Feedback on VLC Club Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Is VLC a dying brand? There seems like there should be a place for the talented but not insane nova eighth grader

[Anonymous]

VLC is definitely not a dying brand. The quality varies widely by class. Some VLC teams are equal or better than than their MadLax, DCE, and Next Level counterparts; some are a notch below; and some classes like 2027 did not survive at all. The same can be said about any program. DCE is considered a premier program in 2026 and older, but the 2027 team is much weaker, and people are questioning the future of the program overall now that the founders sons are out. MadLax used to be considered elite, and still is in some classes, but the 2026 team has jumped ship for Next Level, and the 2027 team is no longer competitive with teams like Next Level and Hawks. And the 2023 Madlax team was terrible until they recruited a whole team en masse to replace them. Next Level is considered a program on the rise and currently the hottest commodity among the four, but its greatest selling point was the integrity of its owners relative to Madlax, and now they have sacrificed that a bit in the 2026 deal. In choosing a team for your son, you need to take a very close look at the coaches and players on the actual team he is joining, not the overall brand of the program. And if possible you should try to guess where that team will be a year or so into the future, because teams can change practically overnight. If you doubt me, ask families on Next Level or MadLax 2026.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VLC is definitely not a dying brand. The quality varies widely by class. Some VLC teams are equal or better than than their MadLax, DCE, and Next Level counterparts; some are a notch below; and some classes like 2027 did not survive at all. The same can be said about any program. DCE is considered a premier program in 2026 and older, but the 2027 team is much weaker, and people are questioning the future of the program overall now that the founders sons are out. MadLax used to be considered elite, and still is in some classes, but the 2026 team has jumped ship for Next Level, and the 2027 team is no longer competitive with teams like Next Level and Hawks. And the 2023 Madlax team was terrible until they recruited a whole team en masse to replace them. Next Level is considered a program on the rise and currently the hottest commodity among the four, but its greatest selling point was the integrity of its owners relative to Madlax, and now they have sacrificed that a bit in the 2026 deal. In choosing a team for your son, you need to take a very close look at the coaches and players on the actual team he is joining, not the overall brand of the program. And if possible you should try to guess where that team will be a year or so into the future, because teams can change practically overnight. If you doubt me, ask families on Next Level or MadLax 2026.

It is also hard to compare VLC to NL/DCE/ML when the geography is different. Many VLC families do not feel the need to drive an additional 45 min to an hour and a half to every practice. VLC is making the push into the Loudoun market. When people see recruits in the Jr. and Senior HS class going to UVA, Yale, G-town ect. they feel they can take their chances with VLC

[Anonymous]

DCE is considered a premier program in 2026 and older, but the 2027 team is much weaker, and people are questioning the future of the program overall now that the founders sons are out.

Isn't the youngest on the 25 team? or did he move them to another club?

[Anonymous]

Is there a team in the DMv that focuses on player development rather than rankings? It seems to me to make a kid a better player you need three things
1 good coaching.
2 sufficient practice time
3. Appropriate competition.

With kids, jumping from team to team (or even worse being pushed out of teams) the teams might be getting better, but it doesn’t seem like it does anything for the kids development. There’s gotta be a way to fix the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a team in the DMv that focuses on player development rather than rankings? It seems to me to make a kid a better player you need three things
1 good coaching.
2 sufficient practice time
3. Appropriate competition.

With kids, jumping from team to team (or even worse being pushed out of teams) the teams might be getting better, but it doesn’t seem like it does anything for the kids development. There’s gotta be a way to fix the system.

Theoretically, all the teams focus on player development using those type of metrics up through 6th grade; and then 9th through 11th grade is all about college placement. 7th and 8th grade are the transition years.

[Anonymous]

This is a bullsh*t sport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a team in the DMv that focuses on player development rather than rankings? It seems to me to make a kid a better player you need three things
1 good coaching.
2 sufficient practice time
3. Appropriate competition.

With kids, jumping from team to team (or even worse being pushed out of teams) the teams might be getting better, but it doesn’t seem like it does anything for the kids development. There’s gotta be a way to fix the system.

There is no development at the clubs after eighth grade. That happens on your High School team. Treat Club like the business transaction that it is for 8th grade and older:

- does my kid get the majority playing time at his position
- will the club be at tournaments that will get my kid seen by college coaches
- does the club have coaches that are competent enough and does their playing philosophy match my kids strengths
- does the club actually take the time to speak to college coaches on my behalf

Demand value for the 4K per year you are being charged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a team in the DMv that focuses on player development rather than rankings? It seems to me to make a kid a better player you need three things
1 good coaching.
2 sufficient practice time
3. Appropriate competition.

