat I was a part of 3 ALL championship teams. It was a great way to be introduced to club lacrosse. Like many other club rookies - at the time I couldn't understand why people were taking it so seriously. I was like "Guys, it's club ball, who cares?" But after a couple seasons I understood. One thing we missed touching on in the article is Hoffy's ongoing commitment and leadership in the Baltimore Indoor Lacrosse League (BILL) for the Pickled Parrot team. I've seen him play through injuries that would keep others on the couch for days. Tough as nails!
Del on 02/14/2008
Way to go Coach Hoff!
Becky on 05/07/2008
Thats my daddy! :]
