2024 B team?

[Anonymous]

Our son will be so disappointed. People make it sound easy to make B teams, but it looked like a big crowd at the tryouts so there must have been a lot of cuts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information. That is helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son will be so disappointed. People make it sound easy to make B teams, but it looked like a big crowd at the tryouts so there must have been a lot of cuts.

Stay positive. Many kids go to multiple tryouts and may go to other teams

[Anonymous]

Anyone have a good contact for emailing DC Express about tryouts? I see the main information email on the website, but don’t see any team specific contacts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have a good contact for emailing DC Express about tryouts? I see the main information email on the website, but don’t see any team specific contacts.

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son will be so disappointed. People make it sound easy to make B teams, but it looked like a big crowd at the tryouts so there must have been a lot of cuts.

Stay positive. Many kids go to multiple tryouts and may go to other teams

Agree you need to stay positive. Go to the HoCo lacrosse league page and do the research on teams/clubs, what divisions they play in, etc. It should give you a solid lay of the land, where there may be opportunity for a new player to travel (teams at the bottom of their division, teams in lower divisions). For 2024 last year their were something like 42 teams across 5 divisions (B - Elite). As this group is heading into the year before high school it is very competitive. In addition with a trend in holdbacks size and athleticism make a difference in getting a look and making a team, especially if your son is on age as he may be competing against kids a year older.

Many seem to think that B teams are simply money grabs, I do not believe this is true and for top clubs it is competitive to make a B team simply based on the # of spots and # of kids at tryouts. I think B teams are a great option for many kids who want to play at a level above rec and have a goal of making a top team. To get better you need to be playing and getting coached. The top team at this age group last season played approximately 50 games, conservatively assume 1.5 practices for each game and these kids are playing/practicing 125 times over a season. If you do not make a B team or the options to play are not worth it (distance, etc.) then do the clinic circuit if this is something your son really wants to pursue. In addition reach out to the clubs, from our experience most are more than happy to talk. Remember this is a travel level sport, it takes work to get into.

Best of luck to your son, hope he fins a good opportunity and remember at the end of the day it is just a youth sport, enjoy the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son will be so disappointed. People make it sound easy to make B teams, but it looked like a big crowd at the tryouts so there must have been a lot of cuts.

Stay positive. Many kids go to multiple tryouts and may go to other teams

Agree you need to stay positive. Go to the HoCo lacrosse league page and do the research on teams/clubs, what divisions they play in, etc. It should give you a solid lay of the land, where there may be opportunity for a new player to travel (teams at the bottom of their division, teams in lower divisions). For 2024 last year their were something like 42 teams across 5 divisions (B - Elite). As this group is heading into the year before high school it is very competitive. In addition with a trend in holdbacks size and athleticism make a difference in getting a look and making a team, especially if your son is on age as he may be competing against kids a year older.

Many seem to think that B teams are simply money grabs, I do not believe this is true and for top clubs it is competitive to make a B team simply based on the # of spots and # of kids at tryouts. I think B teams are a great option for many kids who want to play at a level above rec and have a goal of making a top team. To get better you need to be playing and getting coached. The top team at this age group last season played approximately 50 games, conservatively assume 1.5 practices for each game and these kids are playing/practicing 125 times over a season. If you do not make a B team or the options to play are not worth it (distance, etc.) then do the clinic circuit if this is something your son really wants to pursue. In addition reach out to the clubs, from our experience most are more than happy to talk. Remember this is a travel level sport, it takes work to get into.

Best of luck to your son, hope he fins a good opportunity and remember at the end of the day it is just a youth sport, enjoy the time.

And one last thing, if your son did not make a team reach back out to the club to see why and what he needs to work on, once again most clubs we have experience with are happy to provide this.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, very good advice.

[Anonymous]

Just my opinion but I think it is better to be on the top team of a club in the A or B (lower two divisions) than the second B team of a top tier team. Check out MD Wilde, Cannons, MDX, 3d is also forming teams in VA and MD

[Anonymous]

[e-mail] email address listed above is not going through, anyone have an different email address to contact them about tryouts? Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just my opinion but I think it is better to be on the top team of a club in the A or B (lower two divisions) than the second B team of a top tier team. Check out MD Wilde, Cannons, MDX, 3d is also forming teams in VA and MD

Completely agree with this, always work to play on the top team for any club at the highest level you are capable of. As you head into high school this may change a bit as it matters more what tournaments the teams are going to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[e-mail] email address listed above is not going through, anyone have an different email address to contact them about tryouts? Thanks

sorry, had to type in from my phone, this is what I have from a past email- [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Lots of great options out there as other posters have mentioned.

I will add that BLC (Bethesda) is a great option if you live in DC...they also have a large rec league for those that might want to work on figuring out "club" for another year (and save a ton of cash)

I think Evergreen and some of the other clubs mentioned are way far away for a DC resident.

But I might also throw into consideration VEL (they are basically a great falls club) and VLC (great tenured club that I believe is opening up to younger and younger boys now)

MadLax, NextLevl. Top Caliber all more local as well! Good luck! I am sure you will find a great spot for your son and he will comntinue to love this great game!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of great options out there as other posters have mentioned.

I will add that BLC (Bethesda) is a great option if you live in DC...they also have a large rec league for those that might want to work on figuring out "club" for another year (and save a ton of cash)

I think Evergreen and some of the other clubs mentioned are way far away for a DC resident.

But I might also throw into consideration VEL (they are basically a great falls club) and VLC (great tenured club that I believe is opening up to younger and younger boys now)

MadLax, NextLevl. Top Caliber all more local as well! Good luck! I am sure you will find a great spot for your son and he will comntinue to love this great game!

Good suggestions and refreshing to see people on here offering helpful advice. I will add though that BLC typically does not offer club in 8th grade and up as those players go to DC Express which has both A&B teams. As the BLC A team at 2024 is a strong team it may be tough to make the DCE A team but the B team may have open space.

[Anonymous]

good point! what age or grade is your son?