Did all/most HS lax players play club in elementary/middle school?

[Anonymous]

I'm new to the boys lax scene. Son just started playing on a club team in the HoCo league this year. It seems like for boys lax, there are only 4 clubs in the DC-area (Madlax, NL, BLC and VLC) and each has about about two teams (sometimes just one) at each grade from elementary through 8th grade, so that's roughly 180-200 boys per grade in the whole DMV playing club-level lax. There are of course other clubs in HoCo, Baltimore, Annapolis, etc., but I assume not many boys go that far to play. But every private and public school around here has a team, so are lots of the players on these teams boys who only played rec or just started lax in HS? I never played, but lax seems like a really hard sport to pick up when you're 14-15. Or are there a bunch of clubs around here I don't know about?

[Anonymous]

It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

With the big, better public schools, there is a bigger pool of kids who are just great athletes. Some of the best athletes may have elected not to play club lax because they played football and club hockey, yet they end up starting by their senior year of high school and playing D1 lax in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

With the big, better public schools, there is a bigger pool of kids who are just great athletes. Some of the best athletes may have elected not to play club lax because they played football and club hockey, yet they end up starting by their senior year of high school and playing D1 lax in college.

Really? What local player did zero club lax and is currently on a D1 roster? There are many local DMV players on D1 rosters and sure I do not know all of them but I did not ever know of a kid who committed to a D1 lacrosse program that did zero club at any point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

With the big, better public schools, there is a bigger pool of kids who are just great athletes. Some of the best athletes may have elected not to play club lax because they played football and club hockey, yet they end up starting by their senior year of high school and playing D1 lax in college.

Really? What local player did zero club lax and is currently on a D1 roster? There are many local DMV players on D1 rosters and sure I do not know all of them but I did not ever know of a kid who committed to a D1 lacrosse program that did zero club at any point.

Yeah, I don't think this happens much if ever. All of the D1 recruiting is from the club scene. You would never get seen around here playing only public HS lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

What other clubs are there in the DMV area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm new to the boys lax scene. Son just started playing on a club team in the HoCo league this year. It seems like for boys lax, there are only 4 clubs in the DC-area (Madlax, NL, BLC and VLC) and each has about about two teams (sometimes just one) at each grade from elementary through 8th grade, so that's roughly 180-200 boys per grade in the whole DMV playing club-level lax. There are of course other clubs in HoCo, Baltimore, Annapolis, etc., but I assume not many boys go that far to play. But every private and public school around here has a team, so are lots of the players on these teams boys who only played rec or just started lax in HS? I never played, but lax seems like a really hard sport to pick up when you're 14-15. Or are there a bunch of clubs around here I don't know about?

1) You would be surprised how far kids go to play for club teams. I know of at least 3 kids that live in NOVA (and not Arlington) that play for Annapolis club teams.

2) Kids that play for MS school teams (really private school in MD) generally also play club. I'm coaching a kid in Arlington that as an 8th grader, plays JV for his HS, plays in HOCO and plays for our rec team.

3) in this day and age, yes, it is hard to pick up lax and be really good at it at the age of 14-15. Though there are certainly exceptions for those freak like athletes out there.

4) Yes, at least in NOVA you have Top Caliber, True NOVA, Team Virginia, the St. James and I think there are others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

With the big, better public schools, there is a bigger pool of kids who are just great athletes. Some of the best athletes may have elected not to play club lax because they played football and club hockey, yet they end up starting by their senior year of high school and playing D1 lax in college.

Really? What local player did zero club lax and is currently on a D1 roster? There are many local DMV players on D1 rosters and sure I do not know all of them but I did not ever know of a kid who committed to a D1 lacrosse program that did zero club at any point.

Yeah, I don't think this happens much if ever. All of the D1 recruiting is from the club scene. You would never get seen around here playing only public HS lacrosse.

This. The only way it would happen is if the kid picked up club lax in high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

What other clubs are there in the DMV area?

The top private school players are playing at the ones OP mentioned - Next Level, DC Express, MadLax, some at VLC, Annapolis Hawks. Public school kids are playing on those sometimes but also Zingos, MD Roughriders, Team Maryland, True, Top Caliber, Blackwolf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

What other clubs are there in the DMV area?

The top private school players are playing at the ones OP mentioned - Next Level, DC Express, MadLax, some at VLC, Annapolis Hawks. Public school kids are playing on those sometimes but also Zingos, MD Roughriders, Team Maryland, True, Top Caliber, Blackwolf.

