Boys 2028 mess - considerations and solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Getting back to the point of this thread. It seems that the state of the 28 class is:

1. The majors (ml NL & DCE) are overcrowded undercoached teams filled with unhappiness.

2. The minors (true tc & team va) are good for player development but not a way to get recruited (if that’s your thing)

3. The loss of the VLC 28 team means there is no mid-tier team for the “almost elite” (I love that phrase btw) to go to.

If I’m right about that why can’t a True or Black Wolf step up and fill the void at least for NOVA?

Because True can't find reliable and stable employees in the area given the high cost of living and doing business.
Black Wolf, TRW, VLC and all the other failed clubs like Cavs and Hammers operate too far away from the beltway due to the high cost of living and doing business.
Nova rec board needs to band together, get rid of their fiefdom attitudes and promote a travel level like BLC. They have access to fields and existing structure.

Totally agree that the NVYLL needs change (including single age divisions). But those changes won’t come in time (if ever) for the 28 29 or 30 class. What we need now is an alternative club for the 28s. I guess I’m forced to root for True

Personally I am rooting for VLC to announce a good coach to show they are serious about this age group. My son is on one of the three "good" teams and our family thinks it is a sh$t show, as do many others, and we are talking about players on the top half of the roster. I have heard the same from one of the other good teams too. I don't care that VLC royally screwed up their 2028 team a year or two ago, and I get that those families are never coming back. But if VLC took a mulligan and announced a marquee 2028 head coach, they would get a lot of good players pretty fast.

Absolutely agree. If true or VLC steps up we will take a good look at jumping.

-Dad of starter on big three

Why would a starter leave to go to a lesser club?

Three reasons:

1. Coaching at the majors is clearly lacking as as evidenced by HOCO performance.

2. Even for kids who are starting - the large numbers of players make the team and sidelines angry and uncomfortable. I am a dad of a starter and it’s no fun to stand next to a dad who hasn’t seen his son play a minute of time. Remember this is a major investment of time for both player and parent alike and it’s no fun to make conversation with a family that is clearly getting screwed.

3. No reasonable assurance of recruiting help - with a cast of thousands how likely is it that CM DM or who ever is coaching DCE is going to use his best efforts to get my son recuited? And before you say coaches don’t have anything to do with recruiting let me ask you a question- what am I paying for?

Just eating the popcorn and hear for the comments as I have a kid currently playing in college. Here are some answers to your question 3

1. If your age group is still playing in the HOCO league you don't need to worry about recruiting yet. The rosters and skill levels will completely change between now and HS. While many of the same kids will get recruited how they did in HOCO will not matter one bit. Your son will be seen a club tournaments playing v teams from TX and CA where the teams were formed months before the event and some of those teams are capable of beating a "Elite" team.
2. Your son is the one who gets himself recruited not the club or the coach. It is the play on the field that counts. If the play is at a high D1 level and most important the grades are there, they will be calling.
3. What are you paying for? Access to the tournament. There are only a few events that matter. NHSLS (if a good HS), Crabfeast, NLF, Naptown ect. This year the 2026 brackets will have dozens of high level coaches on the sidelines with clip boards. They also have film. they want to see if your son can complete with players they are also looking to recruit and the competition is recruiting. I know you may ask why can't my son just attend a prospect day and train on his own. Every coach will ask you to send your summer schedule and if you are not on a team playing these events it is a red flag. Look at classes of 2024 and 2025 all the top players play in the NLF events.

As far as worrying about the dad next to you and his "money spent." For many lax dads the cost of travel is less than the monthly bar tab at the club. If it is too expensive for any family do not do it. If you are judging the coaching at the club by HOCO performance then you will be really surprised when WCS shows up with 50 kids and a college kid coach who they met in the parking lot. Especially when 3/4 of those kids get recruited. Not to mention those families sometimes fly to practices. Good luck and do not over think it.

[Anonymous]

“Because True can't find reliable and stable employees in the area given the high cost of living and doing business. “


What are you referring to? Clearly you have zero experience with the program. It’s not perfect but they have all paid coaches who have been with the teams for multiple seasons. You could argue they are stretched thin during spring bc most if not all coach at area high schools as well. I don’t think you’d be disappointed to move to the program at the 28 level however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this true? Are we all suckers for paying for club?

