How can non-travel team High School players improve

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a similar situation and we live in DC. Our son is starting high school in the fall. I was eagerly following the thread but it doesn’t look like anyone has any real solutions to the problem.

OP: Yes, disappointed in tone of responses. Good luck with HS season for your season. Playing every day during the season does help them but also gives them desire to work on game over summer. Sad that there are not more real rec teams.
Thanks for your kindness

I know this will be a disappointing answer too but speed and strength make a huge difference for defenders. If your kid doesn’t have endurance or short burst speed to get in front of a player, they won’t play. Get to a track to work on both.

Also boys need strength the push kids out. Is he lifting weights? I would add that to his regimen.

[Anonymous]

All clubs in MOCO have B teams.

NP. Can you provide more info or links? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

All clubs in MOCO have B teams.

NP. Can you provide more info or links? Thanks!

Go to the Madlax, DC Express, Next Level, 3d, MDX, Cannons, True MD or look at the Howard County Club Lacrosse league: http://ghclc.teampages.com/
This lists most of the clubs in the DMV area. While this is a list of youth and Middle school teams, these clubs also have HS teams. While it is true that many of the top teams are filled with private school kids who have been playing since third grade, many also have a second team or B team. Some clubs play in the B division and in HS they play at B level tournaments. Madlax for example will typically take a player for the second team with a more development role. Some people think these teams are a waste of money "money grab" as they seldom result in recruitment to a top college program but these teams can and do develop a player for HS. Many clubs also sponsor summer camps. If you are looking for a place to play, it is out there. Of course nothing replaces a wall to practice throwing and catching skills. A player can start later but must master basic stick skills in the back yard. The great think about this sport is that a player can make themselves better and practicing is fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a similar situation and we live in DC. Our son is starting high school in the fall. I was eagerly following the thread but it doesn’t look like anyone has any real solutions to the problem.

OP: Yes, disappointed in tone of responses. Good luck with HS season for your season. Playing every day during the season does help them but also gives them desire to work on game over summer. Sad that there are not more real rec teams.
Thanks for your kindness

I know this will be a disappointing answer too but speed and strength make a huge difference for defenders. If your kid doesn’t have endurance or short burst speed to get in front of a player, they won’t play. Get to a track to work on both.

Also boys need strength the push kids out. Is he lifting weights? I would add that to his regimen.

Great point about speed and strength. It is so important as they get into high school play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All clubs in MOCO have B teams.

NP. Can you provide more info or links? Thanks!

Go to the Madlax, DC Express, Next Level, 3d, MDX, Cannons, True MD or look at the Howard County Club Lacrosse league: http://ghclc.teampages.com/
This lists most of the clubs in the DMV area. While this is a list of youth and Middle school teams, these clubs also have HS teams. While it is true that many of the top teams are filled with private school kids who have been playing since third grade, many also have a second team or B team. Some clubs play in the B division and in HS they play at B level tournaments. Madlax for example will typically take a player for the second team with a more development role. Some people think these teams are a waste of money "money grab" as they seldom result in recruitment to a top college program but these teams can and do develop a player for HS. Many clubs also sponsor summer camps. If you are looking for a place to play, it is out there. Of course nothing replaces a wall to practice throwing and catching skills. A player can start later but must master basic stick skills in the back yard. The great think about this sport is that a player can make themselves better and practicing is fun.

To the OP. this is a great post. The reality is that lacrosse is very competitive in this area and if you want an opportunity you have to do some work. You started here and the above is great advice. Find the clubs (HoCo website) and then reach out to them. In general most of the clubs we have dealt with are very willing to talk and provide advice/opportunity. The post about strength is also very good. Strength and quickness for a defender is key and is stuff that can (and needs to) be worked outside of a club setting. Your high school coach should also know about this stuff, reach out to the coaching staff.

[Anonymous]

My son is in the same position - just plays lacrosse for fun during the high school season. Is not super competitive about it. The best thing for him is that the captains of the team arrange some very informal practices together over the summer. I'm not sure how much better he is getting with them, but at least he is out there throwing and catching the ball, and running around. I would tell your son to email the captain, or if he is confident enough, email the guys on the team to see if any want to get together on a regular basis to practice together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a similar situation and we live in DC. Our son is starting high school in the fall. I was eagerly following the thread but it doesn’t look like anyone has any real solutions to the problem.

OP: Yes, disappointed in tone of responses.

It's not the "tone" of the responses, it's the information content that OP persists in rejecting. The solutions given were real solutions for all that OP doesn't like them. Sorry, OP, but there is no cheap and easy way for your kid to get good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All clubs in MOCO have B teams.

NP. Can you provide more info or links? Thanks!

