Feedback on Next Level Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree on the practices and the amount of coaches. There always seem to be a ton of guys in or around the field with a stick in their hands.

Game day I agree.

Translation: NL has a problem where coaches don't show up for games.

Long time NL parent. 2 kids. This is not true at all. Always has been at least 2 at each game. Lots at practice too. Box, summer, spring, fall. Plenty of coaches. No dads. Just not an issue.

Also a longtime NL parent with 2 kids in the program. My first kid had no issues. My second definitely had issues with the coach missing games. Bigger problem is when the coach has 2 teams very close in age. For example, Boh coaches both the 2024 and 2025 teams. Since they are so close in age, they both play HOCO on same days and unless they attend same tournament in the summer, the coach MUST choose between the two teams. This is FACT - plain and simple. Each team should have 1 coach. As parents, we expect NL to fully invest in our kids - especially since they expect that from each player.

[Anonymous]

Just saw something from Inside Lacrosse for World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver. Didn't Next Level do really well last year with the 2023 team? Why is the 2024 team not going this year? I would have thought that with the success of last year, NL would definitely have gone this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just saw something from Inside Lacrosse for World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver. Didn't Next Level do really well last year with the 2023 team? Why is the 2024 team not going this year? I would have thought that with the success of last year, NL would definitely have gone this year.

Many parents on this team including myself are unhappy that we are not going to WSYL this summer. We were told from our coach that since we have too many kids that do not meet the age requirement, therefore we will not be attending this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just saw something from Inside Lacrosse for World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver. Didn't Next Level do really well last year with the 2023 team? Why is the 2024 team not going this year? I would have thought that with the success of last year, NL would definitely have gone this year.

Many parents on this team including myself are unhappy that we are not going to WSYL this summer. We were told from our coach that since we have too many kids that do not meet the age requirement, therefore we will not be attending this year.

+1 We are looking for a new team for our son next year.

[Anonymous]

Just to be clear, the 2024 Next Level Prince George's team has 22 players, 10 of whom either played for PGLC or rec lacrosse in Prince George's County. The implicit assumption that a B team is such because the majority of players come from Prince George's County programs is factually incorrect (less than 1/2 did so) and perhaps motivated by racial bias. Next Level did not use merging with PGLC as a way to poach the best players; most of the former PGLC players remain with Next Level Prince George's.

Prince George's County has not had the lacrosse opportunities that neighboring counties have; the infrastructure and available coaches are just not as plentiful. But that's been changing over the last 5-7 years with the re-establishment of rec lacrosse, introduction of lacrosse as a high school sport, and offering club lacrosse--first with PGLC and now with Next Level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just saw something from Inside Lacrosse for World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver. Didn't Next Level do really well last year with the 2023 team? Why is the 2024 team not going this year? I would have thought that with the success of last year, NL would definitely have gone this year.

Many parents on this team including myself are unhappy that we are not going to WSYL this summer. We were told from our coach that since we have too many kids that do not meet the age requirement, therefore we will not be attending this year.

+1 We are looking for a new team for our son next year.

There are no local teams going to WSYL this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just saw something from Inside Lacrosse for World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver. Didn't Next Level do really well last year with the 2023 team? Why is the 2024 team not going this year? I would have thought that with the success of last year, NL would definitely have gone this year.

Many parents on this team including myself are unhappy that we are not going to WSYL this summer. We were told from our coach that since we have too many kids that do not meet the age requirement, therefore we will not be attending this year.

+1 We are looking for a new team for our son next year.

There are no local teams going to WSYL this year.

Yes there are no local teams playing in WSYL. This is due to all the holdbacks on each and every team in this area. The problem for me and many parents on this team is that the coach used WSYL as a recruiting tool this past summer and kept preaching about it. I thought NL was different, but now I see that all they care about is making $$$. Many on the team considered jumping ship based on last years experience... but we STAYED because we were excited about WSYL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to be clear, the 2024 Next Level Prince George's team has 22 players, 10 of whom either played for PGLC or rec lacrosse in Prince George's County. The implicit assumption that a B team is such because the majority of players come from Prince George's County programs is factually incorrect (less than 1/2 did so) and perhaps motivated by racial bias. Next Level did not use merging with PGLC as a way to poach the best players; most of the former PGLC players remain with Next Level Prince George's.

Prince George's County has not had the lacrosse opportunities that neighboring counties have; the infrastructure and available coaches are just not as plentiful. But that's been changing over the last 5-7 years with the re-establishment of rec lacrosse, introduction of lacrosse as a high school sport, and offering club lacrosse--first with PGLC and now with Next Level.