Yep

Mom of Division 1 walk on.

National teams - not MadLax Nationals - are really where all of this is headed. The clubs are a scam. No other way to put it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this true? Are we all suckers for paying for club?

Yep

Mom of Division 1 walk on.

National teams - not MadLax Nationals - are really where all of this is headed. The clubs are a scam. No other way to put it.

The worst of the DC area clubs is DC Express. No recruiting support, and what little there is is skewed to Bullis and Prep. $5,000 per year so little Johnny can play lets pretend lax is just stupid but that's all DC Express does and their parent co-owner(s) are the worst. Full snow plow for their kids at the expense of the rest of the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

“Because True can't find reliable and stable employees in the area given the high cost of living and doing business. “


What are you referring to? Clearly you have zero experience with the program. It’s not perfect but they have all paid coaches who have been with the teams for multiple seasons. You could argue they are stretched thin during spring bc most if not all coach at area high schools as well. I don’t think you’d be disappointed to move to the program at the 28 level however.

It's you who sounds like a newcomer. True tried and had teams in DC, Moco and VA near the beltway. They were trying to throw clinics and build something. Unfortunately, due to high turnover and lack of real organization, all of that went away. They are no longer in the immediate dmv area. Because they aren't in the immediate dmv area, there are fewer choices and kids are stuck on 25-30 pp rosters at DCE, NL and ML. Just go to their website and look at what they used to offer. They've never taken down the teams but have disabled the links.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

“Because True can't find reliable and stable employees in the area given the high cost of living and doing business. “


What are you referring to? Clearly you have zero experience with the program. It’s not perfect but they have all paid coaches who have been with the teams for multiple seasons. You could argue they are stretched thin during spring bc most if not all coach at area high schools as well. I don’t think you’d be disappointed to move to the program at the 28 level however.

It's you who sounds like a newcomer. True tried and had teams in DC, Moco and VA near the beltway. They were trying to throw clinics and build something. Unfortunately, due to high turnover and lack of real organization, all of that went away. They are no longer in the immediate dmv area. Because they aren't in the immediate dmv area, there are fewer choices and kids are stuck on 25-30 pp rosters at DCE, NL and ML. Just go to their website and look at what they used to offer. They've never taken down the teams but have disabled the links.

True NOVA practices in Falls Church and Arlington. How is that not in the "immediately dmv area," true dc collapsed but that was an outside the beltway team in MOCO. But otherwise your post is not correct.

I also don't see how it's True's responsibility to address DCE, ML and NL's bloated rosters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

“Because True can't find reliable and stable employees in the area given the high cost of living and doing business. “


What are you referring to? Clearly you have zero experience with the program. It’s not perfect but they have all paid coaches who have been with the teams for multiple seasons. You could argue they are stretched thin during spring bc most if not all coach at area high schools as well. I don’t think you’d be disappointed to move to the program at the 28 level however.

It's you who sounds like a newcomer. True tried and had teams in DC, Moco and VA near the beltway. They were trying to throw clinics and build something. Unfortunately, due to high turnover and lack of real organization, all of that went away. They are no longer in the immediate dmv area. Because they aren't in the immediate dmv area, there are fewer choices and kids are stuck on 25-30 pp rosters at DCE, NL and ML. Just go to their website and look at what they used to offer. They've never taken down the teams but have disabled the links.

True NOVA practices in Falls Church and Arlington. How is that not in the "immediately dmv area," true dc collapsed but that was an outside the beltway team in MOCO. But otherwise your post is not correct.

I also don't see how it's True's responsibility to address DCE, ML and NL's bloated rosters.

I think what’s going on here is PP is not familiar with the NOVA lacrosse scene. I bet he’s a MOCO resident.

For the group- True NOVA is a thriving B-level club that has a fully subscribed team at every age group and two teams at most levels. They have good coaching and great fields centrally located in Arlington and falls church.

The problem since they started 3 years ago is that the Majors have locked up almost all of the elite talent and competitive parents have shied away from taking their kid to True.

With the loss of VLC at 28 there is not enough room for all of the almost elites so a kid who would have been a Starter on VLC can’t get field time on ml, NL or DCE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this true? Are we all suckers for paying for club?

Yep

Mom of Division 1 walk on.

National teams - not MadLax Nationals - are really where all of this is headed. The clubs are a scam. No other way to put it.

