Member Spotlight: Maureen Clifford
A Lifelong Passion Passed Down
For one of our members, Maureen Clifford, lacrosse has always been more than a sport to her - it’s been a lifelong passion she now gets to share with her daughters.
Breaking New Ground at Penn
Maureen first picked up a stick in 8th grade and never looked back. By the time she reached high school, she was part of a brand-new program that her class helped shape into something competitive. At the University of Pennsylvania, she helped launch the first ever women’s lacrosse club team, building it from the ground up alongside dedicated athletes and with the support of the University’s DI coach.
The program still thrives today, and Maureen looks back on it as the perfect balance: the team experience and competitiveness, without the pressure of Division I. After graduation, she even coached the club for a season, an experience that sparked her love for coaching.
Building a Lacrosse Family
That spark came back years later when her daughter discovered old sticks in the garage and begged her to teach her how to play. From that first toss, her daughter was hooked, and soon her second daughter was too.
Today, both of her girls love the game, and Maureen feels lucky to share the field with them. Although it’s not always easy being both mom and coach she says, “it’s worth every second. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
-
Finding Support Through WLD
When Maureen began coaching youth, she realized she needed new tools. Coaching kids was a different challenge than coaching college-aged players. That’s when she joined WLD.
“I didn’t have a network of coaches or a bank of drills to lean on,” she says. The WLD drills database has been a lifesaver, and the community has given her fresh ideas and support as she’s grown into her role as a youth coach.
-
Growing the Next Generation
For Maureen, lacrosse is more than just her sport, it’s now a part of her family’s story. She’s not just passing the game on to her daughters, he’s building a stronger foundation for the next generation of players too.
