2026 Boys - Madlax or DCE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out what tourneys VLC is playing this summer--all top-level competition. That says it all.

And they were soundly thrashed at NAL last weekend.

For sure.

Soundly thrashed? One bad loss to Tigers, and then 1-3 in games decided by three goals or less, while missing some key players. Let's see how they do the rest of the summer.

Bad will continue....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, you are not kidding yourself. If your son is relatively new and a natural athlete, of course he will surpass the average athletes who have been playing longer.

But here is the bigger issue that families need to understand about MadLax. Many kids go into the program in the early grades (5th grade and lower) because their families have the money and think is the cool place to be in the lacrosse world. The teams usually win and the boys feel like stars. The boys form friendships with their teammates, and the parents form bonds too. But in grades 6 to 8, new players come in from all over the region and all over the country (literally), plus kids reclass by repeating a year in school. The effect is that the bottom 1/3 to 1/2 of the Capital roster gets pushed off the team in those grades. There usually is not very good bedside manner when boys are cut. It is great business for MadLax and builds strong teams, but is absolutely gut wrenching for the boys. It hurts their self esteem not only in lacrosse, but in life generally, because for boys that age sports is a huge part of their self image. And they feel ashamed and rejected by their friends remaining on the Capital team. Once you have been on Capital for several years, being on DMV is a humiliation for the boys and a waste of money for parents. (MadLax level prices, for coaching and competition barely better than rec). So my advice to families in grades 5 or below is that before joining MadLax, you need to assess realistically how athletic your son is and whether he will hold onto his roster spot when the influx of stud players begins. if the answer is no, then don't get mixed up in MadLax, because it will end really badly for your son. Plenty of other good options in the area.

I’m not sure who gets more upset about moving back to a B team. The child or the parent. I think some of you need to accept your child’s abilities, encourage them to play multiple sports and stop obsessing about this one sport. I have boys who’ve played at the elite level and it’s a real commitment. I also have a son who wanted to play multiple sports and enjoy high school so he played on the B team. It was all good because my wife and I were realistic about his talents.

100% - when my son started playing, we had him join a club team probably too early since he had only been playing for 6 months. Made the B team. I couldn't help nit pick all the kids I saw on the A team who I thought weren't any better than him at practices every day. Then I realized he was loving his team, his coaches were great and he was having a blast. It can be different once they get much older and hyper competitive among elite players vying for top high school or college rosters, but when they're young or if you have a kid who wants to play 3 different sports, just focus on a good club that will develop your son and let him have fun.

[Anonymous]

The cliche that "parents care more than the boys" might apply in the younger grades, but definitely not in grades 6-8, especially in a hyper-competitive program like MadLax. Boys know the difference between A and B extremely well, so much that it dictates their social pecking order. To a twelve year old who has played on A for a few years, being bumped down to B feels like a death sentence, particularly when the two teams share practice space. Trust me, the boys care a lot. Of course the parents care as much or more, but mainly because their son is depressed and unhappy, not because they are worried about his lacrosse pedigree or the looks from Div 1 college coaches that their sixth or seventh grader won't be getting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out what tourneys VLC is playing this summer--all top-level competition. That says it all.

And they were soundly thrashed at NAL last weekend.

For sure.

Soundly thrashed? One bad loss to Tigers, and then 1-3 in games decided by three goals or less, while missing some key players. Let's see how they do the rest of the summer.

Oh gawd, VLC dad is back with his pathetic copes. Tell us again how it's about the "process" and not the W/L result.

[Anonymous]

100% excuses from VLC dads and moms. VLC 2026 was a good team but some of the parents wanted to pretend it is one of the top teams in the country. Best players don’t show up to games and practices. You thinks Hawks best players don’t show up? Instead of playing in second best division in HOCO spring, team played in elite and couldn’t beat a good team. Should have played in same division with TRW Wolfpack and Top Caliber- two other NOVA competitors. Those two teams played for a championship in AAA. VLC has a small roster cause they can’t keep kids. Now with BLC coaching Black Ops -VLC best players will leave for DC xpress. Coaching and stability better at TRW and Top Caliber. Does anyone know who the new VLC coach is? Maybe VLC kids can find space at True Virginia or Hardlax.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like an insider who had a bad experience. No team is right for everybody. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:100% excuses from VLC dads and moms. VLC 2026 was a good team but some of the parents wanted to pretend it is one of the top teams in the country. Best players don’t show up to games and practices. You thinks Hawks best players don’t show up? Instead of playing in second best division in HOCO spring, team played in elite and couldn’t beat a good team. Should have played in same division with TRW Wolfpack and Top Caliber- two other NOVA competitors. Those two teams played for a championship in AAA. VLC has a small roster cause they can’t keep kids. Now with BLC coaching Black Ops -VLC best players will leave for DC xpress. Coaching and stability better at TRW and Top Caliber. Does anyone know who the new VLC coach is? Maybe VLC kids can find space at True Virginia or Hardlax.

iheard the new coach is pvi asst which makes sense since most vlc26 kids are from loudoun and itll save time & effort cleaning up bad mechanics and doing dumb stuff on the field which vlc youth teams are known for, parents run those teams not the coaches.

[Anonymous]

Yes, new VLC 2026 coach will be Jeff Schwartz, former player at Lynchburg and Head Coach of the Israeli National Team, and current assistant at Paul VI.

[Anonymous]

Well what did the OP decide ML or DCE? ML cap 2026 took the championship at club friendly tournament.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The cliche that "parents care more than the boys" might apply in the younger grades, but definitely not in grades 6-8, especially in a hyper-competitive program like MadLax. Boys know the difference between A and B extremely well, so much that it dictates their social pecking order. To a twelve year old who has played on A for a few years, being bumped down to B feels like a death sentence, particularly when the two teams share practice space. Trust me, the boys care a lot. Of course the parents care as much or more, but mainly because their son is depressed and unhappy, not because they are worried about his lacrosse pedigree or the looks from Div 1 college coaches that their sixth or seventh grader won't be getting.

So many things are absurd about this, but I think you diagnosed yourself with the phrase “Of course parents care as much or more.” Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well what did the OP decide ML or DCE? ML cap 2026 took the championship at club friendly tournament.

ml winning games by as many as 16 or 17 goals shows they can put points up on the board. dce usually likes better competition though

[Anonymous]

The tourney ML just did well in was not appropriate for their level. Not a good indicator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The tourney ML just did well in was not appropriate for their level. Not a good indicator.

They also have 3 maybe 4 holdbacks on the 2026 team.

[Anonymous]

Well holdbacks are kosher as long as it ain’t WSYL.

[Anonymous]

ML playing in Capital Classic was a waste of a weekend. B and C level teams now going to that tourny.