Haven't heard of Blackwolf. I thought a Zingos, Roughriders, and Team Maryland were all up closer to Howard County/Baltimore. I do remember seeing Top Caliber at a tournament in the fall. I guess they are Fairfax/Loudon? There are so many True teams around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm new to the boys lax scene. Son just started playing on a club team in the HoCo league this year. It seems like for boys lax, there are only 4 clubs in the DC-area (Madlax, NL, BLC and VLC) and each has about about two teams (sometimes just one) at each grade from elementary through 8th grade, so that's roughly 180-200 boys per grade in the whole DMV playing club-level lax. There are of course other clubs in HoCo, Baltimore, Annapolis, etc., but I assume not many boys go that far to play. But every private and public school around here has a team, so are lots of the players on these teams boys who only played rec or just started lax in HS? I never played, but lax seems like a really hard sport to pick up when you're 14-15. Or are there a bunch of clubs around here I don't know about?

Great question. It depends on where your son goes to school and what his aspirations are.

At top privates (GP, Landon, Gonzaga, St. John’s, PVI etc) being on a top level club team is a must just to make varsity.

At the lower level privates (O’Connell, Irerton etc.) most of the starters have significant club experience but not all. You can definitely be on the team with out prior lax experience but playing time might be a problem unless you’re pretty athletic.

At top public (Robinson, Madison Churchill etc) starters will be on club teams but not necessarily the best clubs. Athletic boys will make varsity but struggle for field time.

Lower level publics (Chantilly, Westfield, Magruder) no club experience is needed- in fact if you played a couple of seasons of rec you’re way ahead of the game.

If you want to play in college a top club is a must.

In terms of clubs - top tier is in the DMV is madlax, next level and BLC/DCE. After that the teams get pretty bad. VLC is a particularly terrible club - poor management, poor communications, and fairly expensive. It’s often described as a dumpster fire on a sinking ship.

True NOVA is a great option. Great coaching, fields and organization. The beat on that club is that its teams are not very competitive but there is a chance to make their national team- which is usually highly ranked.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

With the big, better public schools, there is a bigger pool of kids who are just great athletes. Some of the best athletes may have elected not to play club lax because they played football and club hockey, yet they end up starting by their senior year of high school and playing D1 lax in college.

Really? What local player did zero club lax and is currently on a D1 roster? There are many local DMV players on D1 rosters and sure I do not know all of them but I did not ever know of a kid who committed to a D1 lacrosse program that did zero club at any point.

Yeah, I don't think this happens much if ever. All of the D1 recruiting is from the club scene. You would never get seen around here playing only public HS lacrosse.

This. The only way it would happen is if the kid picked up club lax in high school

So an athletic kid who played rec lacrosse and another elite sport and picked up club lacrosse by 9th grade has a chance? The hardest part might be getting a spot on an established club team late in the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

What other clubs are there in the DMV area?

The top private school players are playing at the ones OP mentioned - Next Level, DC Express, MadLax, some at VLC, Annapolis Hawks. Public school kids are playing on those sometimes but also Zingos, MD Roughriders, Team Maryland, True, Top Caliber, Blackwolf.

Haven't heard of Blackwolf. I thought a Zingos, Roughriders, and Team Maryland were all up closer to Howard County/Baltimore. I do remember seeing Top Caliber at a tournament in the fall. I guess they are Fairfax/Loudon? There are so many True teams around.

Lots of PVI and Loudoun kids on Blackwolf. Zingos and Roughriders are closer to Baltimore but kids from schools like Sherwood will play for them. Top Caliber is mostly Fairfax (lots of Robinson and Madison).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It really depends. First, there are a bunch of clubs you don't know about. Second, at the private school level, most if not all of the kids played club, at least by middle school. At the better public schools almost all of the starters played club but many of the non-starters did not and do not play club. At the lower level public school teams very few kids play club at all - some don't even try lacrosse until high school.

With the big, better public schools, there is a bigger pool of kids who are just great athletes. Some of the best athletes may have elected not to play club lax because they played football and club hockey, yet they end up starting by their senior year of high school and playing D1 lax in college.

Really? What local player did zero club lax and is currently on a D1 roster? There are many local DMV players on D1 rosters and sure I do not know all of them but I did not ever know of a kid who committed to a D1 lacrosse program that did zero club at any point.

Yeah, I don't think this happens much if ever. All of the D1 recruiting is from the club scene. You would never get seen around here playing only public HS lacrosse.

This. The only way it would happen is if the kid picked up club lax in high school

So an athletic kid who played rec lacrosse and another elite sport and picked up club lacrosse by 9th grade has a chance? The hardest part might be getting a spot on an established club team late in the game.

Sure if you are an elite athlete and willing to put in the time to catch up in lacrosse skills.

[Anonymous]

It's quite surprising how small the club lacrosse world is. My son played soccer before switching to lacrosse. A lot of those clubs will have 5-6 teams per grade, and there are a lot of clubs.