Here are the facts! NL did in fact poach the best PG players. The best 3 players from PG last year is now on the A team. The existing 10 are glorified rec players. They have better stick skills than regular rec players, but if you watch them play, they are not disciplined and lack lacrosse IQ. Granted this is a B team, so that fine. But the big problem as noted from a previous post is that they don't have the coaching resources like the other teams. Isiah is a nice guy, but he is a terrible coach. He doesn't coach during games and because this team for some reason ONLY has 1 coach, they will not get better during practices. Where is the 2nd coach? Also, heard that Isiah may not coach during spring season. He definitely can't coach during summer since that's when the MLL has it's games. For all prospective players ... If the head coach is an active professional player - STAY away. They don't have the time or dedication to be the head coach, assistant maybe but not as the head coach.

As for PG infrastructure getting better -- I agree. HOWEVER, that is great for the next generation of players... This does NOT help your current son. You want to get better? Play PG rec and spend the money on clinics/camps instead of paying club lacrosse $$$. Your son will be a much better player and will be better prepared to play High School lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:J
Yes there are no local teams playing in WSYL. This is due to all the holdbacks on each and every team in this area. The problem for me and many parents on this team is that the coach used WSYL as a recruiting tool this past summer and kept preaching about it. I thought NL was different, but now I see that all they care about is making $$$. Many on the team considered jumping ship based on last years experience... but we STAYED because we were excited about WSYL.

Is your kid's birthday before 9/1, meaning he is older?
Did you ever ask how many kid's birthdays on the 2024 team were before 9/1?
Had you ever read the rules of eligibility for WSYL?

My suspicion is you are a child or parent from another club or you are even one of those NY donks who scream about holdbacks at every opportunity. If you are truly a NL parent, then you should have been asking these questions to Dave, Boh and Colin long before posting on an anonymous forum. It's not as if this is a new issue.

Are you going to start a new thread crushing other programs or add to the MadLax thread about why several of their players played for NL in last year's WSYL and then went back to MadLax even though they had a great experience with NL? Those parents told Next Level they were staying, lied to their face and then went back to MadLax to play with an entire team of holdbacks and double holdbacks. MadLax will have multiple 8th graders who will be 16 in this year's HoCo Spring League.

If your child is truly born after 9/1 and you are a truly a NL parent, I suggest you go to the owners of NL and get informed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to be clear, the 2024 Next Level Prince George's team has 22 players, 10 of whom either played for PGLC or rec lacrosse in Prince George's County. The implicit assumption that a B team is such because the majority of players come from Prince George's County programs is factually incorrect (less than 1/2 did so) and perhaps motivated by racial bias. Next Level did not use merging with PGLC as a way to poach the best players; most of the former PGLC players remain with Next Level Prince George's.

Prince George's County has not had the lacrosse opportunities that neighboring counties have; the infrastructure and available coaches are just not as plentiful. But that's been changing over the last 5-7 years with the re-establishment of rec lacrosse, introduction of lacrosse as a high school sport, and offering club lacrosse--first with PGLC and now with Next Level.

Here are the facts! NL did in fact poach the best PG players. The best 3 players from PG last year is now on the A team. The existing 10 are glorified rec players. They have better stick skills than regular rec players, but if you watch them play, they are not disciplined and lack lacrosse IQ. Granted this is a B team, so that fine. But the big problem as noted from a previous post is that they don't have the coaching resources like the other teams. Isiah is a nice guy, but he is a terrible coach. He doesn't coach during games and because this team for some reason ONLY has 1 coach, they will not get better during practices. Where is the 2nd coach? Also, heard that Isiah may not coach during spring season. He definitely can't coach during summer since that's when the MLL has it's games. For all prospective players ... If the head coach is an active professional player - STAY away. They don't have the time or dedication to be the head coach, assistant maybe but not as the head coach.

As for PG infrastructure getting better -- I agree. HOWEVER, that is great for the next generation of players... This does NOT help your current son. You want to get better? Play PG rec and spend the money on clinics/camps instead of paying club lacrosse $$$. Your son will be a much better player and will be better prepared to play High School lacrosse.

Umm, is it really poaching if they are the same organization? The teams don't divide the players by equal talent. They take the better players for one team and play in higher level tournaments and the B team plays at a different level.

Paid coaching resources is a different matter. Every club and rec organization is struggling with this right now. They'd all love to have ex D1 players with tons of afternoon and evening time on their hands to coach for about $2/hr but it's a tough sell. That's why daddy coaching works but comes with its own set of problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:J
Yes there are no local teams playing in WSYL. This is due to all the holdbacks on each and every team in this area. The problem for me and many parents on this team is that the coach used WSYL as a recruiting tool this past summer and kept preaching about it. I thought NL was different, but now I see that all they care about is making $$$. Many on the team considered jumping ship based on last years experience... but we STAYED because we were excited about WSYL.

Is your kid's birthday before 9/1, meaning he is older?
Did you ever ask how many kid's birthdays on the 2024 team were before 9/1?
Had you ever read the rules of eligibility for WSYL?

My suspicion is you are a child or parent from another club or you are even one of those NY donks who scream about holdbacks at every opportunity. If you are truly a NL parent, then you should have been asking these questions to Dave, Boh and Colin long before posting on an anonymous forum. It's not as if this is a new issue.

