lax culture from an insider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As someone who never played group sports I don't get this. I can see it developing leadership skills if you're the captain, but how does it develop leadership skills for the average player?

Anecdotal but...

My son was an average player and eventually 5 kids left our team for travel teams. It was going to a rebuilding year and we were going to lose, a lot. My son had been playing 3 years and the coach was the same so he knew the plays and on the field he would be instructing the kids to cut, slide, etc. really out of desperation more than anything. But the new kids looked up to him and eventually he was the go to kid that the other kids trusted and they would pass to him, where in the past the pass went to the "best kids" and he eventually became the "best kid". That is why club level is important. It gives the "average kid" the opportunity to be a leader at his level. He also loves it so much he volunteers with the little kids levels, scooping and catching. That has helped him be a "leader" and it teaches him patient, etc.

Also, I think it has taught my son how to lose gracefully. It took years to learn that but when 5 players leave your team it takes time to play like a team. It is something he has come to understand and can take a lose in stride.

I think the best position to learn leadership skills is the goalie position. If you are a good goalie everybody listens to you. You have to read the defense, tell players where to go and when to slide, etc. you also are fearless. Have you ever been hit with a lacrosse ball?

Nice post. Good for your son.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it a good thing to have a lot of kids interested in the sport?

Yes, but the coaching needs to keep up, or it's just a whole lot less fun to watch.

Just an ugly mess, with the ball on the ground much of the time and kids bunched around it raking. LAX can be a beautiful thing if it's played with skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Avoid Next Level. They will take your money (lots of it) and in return you will get an incredibly disorganized organization, inexperienced coaches who come and go without warning, bloated rosters of well over 20 kids per team (which means a lot of competition for playing time because of course there are only 10 players on the field at a time), "tryouts" where mediocre players don't get cut because their dad knows someone, and nonexistent communication from the coaches.

This previous posting may at least explain what's going on at Next Level. But still, I do agree that the talent field in general seems lacking (perhaps it's more diluted due to the expansion of the sport)?

I disagree with the first post on Next Level. Our kids have had good experinces with their teams and some excellent caochiong. Yes, the teams are slightly large (22-25, when should really be under 20) but, a lot of the kids play other sports too so you need enough players for days when some cant play. It is expensive but you dont deal with the crap you get in organizations like Club Blue and Bethesda where the dads are the coaches and have natural biases. Nnext Level isnt perfect and this season has indeed been rough in the NYPLL for the boys teams. My daughetr's team, on the other hand, is undefeated. I think having winning seasons AND loosing seasons is good for kids. My son's team won everything last year. This year they are rebuisling a bit and are on the young side. Nothing wrong with that.

I think the dad coaching model may be preferable in some ways. With Bethesda, for example, you don't have a profit incentive, so you would never see a youth travel roster with 25 kids on it. That's just ridiculous. And what sort of a serious travel team has players who don't show up for a spring season league game? Also, in my experience, the dad coaches really care about the teams, and have a real incentive to help the kids succeed and have fun. Maybe not so much with a "professional" coach who gets paid either way?

[Anonymous]

Our experience with Dad coaches has not been great. Many have very little experience with coaching. Many are coaching so their kids have a team and get playing time since many of the kids seem not be such good players. Have no problem with extra players. Kids get sick or injured, special events come up a kid can't miss so having extra players always ensures a full team for the field.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Avoid Next Level. They will take your money (lots of it) and in return you will get an incredibly disorganized organization, inexperienced coaches who come and go without warning, bloated rosters of well over 20 kids per team (which means a lot of competition for playing time because of course there are only 10 players on the field at a time), "tryouts" where mediocre players don't get cut because their dad knows someone, and nonexistent communication from the coaches.

This previous posting may at least explain what's going on at Next Level. But still, I do agree that the talent field in general seems lacking (perhaps it's more diluted due to the expansion of the sport)?

I disagree with the first post on Next Level. Our kids have had good experinces with their teams and some excellent caochiong. Yes, the teams are slightly large (22-25, when should really be under 20) but, a lot of the kids play other sports too so you need enough players for days when some cant play. It is expensive but you dont deal with the crap you get in organizations like Club Blue and Bethesda where the dads are the coaches and have natural biases. Nnext Level isnt perfect and this season has indeed been rough in the NYPLL for the boys teams. My daughetr's team, on the other hand, is undefeated. I think having winning seasons AND loosing seasons is good for kids. My son's team won everything last year. This year they are rebuisling a bit and are on the young side. Nothing wrong with that.

