Private School Lacrosse Thread

[Mrkeyjr]

Anonymous wrote:I played four years of Division I women's lacrosse (close defense) and have coached (HS) as well. The shot clock is even more necessary in the women's game than the men's game because of the great difficulty of LEGALLY causing a turnover through checking when the ball carrier is skilled. Even with the shot clock, dominance of the draw can be devastating in the women's game because it is so difficult to force turnovers. Because of the higher element of physicality and the long poles on defense, there's really no question that caused turnovers are more of a factor in the men's game.

With that said, I think the men's game as well would benefit from a "real" shot clock, not the current stall warning variety which can be manipulated (for example, college refs will start their 'mental stall warning' clock again if the coach of the team on offense calls a time-out) to make it less impactful in the final minutes of a game.

Glad to see some girls' lacrosse talk on the thread but it doesn't have to be adversarial -- at my undergrad school the men's and women's leaders were good friends and the men's fundraising association has generously merged with the women's association (the men's association has more big ticket donors).

I don't disagree, but don't you think the "free draw" (used by just about every decent local athletics conference around DC) after a certain goal differential offsets, to an extent, the importance of draw control? Also, while rules about checking across the body, checking "up" and the like do make it difficult to force a turnover, the lack of a pocket in the stick and certain rules meant to help the defense (like dangerous propulsion) can work to a good defense's advantage, especially those defenses that have been taught to focus on body position over check. Not denying that caused turnovers are more of a factor in the men's game, just throwing some items out there.

[Mrkeyjr]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no formal shot clock in college lacrosse, what are you talking about?

The ref can issue a stall warning when he feels the offense is not trying to create enough offense or generate enough shots. When the official issues a shot clock, the team has then 30 seconds to generate a shot Obviously this is very subjective. There is no shot clock similar to what you see in the NBA or College Basketball.

I assume your son doesn't play in the IAC as the IAC plays college rules unlike several other private school leagues.

VA and MD publics still played little by FEDERATION rules.

Not sure who you are responding to, but I was arguing that there SHOULD be a 90 sec possession/shot clock to minimize the advantage a team gets with a dominant FOGO. The girls have it, so should the boys.

The girls also don't wear helmets and can't check sticks.. The shot clock rule that college and iac use are perfectly fine and allow teams to play at a slower pace if they need to, as not every team has the horses to run the entire game.

NP jumping in. Have you ever even SEEN a college women's lacrosse game? They clearly check and there is no way that you can say that the pace is 'slower'. They also play two 30-minute halves instead of easy, breezy quarters where players get a break every 15 minutes. Those women can run circles around your ignorant butt.

Ok well first i did not say the womans game is slower you misread what i was trying to say which was the current rules in place now allow mens teams to play at a slower pace if that is what would help them win games. Also lets be real checking in girls vs boys is not even close when it comes to physicality and where you are allowed to check. Finally, do girls wear pads and helmets?? Do these things have an effect on the boys during hot springs and summers on turf fields???

Do women's lax teams have rosters that go 50 deep? Do women's lax teams have specialists like LSMs and FOGOS who are on and off the field in 10 seconds flat more often than not? Do women's lax teams play on smaller fields than their male counterparts? I played men's collegiate lax and coached women's lax at all levels. The women's game is far more physically demanding. Sorry your precious boy gets a little more sweaty during his 90 second middie run. Most female lacrosse starters play 80% of the game or more (provided it isnt a blowout) with few chances to rotate out at the HS level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or just start another thread. Geez.

Jeff has made it very clear that only one lacrosse thread will be allowed on the private school Forum.

There's always the Sports and Fitness forum, which parents of every other sport have figured out how to use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or just start another thread. Geez.

Jeff has made it very clear that only one lacrosse thread will be allowed on the private school Forum.

There's always the Sports and Fitness forum, which parents of every other sport have figured out how to use.

The "Sports and Fitness Forum" - aka, where lacrosse threads go to die...

[Anonymous]

Let's keep this girl's lacrosse thing going!

I am the mom of a very athletic 9 year old girl. She loves soccer and basketball, but has yet to develop any interest in LAX. Her brother plays...maybe that is why?? But seriously, it is a difficult sport to learn at the younger ages. Dad plays in the back yard with her throwing the ball to her so she can learn to catch. He doesn't want to put her on a team until she develops some skills and can enjoy the experience.

Are we going about it all wrong? What age do girls typically start playing? Have girls at age 9 mastered any of the throwing and catching skills yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's keep this girl's lacrosse thing going!

I am the mom of a very athletic 9 year old girl. She loves soccer and basketball, but has yet to develop any interest in LAX. Her brother plays...maybe that is why?? But seriously, it is a difficult sport to learn at the younger ages. Dad plays in the back yard with her throwing the ball to her so she can learn to catch. He doesn't want to put her on a team until she develops some skills and can enjoy the experience.

Are we going about it all wrong? What age do girls typically start playing? Have girls at age 9 mastered any of the throwing and catching skills yet?