Go to the Madlax, DC Express, Next Level, 3d, MDX, Cannons, True MD or look at the Howard County Club Lacrosse league: http://ghclc.teampages.com/
This lists most of the clubs in the DMV area. While this is a list of youth and Middle school teams, these clubs also have HS teams. While it is true that many of the top teams are filled with private school kids who have been playing since third grade, many also have a second team or B team. Some clubs play in the B division and in HS they play at B level tournaments. Madlax for example will typically take a player for the second team with a more development role. Some people think these teams are a waste of money "money grab" as they seldom result in recruitment to a top college program but these teams can and do develop a player for HS. Many clubs also sponsor summer camps. If you are looking for a place to play, it is out there. Of course nothing replaces a wall to practice throwing and catching skills. A player can start later but must master basic stick skills in the back yard. The great think about this sport is that a player can make themselves better and practicing is fun.

If OP can't afford private coaching, then club teams (especially MadLax!) are right off the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All clubs in MOCO have B teams.

NP. Can you provide more info or links? Thanks!

Go to the Madlax, DC Express, Next Level, 3d, MDX, Cannons, True MD or look at the Howard County Club Lacrosse league: http://ghclc.teampages.com/
This lists most of the clubs in the DMV area. While this is a list of youth and Middle school teams, these clubs also have HS teams. While it is true that many of the top teams are filled with private school kids who have been playing since third grade, many also have a second team or B team. Some clubs play in the B division and in HS they play at B level tournaments. Madlax for example will typically take a player for the second team with a more development role. Some people think these teams are a waste of money "money grab" as they seldom result in recruitment to a top college program but these teams can and do develop a player for HS. Many clubs also sponsor summer camps. If you are looking for a place to play, it is out there. Of course nothing replaces a wall to practice throwing and catching skills. A player can start later but must master basic stick skills in the back yard. The great think about this sport is that a player can make themselves better and practicing is fun.

If OP can't afford private coaching, then club teams (especially MadLax!) are right off the table.

The OP mentioned sleep away camps not private coaching. RIF! I would contact club owners as they will often offer a free tuition to those in financial need.

[Anonymous]

Wall ball, wall ball, wall ball, footwork and weightlifting. More wall ball.

[Anonymous]

PP - should have put down sprints too. Do those 4 things with an emphasis on wall ball and there will be significant progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are in a similar situation and we live in DC. Our son is starting high school in the fall. I was eagerly following the thread but it doesn’t look like anyone has any real solutions to the problem.

OP: Yes, disappointed in tone of responses.

It's not the "tone" of the responses, it's the information content that OP persists in rejecting. The solutions given were real solutions for all that OP doesn't like them. Sorry, OP, but there is no cheap and easy way for your kid to get good.

OP: No it is the tone of original responses "Don't play for wheaton" is not a real solution.
I appreciate the people who did give responses. Son has been going to gym for lifting and will be adding some sprint work.

[Anonymous]

I would actually stay away from b teams. My son played them and they were not helpful. We spent so much time and money going to dumb tournaments only to play teams who we never matched up correctly against. He would develop terrible habits and not really learn anything. Check out bethesda Lacrosse or Howard county rec leagues. They often have clinics that aren’t too expensive. Same with high schools. Google “xx high school lacrosse camp 2019” and see what is out there. My hunch is good counsel or prep would have something that isn’t too expensive. Also look at USA lacrosse. They are putting emphasis on growing the game and may have clinics with scholarships. Same with the tewaaraton foundation.

What I have seen at my son’s high school is the team will take a kid who is a good athlete. And I almost feel like my son is penalized for having been on a b team — like the coach is aware he wasn’t good enough to play on the a team. I wish I had said no to club lacrosse and found him speed and agility training regimens just general sports stuff. I really believe any sport could help too. We would have all enjoyed our weekends more.

Also google stick tricks and watch you tube videos. Basic stand still catching/wall ball is not enough — he needs to be in the park yard working ground balls, trying crazy shots etc.

Also, the good kids treat their stick like an appendage and carry it everywhere. Also, if money is tight, put priority on investing in a decent stick if you can.

[Anonymous]

How old is your kid?

I don’t know about winners but I thought this was the low cost club that was trying to provide an equal lax playing field in cities and underserved communities:

https://www.winnerslacrosse.org/summer

Not sure if you are in DC/have the correct age kid etc but maybe try to reach out to them to see if they have any resources for high schoolers.

[Anonymous]

Look into PLL academy training sessions. Reasonably priced. Also, I know the DIII kids at Marymount, and likely also at Catholic, are happy to give private lessons. Typically $50-60 dollars an hour. Also look into private training options with coach up. Some are reasonably priced. As others have pointed out, however, the young man will need to be self-motivated to run, do wall ball and practice ground balls on his own, as well as watch lacrosse games and instructional video on YouTube. Try also getting him a swaxlax ball, which he can use inside the house to practice cradling. They weigh the same as a regular ball but don’t bounce.