The worst of the DC area clubs is DC Express. No recruiting support, and what little there is is skewed to Bullis and Prep. $5,000 per year so little Johnny can play lets pretend lax is just stupid but that's all DC Express does and their parent co-owner(s) are the worst. Full snow plow for their kids at the expense of the rest of the team.

I really hope this is wrong. It is just sad to hear people are thinking they will get assistance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

“Because True can't find reliable and stable employees in the area given the high cost of living and doing business. “


What are you referring to? Clearly you have zero experience with the program. It’s not perfect but they have all paid coaches who have been with the teams for multiple seasons. You could argue they are stretched thin during spring bc most if not all coach at area high schools as well. I don’t think you’d be disappointed to move to the program at the 28 level however.

It's you who sounds like a newcomer. True tried and had teams in DC, Moco and VA near the beltway. They were trying to throw clinics and build something. Unfortunately, due to high turnover and lack of real organization, all of that went away. They are no longer in the immediate dmv area. Because they aren't in the immediate dmv area, there are fewer choices and kids are stuck on 25-30 pp rosters at DCE, NL and ML. Just go to their website and look at what they used to offer. They've never taken down the teams but have disabled the links.

True NOVA practices in Falls Church and Arlington. How is that not in the "immediately dmv area," true dc collapsed but that was an outside the beltway team in MOCO. But otherwise your post is not correct.

I also don't see how it's True's responsibility to address DCE, ML and NL's bloated rosters.

It's not True's responsibility, but if they had better coaching, fields, organization and played in better tournaments and leagues then better players would want to play there. You can't complain about a lack of choices and not address the choice that exists.

[Anonymous]

I just looked up True VA. It looks like they practice in Midlothian (richmond suburb), Loudoun and Fredericksburg. Where does it say Arlington or Falls Church? Maybe True does practice there but how would anyone know this. This goes to the organization not being very good at managing what they are putting out there and it also goes to how they really aren't dmv based.

[Anonymous]

Yes - there’s an overall Virginia program which encompasses teams in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Loudon (a start up) AND NOVA. The NOVA team practices in Arlington and Falls Church aka the DMV area. Sorry that you’re new to the scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes - there’s an overall Virginia program which encompasses teams in Richmond, Fredericksburg, Loudon (a start up) AND NOVA. The NOVA team practices in Arlington and Falls Church aka the DMV area. Sorry that you’re new to the scene.

So snarky. The proof is in the results. If True, or any other program were anything but awful, they would have a better program in NOVA. I'm sorry your kid wasn't good enough to make ML.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just looked up True VA. It looks like they practice in Midlothian (richmond suburb), Loudoun and Fredericksburg. Where does it say Arlington or Falls Church? Maybe True does practice there but how would anyone know this. This goes to the organization not being very good at managing what they are putting out there and it also goes to how they really aren't dmv based.

You must do a poor job of reading comprehension. I found their website. Clicked on VA and found that those were summer team tryouts for those teams that just forming.. I aslo found the various directors of NOVAs team. I also found their emails.

As someone who has kids on a younger team on the NOVA team, i know they've had small individual tryouts and a couple of trams have added a kid or 2 to some teams. My suggestion is if you are interested you should reach out to the directors.

At worst, it sets you up to be ready for 2024-25 team tryouts in July.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just looked up True VA. It looks like they practice in Midlothian (richmond suburb), Loudoun and Fredericksburg. Where does it say Arlington or Falls Church? Maybe True does practice there but how would anyone know this. This goes to the organization not being very good at managing what they are putting out there and it also goes to how they really aren't dmv based.

You must do a poor job of reading comprehension. I found their website. Clicked on VA and found that those were summer team tryouts for those teams that just forming.. I aslo found the various directors of NOVAs team. I also found their emails.

As someone who has kids on a younger team on the NOVA team, i know they've had small individual tryouts and a couple of trams have added a kid or 2 to some teams. My suggestion is if you are interested you should reach out to the directors.

At worst, it sets you up to be ready for 2024-25 team tryouts in July.

Or he could remain sitting on the bench never getting any time regardless of what tournaments are played.

[Anonymous]

Most of the NOVA talent is in Loudoun son I suspect True Loudoun will emerge as a strong team at younger teams into HS ages.