We have girls who play, too, although they are older now. The oldest started when she was 8-9 and the youngest was out there with a stick when she was old enough to stand up. You're right that the cradling, catching and throwing are hard at that age but practice and time help bring improvement. It is great that your husband is out there with your daughter! You don't want to drop that if they are both enjoying it! My husband used to do it with the kids, too, and the children still recount the wonderful hours spent with their dad.

One of the benefits of rec league lax for the 8-9-10 year old range is that the girls start to develop field sense, roles and positioning. I will admit that frequently I find it is hard (think tedious) watching the 9 year olds play a game because that darn ball just goes everywhere and, whoops, that pass was long/short/went backwards/didn't leave the head/you name it. But our girls loved playing on a team at that age even if we, their parents, weren't having as much fun as they were! They have made real friendships. I think that if you can find a friendly, happy team then it is worth it!

[Anonymous]

Delete this thread. It doesn't belong here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Delete this thread. It doesn't belong here.

Oh, gawd. You again chip on your shoulder lady. Give it a rest. You have repeatedly tried to banish lacrosse talk from the private school forum. This is an amazingly popular thread. If anything, Jeff should allow more lacrosse related threads on the private school forum. For whatever reason, or maybe obvious reasons, this is where lacrosse talk draws a crowd. Jeff, bummed you only allow one lax thread, and get that it's your call, but please do allow this one to survive.

[Anonymous]

My DD started playing at 4. She could cradle catch and throw with no problem by nine yrs old. Luckily she went to a K-8 private that had a lax clinic starting at 3rd and a team by 5th. You have to send your kid to private to get those advantages. Its one reason lax is a private school sport.

Get your DDs into clinics as young as possible - most start in K or 1st grade- through your local rec (Arlington, Fort Hunt, Alexandria, McLean, Bethesda) or, if you live in DC, get your DD to Next Level or Bethesda for scoopers clinics. Then get her on a rec team (see above) and by 3rd/4th she can try out for. a club team: Stars, MC Elite, Pride are a few of the better organizations with great coaching.

Girls lacrosse is a great sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the top club teams have more public school team members than priavte school players, none. Its still largely a private school sport.

Check back in 10 years. This post will be laughable (and inaccurate) by then. The rise of Loudon public school lax is noticeable, and soon MoCo will be able to compete with the lower ranked WCAC and IAC teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the top club teams have more public school team members than priavte school players, none. Its still largely a private school sport.

Check back in 10 years. This post will be laughable (and inaccurate) by then. The rise of Loudon public school lax is noticeable, and soon MoCo will be able to compete with the lower ranked WCAC and IAC teams.

NP. It is nice to see the sport catching on so quickly in many local public schools. The more kids who play the game, the better! It is a great sport for both boys and girls!

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if MOCO teams will ever be able to compete with the upper tier IAC or WCAC teams.

Case in point, Churchill was a few seconds away from winning their first ever StateChampionship this past Spring. Keeping things in context, they were losing to Landon 12-0 at halftime. With that being said, there are several kids who play on public schools in MOCO, Fairfax, and Loudon Counties who could easily start at schools like Landon, Gonzaga, Bullis etc and perhaps even be impact players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:best fogos are at St Stephens, St. Albans and Bullis. all sophs. Too young to tell who will rise to the top.

Also can't judge the quality of these FOGOs by their success at the faceoff academies. Real game situations where there's real skin in the game show true mettle. I saw all three of these guys last year. They both seem worthy of their accolades, but with much to learn/prove if they are able to make an impact at the next level.

The FOGO for one of these schools was getting battered by LPMs on the wings. If he is going to be more than a bench warmer at the next level, he'll need to hit the weight room and otherwise learn how to deal with intense pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the top club teams have more public school team members than priavte school players, none. Its still largely a private school sport.

Check back in 10 years. This post will be laughable (and inaccurate) by then. The rise of Loudon public school lax is noticeable, and soon MoCo will be able to compete with the lower ranked WCAC and IAC teams.

Pleazzzzze. Public school lacrosse has one or two goods.players per team and the rest are football players trying to knock peoples heads off. The level of team play pales in comparison, and always will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:None of the top club teams have more public school team members than priavte school players, none. Its still largely a private school sport.

Check back in 10 years. This post will be laughable (and inaccurate) by then. The rise of Loudon public school lax is noticeable, and soon MoCo will be able to compete with the lower ranked WCAC and IAC teams.

Pleazzzzze. Public school lacrosse has one or two goods.players per team and the rest are football players trying to knock peoples heads off. The level of team play pales in comparison, and always will.

But it doesn't pale in comparison because there are better athletes in private. It pales right now because Lacrosse, like hockey, like golf, are very very expensive sports to play. Most publics dont have lacrosse as a result. It is just beginning to get funded at schools in DC and NYC. If the funding and interest continues, which it looks like it will given the college scholarships and hooks available, you can be sure that more and more non white, non private school kids will be winning championships and taking spots in college from white private school kids. i think it will take at least 10 years for it to become an established sport in all major urban areas with dominant public school teams but I have no doubt it will happen. If I had a 6year old and I was grooming him for a lax scholarship in college I may reconsider putting much effort into it. But I guess my white private school kid is ok for now.