Stars Lacrosse Club

[Anonymous]

Please tell me about the Stars Lacrosse Club. I know it has expanded to include 3rd/4th graders and is somehow affiliated with Bethesda Girls program in the younger years. Many of the best older girls in the area we know move to Stars by 6th or 7th. Is there a benefit to moving over/trying out in the younger years? Can someone give me the inside scoop on Stars and when is the best time for a girl to try to join their program?

[Anonymous]

Great experience with Stars and DD playing back when it started in 6th grade. My advice would be to get in as early as possible so the move to Capital is as smooth as possible. Not saying other girls don’t make Capital, it’s just an easier transition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please tell me about the Stars Lacrosse Club. I know it has expanded to include 3rd/4th graders and is somehow affiliated with Bethesda Girls program in the younger years. Many of the best older girls in the area we know move to Stars by 6th or 7th. Is there a benefit to moving over/trying out in the younger years? Can someone give me the inside scoop on Stars and when is the best time for a girl to try to join their program?

I will preface my comments by 1) noting that this is our experience and others may have a different experience and, 2) not giving too much information about my DD other than she has played with Stars A team (blue) and B team (black).

Like every other club, there is a difference between the A team and the B team in terms of the allocation of resources and commitment from the organization. Stars blue consistently gets better resources/coaching than black. It may not be obvious initially, but it definitely becomes obvious over time and at some point black team girls realize they are getting the short end of the stick, which is sad. The black teams tend to have a wider range of talent than the blue teams and if you have a DD who is on the black team and at the higher level of talent it is likely that she will not grow as much as a player as she is capable.

You will not know whether your DD is on blue or black until after you've made the financial commitment to Stars. First a girl is accepted and than a couple weeks later, based on practices, the girls are assigned to blue or black. There seems to be more movement down over the years than up, i.e. more girls are moved from blue one year to black the following year, which in, my opinion, is partially a reflection of the not as good coaching at the black level. And just because a girl makes black one year doesn't mean she will make it the next.

As far as what year to try to start with Stars - I think that in part depends on your DD and the experience she is getting at the rec level. If your DD has a decent rec coach and some teammates who are as talented as she is, I'd stay at rec for 3rd and 4th grades. I think it's nuts to spend money on club lacrosse at that age. But by 5th and definitely no later than 6th grade, if your DD is any good, she should try out if that is what you both want.

Be aware that although the teams have girls from many different schools, there is still a large SSSA presence and that effects both girl and parent dynamics.

Overall, Stars was worth it - DD improved. liked her coaches, made new friends and had fun. I think she would have improved even more and had an even better experience if there wasn't such a discrepancy in commitment/coaching, and that just left DD (and me) disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great experience with Stars and DD playing back when it started in 6th grade. My advice would be to get in as early as possible so the move to Capital is as smooth as possible. Not saying other girls don’t make Capital, it’s just an easier transition.

Just to be clear, there are Stars girls who don’t make Capital.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone get cut from Stars? Especially in the lower grades? Everyone that has tried out from our rec club made a team. Perhaps this is what the pp is referring to regarding the black teams “having a wider range of talent”.

The girls we know on Blue are having a great experience, so it is not all “pay to play”.

[Anonymous]

Girls get cut at STARS tryouts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone get cut from Stars? Especially in the lower grades? Everyone that has tried out from our rec club made a team. Perhaps this is what the pp is referring to regarding the black teams “having a wider range of talent”.

The girls we know on Blue are having a great experience, so it is not all “pay to play”.

Don’t know about the younger grades but definitely by 5th grade the tryouts are real and not all who try out will make a team. It is still competitive to earn a spot and as the PP said, you don’t know what team you’ve made for a couple weeks after you’ve been offered a spot and just because you were on Black one year doesn’t mean you’ll make that team the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great experience with Stars and DD playing back when it started in 6th grade. My advice would be to get in as early as possible so the move to Capital is as smooth as possible. Not saying other girls don’t make Capital, it’s just an easier transition.

Just to be clear, there are Stars girls who don’t make Capital.

Just to be clear for everyone else, if you start talking about Stars there will be a whacky Pride parent jumping in. Let it go people.

[Anonymous]

Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

Eh, my DD plays for the blue (A) team and the poster was pretty much correct. At Stars there is very little movement up to blue. Usually only one girl each year. Once you are put on black (B) its very hard to move up to blue. OTOH more than one blue player gets moved down every year, replaced by the one black team member and new girls who try out. So basically, its hard to get a spot on blue and hard to keep it. You have to be very good and dedicated. That said, there are always weaker players on defense on the Stars blue team (girls whose skill level is really deserving of black) because at this age the weaker players tend to gravitate to defense. That begins to change a little as the girls enter high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

Eh, my DD plays for the blue (A) team and the poster was pretty much correct. At Stars there is very little movement up to blue. Usually only one girl each year. Once you are put on black (B) its very hard to move up to blue. OTOH more than one blue player gets moved down every year, replaced by the one black team member and new girls who try out. So basically, its hard to get a spot on blue and hard to keep it. You have to be very good and dedicated. That said, there are always weaker players on defense on the Stars blue team (girls whose skill level is really deserving of black) because at this age the weaker players tend to gravitate to defense. That begins to change a little as the girls enter high school.

