Feedback on Next Level Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It also depends on what you mean by "best option." The focus of club lacrosse should not be on winning tournaments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It also depends on what you mean by "best option." The focus of club lacrosse should not be on winning tournaments.

This post was in response to HS teams and 2023 and 2024. Maybe they are the third best team? Who are the teams above them at these grades? As far as what one should expect to get out of club lacrosse is different for every kid and not a team discussion.

[Anonymous]

For the 2023s - the #1 team is DC Dogs and #2 team is DCE. Not sure NL is #3 - maybe in the close in DMV, but likely not if you include Baltimore or other MD teams.

[Anonymous]

VLC would be the number 3 in DMV

[Anonymous]

My six year old done one of the NL beginner clinic at WES last month.

It is a good facility and the coach was great if a bit of a character. He certainly values discipline and hard work. He had the boys doing loads of sprints across the field wearing helmets in like 90F and crazy humidity.

[Anonymous]

What is the Next Level Cadets team on their website? It has a roster but no coaches. Did they buy a team like DC Dogs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the Next Level Cadets team on their website? It has a roster but no coaches. Did they buy a team like DC Dogs?

It looks like part of the St. John's roster. Maybe for showcase tournaments while SJC athletics are off due to COVID?

[Anonymous]

Are other WCAC teams doing this too?

[Anonymous]

My son plays for Next Level and it's a terrific program.

The Mitchell brothers, who own it, are excellent coaches, positive role models, and kind people. They’ve put together a talented staff of professional coaches at every age group and I think that is the key to their success.

Practices are always positive, competitive, and up tempo. The kids learn a lot, but they also have a lot of fun. And in addition to the 3 main coaches for each Next Level team, positional coaches regularly attend practices to work with goalies, FOGOS, defense, etc.

There are lots of high-achieving clubs in this area. I have friends whose kids play for MadLax and BLC and they are extremely happy there.

Yes, there are some philosophical/cultural differences between each club.

MadLax seems to be the most intense. BLC is dad-coached and relies on high-quality volunteers (that model shifts when kids are old enough for DC Express).

Next Level really focuses on player development and technique. They emphasize hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, and doing things the right way (no shortcuts) and the coaches lead by example. Even when they are getting on a kid’s case to correct something, they do it in a positive manner. It’s really impressive.

Next Level did recently move out of their indoor facility on River Road and currently all their practices are outdoors at either The Heights or Washington Episcopal School. But when indoor lacrosse can resume, they will have a new indoor space for the kids to use.

There is no one ‘best’ club because teams vary so much year to year.

But without a doubt, Next Level is ascending. A lot of players recently left MadLax and BLC to come to Next Level this year, but not many players are voluntarily leaving Next Level (there are only so many roster spots, so inevitably some kids get cut and find a new home).

If you are new to the area, the best way to get a feel for each club is to have your kid try out and go observe what a practice is like, what the coaches are like, what the parents are like.

Again, there is no one ‘right’ program. Just go with the club that feels right to you and works for your schedule.

[Anonymous]

Next Level's rosters, at least for some of the younger boys teams, look much bigger than in previous years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son plays for Next Level and it's a terrific program.

The Mitchell brothers, who own it, are excellent coaches, positive role models, and kind people. They’ve put together a talented staff of professional coaches at every age group and I think that is the key to their success.

Practices are always positive, competitive, and up tempo. The kids learn a lot, but they also have a lot of fun. And in addition to the 3 main coaches for each Next Level team, positional coaches regularly attend practices to work with goalies, FOGOS, defense, etc.

There are lots of high-achieving clubs in this area. I have friends whose kids play for MadLax and BLC and they are extremely happy there.

Yes, there are some philosophical/cultural differences between each club.

MadLax seems to be the most intense. BLC is dad-coached and relies on high-quality volunteers (that model shifts when kids are old enough for DC Express).

Next Level really focuses on player development and technique. They emphasize hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, and doing things the right way (no shortcuts) and the coaches lead by example. Even when they are getting on a kid’s case to correct something, they do it in a positive manner. It’s really impressive.

