Feedback on VLC Club Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the 25 team had multiple HC in the past few years. Going back through the comments that have always had problems putting up goals. Looking at US Club Lax they were 8-11-2. The scoring thing plays out in the listings. They seem to beat lesser teams and blown out a few times by better teams. Seems to be an average 25 team. Should expect a few DIII players but no big signings, but that’s just a guess based on past experiences.

VLC always touted great coaching and player development but even over the course of many years they could somehow never coach the 25 offense into being able to score points. Too bad!

[Anonymous]

According to US club lax. VLC does not have a single number 1 team in Virginia for 27-24 grad years. Only VLC 2024 - Dico is a top 50 national team between 27-24. How did such a low ranked club produce recruiting results?

[Anonymous]

First, you are putting weight into the US Club Lax rankings. HA!

Second, if you have followed the posts you will see they previously had good teams. It was established that 24s may be the last good class they had.

Third, recruiting results, from 24-27? Considering that up to this time only the 24s can be recruited, this is irrelevant. The 25s are next month and so on for 26/27s in Sept 24/25.

I suspect that you will see a large drop off in recruits out of the 25 class, get a couple of 26 (PVI kids) and very few if any 27s. As they had no team last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:According to US club lax. VLC does not have a single number 1 team in Virginia for 27-24 grad years. Only VLC 2024 - Dico is a top 50 national team between 27-24. How did such a low ranked club produce recruiting results?

College coaches could not care less about US club lax rankings. The 2023 team had rankings diluted due to the CAV 2023 team also with results mixed in. They were ranked top 40 despite this. However they often beat teams in the top 10-15 but lost to teams ranked lower as well. Getting kids seen is the goal. They had like 20 comitted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to US club lax. VLC does not have a single number 1 team in Virginia for 27-24 grad years. Only VLC 2024 - Dico is a top 50 national team between 27-24. How did such a low ranked club produce recruiting results?

College coaches could not care less about US club lax rankings. The 2023 team had rankings diluted due to the CAV 2023 team also with results mixed in. They were ranked top 40 despite this. However they often beat teams in the top 10-15 but lost to teams ranked lower as well. Getting kids seen is the goal. They had like 20 comitted?

That 2023 VLC team has/had some really good players. I think you are very close on the committed number.

[Anonymous]

If you don’t need to be on a good team to get recruited then why spend the time and money on travel lacrosse in highschool. Just go to a bunch of showcases

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t need to be on a good team to get recruited then why spend the time and money on travel lacrosse in highschool. Just go to a bunch of showcases

Sounds like a good plan. Go for it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t need to be on a good team to get recruited then why spend the time and money on travel lacrosse in highschool. Just go to a bunch of showcases

I don't read into any of this thread that a player does not need to be on a good team. It is all relative to the recruiting goal. I think that US Club lacrosse rankings are not what college coaches use to determine if a player or team can make it to the next level. What they evaluate is how they player does facing the level of competition they are recruiting for. If a player's goal is to gain interest from a top D1 program that player should be competing in the summer v. other players at that level. It is true that some showcases provide that opportunity and a player can get recruited that way. They can also get discovered at a prospect day. Most players also play on a good club team. The past VLC teams provided great opportunity for kids to be recruited.

[Anonymous]

VLC is a top tier club and best offering in Northern Virginia currently. The club has a history of top tier recruits.

The club is invited and participates in the best tournaments with the best recruiting opportunities as a result of their affiliation with the Crabs program. Historically one of the best programs in the country.

Coaching is, of course, important, but being invited and playing in top tier tourneys is invaluable for the players that want to play in college.

The club needs help in recruiting and building teams that are competitive. Takes all families to help with that. You cannot expect them to just make it happen on their own. Takes the community to keep things progressing.

Teams are not underperforming because of coaching. If they are in fact underperforming, it is likely mostly attributable to a lack of talent at the age group. Unfortunately those that complain the most are typically the folks with the most underperforming players. They have little motivation to help attract talent and improve the team because they will likely be forced out to a lesser team that is trying to make inroads in the area and has zero history of competing at the highest levels. I have seen multiple clubs come and go. VLC is still here.

[Anonymous]

^ Looks like Dico is back in here with his usual “blame the players, blame the parents, blame everyone but VLC” line. 🙄

[Anonymous]

How is it possible that VLC is the “best offering in northern Virginia currently” when none of its it’s teams are ranked #1?

2025s: VLC’s top team is ranked 3rd in va and 107 nationally with a record of 8-11-2

2026s: VLC’s top team is ranked 2nd in Va and 42 nationally with a record of 12-8-2

2027: unranked team just restarted.

2028: no team at this age group.

I would expect that VLC sees very little recruiting success for the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Teams are not underperforming because of coaching. If they are in fact underperforming, it is likely mostly attributable to a lack of talent at the age group.

So, using this logic and taking a look at the current and upcoming HS teams.
2025 VLC many coaching changes over the years, this group has been active and this team has been very average. However, the current Madlax and DCE teams are very highly ranked. So, is that a lack of talent in the area?
2026 VLC has done well in the past, but seem to be falling back in ranking the past few years. The coach seems steady and other teams up and down, except DCE. Maybe it’s the players?
2027 VLC no data, no team last year. Cant blame the current coach. Blame the program for losing the team a year ago.
2028 VLC no team, no rank, again blame the program for it falling apart.

No it is not all on the coaching, but it is on the program as a whole.

The club lax circuit is like the NBA, if you can get a group of studs to play together, for whatever club, it’s not the name on the front of the jersey that matters.

[Anonymous]

It’s pretty clear that VLC as a organization has not risen to the challenge posed by new competitors (eg True) and the merger with Cavs. If you go back about 50 pages on this string you’ll see that VLC was warned about this and did nothing.

However, VLC does have an opportunity over the next couple of years to get their mojo back. DCE 27 & 28 and ML 28 &29 have serious issues with playing time, large rosters, coaching and competitiveness. If VLC can attract good coaches, decent (turf) feilds and improve their communications this year they will be able to pick up some great kids next fall.

I think every NOVA lax parent is rooting for VLC to survive. We need a club for the good player with reasonable parents.

Bottom line - VLC get your act together. If you fail it will be in spite of tremendous opportunities open to you.

[Anonymous]

Gotta find a young Cabell, King Crab or Mitchell brothers and let them build a profitable business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Teams are not underperforming because of coaching. If they are in fact underperforming, it is likely mostly attributable to a lack of talent at the age group.

So, using this logic and taking a look at the current and upcoming HS teams.
2025 VLC many coaching changes over the years, this group has been active and this team has been very average. However, the current Madlax and DCE teams are very highly ranked. So, is that a lack of talent in the area?
2026 VLC has done well in the past, but seem to be falling back in ranking the past few years. The coach seems steady and other teams up and down, except DCE. Maybe it’s the players?
2027 VLC no data, no team last year. Cant blame the current coach. Blame the program for losing the team a year ago.
2028 VLC no team, no rank, again blame the program for it falling apart.

No it is not all on the coaching, but it is on the program as a whole.

The club lax circuit is like the NBA, if you can get a group of studs to play together, for whatever club, it’s not the name on the front of the jersey that matters.

I can only comment up to the '25 squad. It's hot garbage.