Interesting, my observation has been that coaches tend to stick the weaker kids on attack, just because they tend to do the least running, amd everyone can throw and catch by middle school. Of course, there are also very strong girls on attack as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

Eh, my DD plays for the blue (A) team and the poster was pretty much correct. At Stars there is very little movement up to blue. Usually only one girl each year. Once you are put on black (B) its very hard to move up to blue. OTOH more than one blue player gets moved down every year, replaced by the one black team member and new girls who try out. So basically, its hard to get a spot on blue and hard to keep it. You have to be very good and dedicated. That said, there are always weaker players on defense on the Stars blue team (girls whose skill level is really deserving of black) because at this age the weaker players tend to gravitate to defense. That begins to change a little as the girls enter high school.

Interesting, my observation has been that coaches tend to stick the weaker kids on attack, just because they tend to do the least running, amd everyone can throw and catch by middle school. Of course, there are also very strong girls on attack as well.

That makes zero sense. Attackers have to have the best stick skills - catch, pass, and shoot with incredible accuracy or a team will suck. Plus they have to be able to move really well to dodge and get to goal. Defenders need speed, more accurately quick feet, but they dont need any advanced stick skills at all as long as they can scoop and throw. I have never seen any girls team put weaker players on attack.

[Anonymous]

In the lower years it for sure makes sense to have weaker players on attack. You can still generate offense with your middies. If you stick weaker players on defense it’s harder to hide them and easier for teams to exploit a weak defender. On high school this is somewhat less true, but if I had to hide a weak player I’d do it on attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

Eh, my DD plays for the blue (A) team and the poster was pretty much correct. At Stars there is very little movement up to blue. Usually only one girl each year. Once you are put on black (B) its very hard to move up to blue. OTOH more than one blue player gets moved down every year, replaced by the one black team member and new girls who try out. So basically, its hard to get a spot on blue and hard to keep it. You have to be very good and dedicated. That said, there are always weaker players on defense on the Stars blue team (girls whose skill level is really deserving of black) because at this age the weaker players tend to gravitate to defense. That begins to change a little as the girls enter high school.

Interesting, my observation has been that coaches tend to stick the weaker kids on attack, just because they tend to do the least running, amd everyone can throw and catch by middle school. Of course, there are also very strong girls on attack as well.

That makes zero sense. Attackers have to have the best stick skills - catch, pass, and shoot with incredible accuracy or a team will suck. Plus they have to be able to move really well to dodge and get to goal. Defenders need speed, more accurately quick feet, but they dont need any advanced stick skills at all as long as they can scoop and throw. I have never seen any girls team put weaker players on attack.

Borh my daughter’s middle school A team (at a Baltimore private that is nationally ranked) and her club put weaker players on attack so it certainly happens. But most girls in Baltimore have good stick skills since they start so young. With four attackers on the field, one weak player In a rotation isn’t that big a deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

Eh, my DD plays for the blue (A) team and the poster was pretty much correct. At Stars there is very little movement up to blue. Usually only one girl each year. Once you are put on black (B) its very hard to move up to blue. OTOH more than one blue player gets moved down every year, replaced by the one black team member and new girls who try out. So basically, its hard to get a spot on blue and hard to keep it. You have to be very good and dedicated. That said, there are always weaker players on defense on the Stars blue team (girls whose skill level is really deserving of black) because at this age the weaker players tend to gravitate to defense. That begins to change a little as the girls enter high school.

Interesting, my observation has been that coaches tend to stick the weaker kids on attack, just because they tend to do the least running, amd everyone can throw and catch by middle school. Of course, there are also very strong girls on attack as well.

That makes zero sense. Attackers have to have the best stick skills - catch, pass, and shoot with incredible accuracy or a team will suck. Plus they have to be able to move really well to dodge and get to goal. Defenders need speed, more accurately quick feet, but they dont need any advanced stick skills at all as long as they can scoop and throw. I have never seen any girls team put weaker players on attack.

Borh my daughter’s middle school A team (at a Baltimore private that is nationally ranked) and her club put weaker players on attack so it certainly happens. But most girls in Baltimore have good stick skills since they start so young. With four attackers on the field, one weak player In a rotation isn’t that big a deal.

Because you're such an expert on who the weaker players are? You have no idea what you're talking about. The weakest players are those on the bench, subbing at any of the above positions.