Next Level did recently move out of their indoor facility on River Road and currently all their practices are outdoors at either The Heights or Washington Episcopal School. But when indoor lacrosse can resume, they will have a new indoor space for the kids to use.

There is no one ‘best’ club because teams vary so much year to year.

But without a doubt, Next Level is ascending. A lot of players recently left MadLax and BLC to come to Next Level this year, but not many players are voluntarily leaving Next Level (there are only so many roster spots, so inevitably some kids get cut and find a new home).

If you are new to the area, the best way to get a feel for each club is to have your kid try out and go observe what a practice is like, what the coaches are like, what the parents are like.

Again, there is no one ‘right’ program. Just go with the club that feels right to you and works for your schedule.

Hi Dave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son plays for Next Level and it's a terrific program.

The Mitchell brothers, who own it, are excellent coaches, positive role models, and kind people. They’ve put together a talented staff of professional coaches at every age group and I think that is the key to their success.

Practices are always positive, competitive, and up tempo. The kids learn a lot, but they also have a lot of fun. And in addition to the 3 main coaches for each Next Level team, positional coaches regularly attend practices to work with goalies, FOGOS, defense, etc.

There are lots of high-achieving clubs in this area. I have friends whose kids play for MadLax and BLC and they are extremely happy there.

Yes, there are some philosophical/cultural differences between each club.

MadLax seems to be the most intense. BLC is dad-coached and relies on high-quality volunteers (that model shifts when kids are old enough for DC Express).

Next Level really focuses on player development and technique. They emphasize hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, and doing things the right way (no shortcuts) and the coaches lead by example. Even when they are getting on a kid’s case to correct something, they do it in a positive manner. It’s really impressive.

Next Level did recently move out of their indoor facility on River Road and currently all their practices are outdoors at either The Heights or Washington Episcopal School. But when indoor lacrosse can resume, they will have a new indoor space for the kids to use.

There is no one ‘best’ club because teams vary so much year to year.

But without a doubt, Next Level is ascending. A lot of players recently left MadLax and BLC to come to Next Level this year, but not many players are voluntarily leaving Next Level (there are only so many roster spots, so inevitably some kids get cut and find a new home).

If you are new to the area, the best way to get a feel for each club is to have your kid try out and go observe what a practice is like, what the coaches are like, what the parents are like.

Again, there is no one ‘right’ program. Just go with the club that feels right to you and works for your schedule.

Well hello Next Level PR aka Mitchell brothers. Welcome to the discussion, thanks for the info on your club. Of course it sounds so amazing and better than the rest. The reality is not so sweet. Lots of young coaches and coaches who don't show up for practice or games. Lots of underhanded behavior at tryouts, stealing kids from other clubs by offering them discounts and special treatment. Increased team size is a reality and means some kids pay and don't see the field while other kids get discarded from A down to B teams. And they are not "ascending" as their A teams for the next few years are just not as good as the other local teams. Sorry, but that's the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Next Level's rosters, at least for some of the younger boys teams, look much bigger than in previous years.

Much bigger. Not enough quality or even total players came to tryouts to have B teams so they pumped up the roster sizes. Their rosters are now the same size of teams like ml and crabs at the younger ages.

[Anonymous]

Yuck. I had heard that NextLevel was better than other clubs in terms of roster size, but obviously they are a business too. The ideal number from the kids
‘perspective is 17-18, but few travel teams are that small. I heard the NextLevel 2027 team was only 17 a year or two ago but it has probably grown. 19 is fine, but 20 starts to get crowded, assuming consistent attendance by everybody. Anything over 20 or 21 becomes a money grab. Buyer beware.

[Anonymous]

You think 19 is a good number... Let's take a look at the "#1" club in the DMV! For 2027 ML has 27 on their "Capital" team. You want to talk about a money grab. Wonder why there isn't a blog titled Feedback on Madlax? That is the worst club out there!