About Us

SWI MISSION

To promote, teach, and maintain the integrity of women’s lacrosse, while enhancing lives of female athletes on and off the field now and for life through our holistic approach: player, student, and person.

Whether an athlete wants to play at Division I, enhance their individual game, or simply play for the love of the game, we have the experience and resources to make personal lacrosse aspirations a reality. We work closely with athletes and their families using holistic methods that extend beyond the field to emphasize life lessons and character building, so female athletes can be empowered to be the best people they can be – confident, empathetic, and responsible.

STICK WITH IT! embodies the attributes that we strive to teach so that we are mentoring by example. We are committed to excellence and embrace the drive to exceed expectations while maintaining integrity, self-esteem, and a high level of sportsmanship.

SWI VALUES

• TEAM FIRST
• PLAY WITH PASSION
• COMMITMENT
• CONFIDENCE
• DISCIPLINE
• HONOR THE GAME
• HUMILITY, LOYALTY, PRIDE
• INTEGRITY
• MENTAL STRENGTH
• SELFLESSNESS
• TEACHABLE SPIRIT

SWI WAY

• Maintain a holistic approach
• Utilize women’s lacrosse as a branch of education
• Create a character-based learning environment & culture
• Lead by example
• Establish approachability & dialogue
• Coach for excellence & significance
• Embody compassion, humility, passion & pride
• Build confidence
• Put team first
• Embrace innovation
• Set goals
• Earn what we desire
• Elevate the caliber of play
• Encourage independent decision-making
• Promote risk-taking without consequence
• Give back locally and globally
• Always finish what we start

Meet the Staff

Founder & Owner Coach Amy McCleary

2015 US Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee, two-time recipient of the FIL Recognition Award

STICK WITH IT! is founded by Coach Amy McCleary, fundamentally a teacher of young women with a contagious passion for women’s lacrosse. Her lacrosse career has spanned the globe with a list of accomplishments and accolades to envy, yet she can breakdown the sport into instructional, understandable building blocks – allowing players to excel whatever their level.

McCleary travels as a clinician, coaching consultant, and speaker around the country and throughout the world. She has coached teams and conducted camps and clinics in Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malta, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and throughout the United States. In addition to her commitment on the field, she currently serves on the US Lacrosse Rules Committee and is a FIL (Federation of International Lacrosse) Clinician.

Prior to STICK WITH IT! McCleary coached lacrosse at several Division I schools including the University of California – Berkeley, James Madison University (JMU), and the University of Delaware (UD) – nationally ranked 7th during her time. While at JMU, McCleary helped the Dukes attain a fourth national ranking while winning the Colonial Athletic Conference and reaching the NCAA Tournament Elite 8. While McCleary was at UD, the Blue Hens won three consecutive America East Conference Championships and went to the NCAA Tournament. She has coached conference players, regional all-Americans, all-Americans, as well as numerous players who have competed with the U.S. Elite Team, U.S. Developmental Team, and World Cup Teams in both the U.S. and Canada.

In 2009, McCleary coached the England national team to the medal round in the World Cup in Prague. Prior to this World Cup, McCleary was the Head Coach of the German National Program, where she led the German squad to nine European Cups and two World Cups. McCleary was a part of women’s lacrosse history when Germany made their first World Cup appearance during McCleary’s tenure.

Coaches

The STICK WITH IT! coaching staff shares a passion for women’s lacrosse and mentoring female athletes. Our staff includes World Cup, collegiate, and high school coaches in addition to current and former collegiate players ranging from Division I to Club.