Feedback on Next Level Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCE 2022 definitely need to be ranked higher. They beat the #2 ranked Hawks 17-13.

take it to a DCE thread, please.

[Anonymous]

Jealous, because no one wants to talk about NL?

[Anonymous]

Next Level: I know families that really like the program.

In fact, my son tried out for NL. They cut him. (Ironically, he tried out for NL because we weren't sure he would make DC Express.)

A week or three after NL cuts, he was recruited to play for DCE.

He has since played for DCE for the last couple of years. He gets a ton or playing time and is loved by the coaches at his position. He has gone on to play well against the NL teams--he likes competing against them given the history. As a parent, I love the DCE program. Take a look how DCE puts their bags down at tourneys--enough said. A big focus on lax of course, but also character and grades. (No slight on NL, I'm sure they do same.)

Maybe he had a bad tryout with NL. Maybe it was something else. All I can say is, he has done very well at DCE even after NL had zero interest in him. In fact, I would say it is less about NL, then about how crappy tryouts are and how badly they are run in general. For example, we all talk about how important GB's are. How much time do you see spent at tryouts on 50-50 GB's?

That said, I have a feeling the ability to spot talent plays a role in why DCE has done so well of late.

[Anonymous]

Agreed! And so much of it is political. So many parents get in coaches ears about how their kid or their friends kid is so amazing and should be on the team. Lots of coaches also get caught up in just seeing the flashy players and don't recognize the kids with very high lax IQ who are strong and very consistent position players. They also don't see the kids who are great teammates and support the team vs trying to take all the glory and make bad choices. Some coaches are good and notice these things, others get caught up in size and/or flash and end up missing the mark with recruiting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next Level: I know families that really like the program.

In fact, my son tried out for NL. They cut him. (Ironically, he tried out for NL because we weren't sure he would make DC Express.)

A week or three after NL cuts, he was recruited to play for DCE.

He has since played for DCE for the last couple of years. He gets a ton or playing time and is loved by the coaches at his position. He has gone on to play well against the NL teams--he likes competing against them given the history. As a parent, I love the DCE program. Take a look how DCE puts their bags down at tourneys--enough said. A big focus on lax of course, but also character and grades. (No slight on NL, I'm sure they do same.)

Maybe he had a bad tryout with NL. Maybe it was something else. All I can say is, he has done very well at DCE even after NL had zero interest in him. In fact, I would say it is less about NL, then about how crappy tryouts are and how badly they are run in general. For example, we all talk about how important GB's are. How much time do you see spent at tryouts on 50-50 GB's?

That said, I have a feeling the ability to spot talent plays a role in why DCE has done so well of late.

The bag thing...do you mean that literally or is that a figure of speech?

Good points overall. I'm assuming your guy wasn't on one of the NL or BLC pre-8th grade club teams? It's tough for a player coming in sight unseen to a tryout to stand out for the reasons you stated. A kid can have an average-to-poor two day tryout and if that's all the coaches/evaluators have to go on, they'll tend to favor a known quantity (i.e. a kid who's already on the team where they can evaluate ability over one or more seasons, or someone they know from camps/clinics) over the new guy. It sucks but that's how it goes. Nice to hear he had a good tryout with DCE and caught on with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed! And so much of it is political. So many parents get in coaches ears about how their kid or their friends kid is so amazing and should be on the team. Lots of coaches also get caught up in just seeing the flashy players and don't recognize the kids with very high lax IQ who are strong and very consistent position players. They also don't see the kids who are great teammates and support the team vs trying to take all the glory and make bad choices. Some coaches are good and notice these things, others get caught up in size and/or flash and end up missing the mark with recruiting.

+1 and don't forget the distant relative of an athlete or the child of a former lacrosse player.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next Level: I know families that really like the program.

In fact, my son tried out for NL. They cut him. (Ironically, he tried out for NL because we weren't sure he would make DC Express.)

A week or three after NL cuts, he was recruited to play for DCE.

He has since played for DCE for the last couple of years. He gets a ton or playing time and is loved by the coaches at his position. He has gone on to play well against the NL teams--he likes competing against them given the history. As a parent, I love the DCE program. Take a look how DCE puts their bags down at tourneys--enough said. A big focus on lax of course, but also character and grades. (No slight on NL, I'm sure they do same.)

Maybe he had a bad tryout with NL. Maybe it was something else. All I can say is, he has done very well at DCE even after NL had zero interest in him. In fact, I would say it is less about NL, then about how crappy tryouts are and how badly they are run in general. For example, we all talk about how important GB's are. How much time do you see spent at tryouts on 50-50 GB's?

That said, I have a feeling the ability to spot talent plays a role in why DCE has done so well of late.

Just curious: my kid also got cut from NL a few years ago then recruited by DCE, but it was the DCE B team? We said no thanks. Is your kid on the DCE B team? Otherwise, I find it hard to believe.

[Anonymous]

upcoming tryouts for boys teams

Here are the Tryout Dates and Times for each Graduation Year:

2031 – 2nd Grade
Thursday, August 6
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf

Thursday, August 13
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf
2030 – 3rd Grade
Thursday, August 6
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf

Thursday, August 13
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf
2029 – 4th Grade
Thursday, August 6
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf

Thursday, August 13
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf
2028 – 5th Grade
Tuesday, August 11
3:00 – 4:30pm
Heights Turf

Tuesday, August 18
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf
2027 – 6th Grade
Monday, August 10
7:15 – 8:30pm
WES Turf

Monday, August 17
7:15 – 8:30pm
WES Turf
2026 – 7th Grade
Monday, August 10
6:00 – 7:15pm
WES Turf

Monday, August 17
6:00 – 7:15pm
WES Turf
2025 – 8th Grade
Tuesday, August 11
4:00 – 5:30pm
Heights Turf

Tuesday, August 18
5:30 – 7:00pm
Heights Turf
2024 – 9th Grade
Tuesday, August 11
5:30 – 7:00pm
Heights Turf

Thursday, August 13
5:30 – 7:00pm
Heights Turf
2023 – 10th Grade
Thursday, August 6
5:30 – 7:00pm
Heights Turf

Tuesday, August 11
7:00 – 8:30pm
Heights Turf
2022 – 11th Grade
Thursday, August 6
7:00 – 8:30pm
Heights Turf

Thursday, August 13
7:00 – 8:30pm
Heights Turf
2021 – 12th Grade
Thursday, August 6
7:00 – 8:30pm
Heights Turf

Thursday, August 13
7:00 – 8:30pm
Heights Turf

[Anonymous]

https://nextlevelspartans.com/team/boys-travel-team-tryouts-2020-21-season/

[Anonymous]

any word on them losing their lease at their current facility? There was some talk about in this thread, I believe, a few months ago. Any updates?

[Anonymous]

They no longer have field indoor field space at that facility, but have field space at Washington Episcopal and Heights. There is talk of them adding lights to Washington Episcopal. Frankly, the indoor space was too tight anyways.

[Anonymous]

They had a great 2020 team. 2021 seems less than great. What's the prediction for the following years? i.e., is NL on an upward trajectory or was 2020 just a fluke?

[Anonymous]

2024 and 2023 teams are maybe third best option in the area

[Anonymous]

How where tryouts tonight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2024 and 2023 teams are maybe third best option in the area

This is probably a fair assessment. However, being third best in this area is still pretty high level lacrosse and will likely result in college recruitment for several team members.