Are you going to start a new thread crushing other programs or add to the MadLax thread about why several of their players played for NL in last year's WSYL and then went back to MadLax even though they had a great experience with NL? Those parents told Next Level they were staying, lied to their face and then went back to MadLax to play with an entire team of holdbacks and double holdbacks. MadLax will have multiple 8th graders who will be 16 in this year's HoCo Spring League.

If your child is truly born after 9/1 and you are a truly a NL parent, I suggest you go to the owners of NL and get informed.

You must be proud of your 14 year old son playing against younger kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just saw something from Inside Lacrosse for World Series of Youth Lacrosse in Denver. Didn't Next Level do really well last year with the 2023 team? Why is the 2024 team not going this year? I would have thought that with the success of last year, NL would definitely have gone this year.

Many parents on this team including myself are unhappy that we are not going to WSYL this summer. We were told from our coach that since we have too many kids that do not meet the age requirement, therefore we will not be attending this year.

+1 We are looking for a new team for our son next year.

There are no local teams going to WSYL this year.

Yes there are no local teams playing in WSYL. This is due to all the holdbacks on each and every team in this area. The problem for me and many parents on this team is that the coach used WSYL as a recruiting tool this past summer and kept preaching about it. I thought NL was different, but now I see that all they care about is making $$$. Many on the team considered jumping ship based on last years experience... but we STAYED because we were excited about WSYL.

NP, same feelings. Extremely disappointed in the coaching staff and how the information was conveyed to the team. My son is also very disappointed with the team's tournament plans for the spring and summer. Eyes wide open now.

[Anonymous]

1. NL's 2024 would have been demolished at WSYL?

2. Why would you want to go to that event when there are better ones here on the East Coast?

3. NL took 1-3 of the top athletes from PGLC's 2023 and 2024 teams. It was never a true integration. Like all B teams, it's not a good experience. Bethesda parents are not going to drive to PG county for practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son's very good friend plays on NLPG 2024 Team. According to him, that team is a complete waste of time. IDA not IAD, is a really nice guy, but terrible as a coach. But I don't think you can completely blame him. He was the only coach for that team. The PG25 team has 3 coaches, but for some reason, this team only has 1 coach. Don't believe me... check out their website and you will see that he is the only coach listed - All other teams have either 2 or 3 coaches. They did have another guy help out (college kid)... but you never knew when he would show up. Since they practiced in both PG and Bethesda, the other guy would only show in Bethesda (if he showed at all). Also, heard that Isiah is not coaching the team in the winter and is not sure if he can coach in the spring/summer, since he will be too busy playing professional lacrosse. Stay away from the PG teams. Like all B teams, this is just a way to make money.

IDA is still head coach of the Next Level Prince George's 2024 team--he is NOT leaving. Next Level just hired an assistant coach as well for this team. The Next Level Prince George's 2025 team went 6-0-1 in the fall season. So I wouldn't say it's a terrible team, at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son's very good friend plays on NLPG 2024 Team. According to him, that team is a complete waste of time. IDA not IAD, is a really nice guy, but terrible as a coach. But I don't think you can completely blame him. He was the only coach for that team. The PG25 team has 3 coaches, but for some reason, this team only has 1 coach. Don't believe me... check out their website and you will see that he is the only coach listed - All other teams have either 2 or 3 coaches. They did have another guy help out (college kid)... but you never knew when he would show up. Since they practiced in both PG and Bethesda, the other guy would only show in Bethesda (if he showed at all). Also, heard that Isiah is not coaching the team in the winter and is not sure if he can coach in the spring/summer, since he will be too busy playing professional lacrosse. Stay away from the PG teams. Like all B teams, this is just a way to make money.

IDA is still head coach of the Next Level Prince George's 2024 team--he is NOT leaving. Next Level just hired an assistant coach as well for this team. The Next Level Prince George's 2025 team went 6-0-1 in the fall season. So I wouldn't say it's a terrible team, at all.

Read what the previous poster wrote: He wrote about the 2024PG Team NOT 2025PG Team. 25PG team had 3 coaches during the fall and did well. The 24PG only had Isiah and the experience was terrible. Good that NL hired an assistant to help Isiah, but as the poster wrote earlier, Isiah is too busy with his full time Bayhawks team to give 100% to this team.

Based on 24PG website, they are playing 2 tournaments during the summer:

1) 6/15 - NXT Blue Hen
2) 6/22 - Brine Summer Getaway

Go to thebayhawks.com and check out their schedule.

Saturday 6/15 @New York Lizards
Saturday 6/22 @Boston Cannons

So, guess what... Isiah will NOT be around to coach these kids during their tournaments. Also, the Bayhawks will be well into their season at that point with practices and games. Do you really think that Isiah will prioritize NL over his own career?

It would be better for the kids if Isiah decided NOT to come back and coach the team in the spring/summer.

Let's see how this plays out.. but I feel bad for the kids and parents on this team.