I think the dad coaching model may be preferable in some ways. With Bethesda, for example, you don't have a profit incentive, so you would never see a youth travel roster with 25 kids on it. That's just ridiculous. And what sort of a serious travel team has players who don't show up for a spring season league game? Also, in my experience, the dad coaches really care about the teams, and have a real incentive to help the kids succeed and have fun. Maybe not so much with a "professional" coach who gets paid either way?

Completely disagree. Bethesda, to use your example, is well known for having biased dad coaches who's incentive (as you call it) is to promote their own child. This has gone on for years. In addition, many of these dads display a level of unsportsmanlike conduct that has no place in the sport. I suspect that the person here who's been bashing Next Level is indeed a Bethesda dad or booster. They are widely known around town as a crass bunch that self-promote and tear down the other organizations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our experience with Dad coaches has not been great. Many have very little experience with coaching. Many are coaching so their kids have a team and get playing time since many of the kids seem not be such good players. Have no problem with extra players. Kids get sick or injured, special events come up a kid can't miss so having extra players always ensures a full team for the field.

You seem to be coming from a rec perspective, because Bethesda (and Club Blue for that matter) travel coaches are uniformly experienced players/coaches. For sure with rec ball the dads are not as experienced; I can see your point on that score. I also agree that more players with a rec team will miss games, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Avoid Next Level. They will take your money (lots of it) and in return you will get an incredibly disorganized organization, inexperienced coaches who come and go without warning, bloated rosters of well over 20 kids per team (which means a lot of competition for playing time because of course there are only 10 players on the field at a time), "tryouts" where mediocre players don't get cut because their dad knows someone, and nonexistent communication from the coaches.

This previous posting may at least explain what's going on at Next Level. But still, I do agree that the talent field in general seems lacking (perhaps it's more diluted due to the expansion of the sport)?

I disagree with the first post on Next Level. Our kids have had good experinces with their teams and some excellent caochiong. Yes, the teams are slightly large (22-25, when should really be under 20) but, a lot of the kids play other sports too so you need enough players for days when some cant play. It is expensive but you dont deal with the crap you get in organizations like Club Blue and Bethesda where the dads are the coaches and have natural biases. Nnext Level isnt perfect and this season has indeed been rough in the NYPLL for the boys teams. My daughetr's team, on the other hand, is undefeated. I think having winning seasons AND loosing seasons is good for kids. My son's team won everything last year. This year they are rebuisling a bit and are on the young side. Nothing wrong with that.

I think the dad coaching model may be preferable in some ways. With Bethesda, for example, you don't have a profit incentive, so you would never see a youth travel roster with 25 kids on it. That's just ridiculous. And what sort of a serious travel team has players who don't show up for a spring season league game? Also, in my experience, the dad coaches really care about the teams, and have a real incentive to help the kids succeed and have fun. Maybe not so much with a "professional" coach who gets paid either way?

Completely disagree. Bethesda, to use your example, is well known for having biased dad coaches who's incentive (as you call it) is to promote their own child. This has gone on for years. In addition, many of these dads display a level of unsportsmanlike conduct that has no place in the sport. I suspect that the person here who's been bashing Next Level is indeed a Bethesda dad or booster. They are widely known around town as a crass bunch that self-promote and tear down the other organizations.

Wow, guess I touched a nerve there. By the way, I am not in any way associated with Bethesda Lacrosse. My kids have been on other teams that have played Bethesda travel teams over the years, and I am simply noting my observations. I do think the profit incentive can be a problem, and 25 players on a youth travel roster pretty much speaks for itself.

[Anonymous]

Well the dads who coach the Bethesda travel teams, and the dad who coaches the Club Blue U13A are absolutely very biased toward their own sons and sons of friends (many of these dads play in adult lax leagues together). A boy who's dad is not a lax coach or player will NOT get the same amount of playing time or quality of instruction as they would if they played on a team with a professional coach. It is very, very political and if you don't get that then you are probably part of that lax dad crowd.

I have found the professional "hired" coaches are much less biased toward individual players, more focused on whole team building and skill development for all team members.

As for commitment levels on travel teams, the boys who play travel hockey (especially fortune top teams like Team MD ) DO miss even lax Spring games. The two sports are complimentary skill wise though so many teams put up with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Avoid Next Level. They will take your money (lots of it) and in return you will get an incredibly disorganized organization, inexperienced coaches who come and go without warning, bloated rosters of well over 20 kids per team (which means a lot of competition for playing time because of course there are only 10 players on the field at a time), "tryouts" where mediocre players don't get cut because their dad knows someone, and nonexistent communication from the coaches.