With kids, jumping from team to team (or even worse being pushed out of teams) the teams might be getting better, but it doesn’t seem like it does anything for the kids development. There’s gotta be a way to fix the system.

Player development is on the player. "Good coaching" will not make the player bigger, faster, stronger or improve stick skills. Yes good coaching helps fix mechanics, provide a insight on the mental part of the game - defensive schemes, offensive principles, etc. There are definitely better coaches than others but the players hold a majority of the responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a team in the DMv that focuses on player development rather than rankings? It seems to me to make a kid a better player you need three things
1 good coaching.
2 sufficient practice time
3. Appropriate competition.

With kids, jumping from team to team (or even worse being pushed out of teams) the teams might be getting better, but it doesn’t seem like it does anything for the kids development. There’s gotta be a way to fix the system.

Player development is on the player. "Good coaching" will not make the player bigger, faster, stronger or improve stick skills. Yes good coaching helps fix mechanics, provide a insight on the mental part of the game - defensive schemes, offensive principles, etc. There are definitely better coaches than others but the players hold a majority of the responsibility.

So Norway, Australia, The Netherlands and other relatively small countries (by population) who see spectacular success in international competition have more motivated kids with superior genetics, right? Doesn’t have anything to do with a youth sports regime and culture designed to optimize athletic development over wins and losses until an appropriate age? Relatedly, are you often wrong and never in doubt on other subjects as well, or is it just DMV lax?

[Anonymous]

The best player development is a stick a wall and a ball. I am sure kids in Australia or wherever also work very hard on their own. However, I would argue that teams like VLC are very good at player development. Look at the recruiting success. many of these kids started in middle school or earlier with VLC. Madlax as well, the DC dogs teams had the same kids for a long time. However, some kids just don't develop and never will. That would be true for all sports in any country. Dont blame the club for that.

[Anonymous]

Flawed argument above, Let’s take Norway for example, when you talk about being competitive I am assuming you are talking about their skiing related sports in the Winter Olympics. Skiing was invented in Norway (look up the Norwegian city of Ski and Telemark). Norwegians spend the vast majority of their time skiing. With 4 million people constantly skiing you are going to produce gold medal athletes. Norwegians also play basketball but not as the same intensity as you would see in the US. It’s about where people put their time and effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flawed argument above, Let’s take Norway for example, when you talk about being competitive I am assuming you are talking about their skiing related sports in the Winter Olympics. Skiing was invented in Norway (look up the Norwegian city of Ski and Telemark). Norwegians spend the vast majority of their time skiing. With 4 million people constantly skiing you are going to produce gold medal athletes. Norwegians also play basketball but not as the same intensity as you would see in the US. It’s about where people put their time and effort.

Right the argument relies solely on winter sports in Norway, not their performance in soccer, or the Dutch in track and field and soccer, or the Aussies in everything. I’m shocked you missed the actual point that strong coaching writ large, focused on developing strong fundamentals while cultivating love of sport is the key predictor for later athletic success as opposed to a provincial perspective on a tiny, affluent youth population in a subregion. Shocked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flawed argument above, Let’s take Norway for example, when you talk about being competitive I am assuming you are talking about their skiing related sports in the Winter Olympics. Skiing was invented in Norway (look up the Norwegian city of Ski and Telemark). Norwegians spend the vast majority of their time skiing. With 4 million people constantly skiing you are going to produce gold medal athletes. Norwegians also play basketball but not as the same intensity as you would see in the US. It’s about where people put their time and effort.

Right the argument relies solely on winter sports in Norway, not their performance in soccer, or the Dutch in track and field and soccer, or the Aussies in everything. I’m shocked you missed the actual point that strong coaching writ large, focused on developing strong fundamentals while cultivating love of sport is the key predictor for later athletic success as opposed to a provincial perspective on a tiny, affluent youth population in a subregion. Shocked!

The whole system is flawed because your kid is not an all star. Got it, thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Flawed argument above, Let’s take Norway for example, when you talk about being competitive I am assuming you are talking about their skiing related sports in the Winter Olympics. Skiing was invented in Norway (look up the Norwegian city of Ski and Telemark). Norwegians spend the vast majority of their time skiing. With 4 million people constantly skiing you are going to produce gold medal athletes. Norwegians also play basketball but not as the same intensity as you would see in the US. It’s about where people put their time and effort.

Right the argument relies solely on winter sports in Norway, not their performance in soccer, or the Dutch in track and field and soccer, or the Aussies in everything. I’m shocked you missed the actual point that strong coaching writ large, focused on developing strong fundamentals while cultivating love of sport is the key predictor for later athletic success as opposed to a provincial perspective on a tiny, affluent youth population in a subregion. Shocked!

The whole system is flawed because your kid is not an all star. Got it, thanks

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