This previous posting may at least explain what's going on at Next Level. But still, I do agree that the talent field in general seems lacking (perhaps it's more diluted due to the expansion of the sport)?

I disagree with the first post on Next Level. Our kids have had good experinces with their teams and some excellent caochiong. Yes, the teams are slightly large (22-25, when should really be under 20) but, a lot of the kids play other sports too so you need enough players for days when some cant play. It is expensive but you dont deal with the crap you get in organizations like Club Blue and Bethesda where the dads are the coaches and have natural biases. Nnext Level isnt perfect and this season has indeed been rough in the NYPLL for the boys teams. My daughetr's team, on the other hand, is undefeated. I think having winning seasons AND loosing seasons is good for kids. My son's team won everything last year. This year they are rebuisling a bit and are on the young side. Nothing wrong with that.

I think the dad coaching model may be preferable in some ways. With Bethesda, for example, you don't have a profit incentive, so you would never see a youth travel roster with 25 kids on it. That's just ridiculous. And what sort of a serious travel team has players who don't show up for a spring season league game? Also, in my experience, the dad coaches really care about the teams, and have a real incentive to help the kids succeed and have fun. Maybe not so much with a "professional" coach who gets paid either way?

Completely disagree. Bethesda, to use your example, is well known for having biased dad coaches who's incentive (as you call it) is to promote their own child. This has gone on for years. In addition, many of these dads display a level of unsportsmanlike conduct that has no place in the sport. I suspect that the person here who's been bashing Next Level is indeed a Bethesda dad or booster. They are widely known around town as a crass bunch that self-promote and tear down the other organizations.

Wow, guess I touched a nerve there. By the way, I am not in any way associated with Bethesda Lacrosse. My kids have been on other teams that have played Bethesda travel teams over the years, and I am simply noting my observations. I do think the profit incentive can be a problem, and 25 players on a youth travel roster pretty much speaks for itself.

No, not a nerve, just disagree with you. Seems that there is a lot of bashing on this thread. Not good for the sport and no reason for that. My boys played for Madlax so yes, we paid. Had no problem with it b/c it worked for us. Have friends with boys on NL teams and they are happy and it works for them. After you've been around the scene for a while, you learn the good, bad and ugly; some clubs are notorious for downtalking and badmouthing. I'm not sure why anyone not on a particular team would care about the cost or number of players on the roster.

[Anonymous]

So who are the team area club teams 9u 11u 13u

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So who are the team area club teams 9u 11u 13u

It is actually U9-A and AA, U11-A and AA, and so on. The answer to your question (names of local elite/travel teams) has Ben answered several times. Just scroll back in the thread.

[Anonymous]

We may be outliers, but lacrosse has been a great sport for our son. He loves it and, no, he isn't on an always-winning team. He has learned so much about athletics but also about sportsmanship and commitment by participating. I don't think that any sport at this age, whether it is 9, 11, or 13 should be just about talent and elite play. Yes, there can be a place for that, but I think it is great that there are many opportunities to play the game. I think it is just about finding the right fit, wherever that is, so that your child can play and enjoy the sport.

[Anonymous]

PP you have not seen the elite 9aa 11aa 13aa teams play

[Anonymous]

Let us not forget, girls play lacrosse too, and while a very different game in many ways, it can be better at the younger level because it requires more passing and does not allow raking, body checking, etc...

My daughter plays (as does her older brother) and it is great to watch these young girls with beautiful stick skills play the game. Going from one of his travel club games, to one of her travel club games, is often like a breathe of fresh air. You can really see the beauty of the passing game much more than in the younger boys games because the girls' game has tighter rules.

The younger girls have only recently been served by travel/elite/club teams but there are lots and lots of girls trying out and taking clinics and wanting to learn the game. It is funny too how you can tell which girls have older grothers who they learned from, as they start out rougher and more physical.

Personally, I love lacrosse. I love wtadching my young kids play, I love the high school and college games, I think its a great sport that tales quite a bit of skill. I was a soccer and basketball player and never had the opportunity to play lax as it wasnt around where I grew up but, my family is orginally from the NE and my parents and uncles and aunts and grandparenst played and loved it.

[Anonymous]

Bad year for Club Blue start the season 0-3 and than pull you team out of the AA division. I guess it all about winning with CB than trying to get better.