Feedback on Next Level Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

My son was at the summer camp the other week. We really liked the guys in charge, and my son learned a lot from the camp counselors. My son wants to try out for the club team. Other parents have been pushing us to the VA clubs saying they are more competitive. We are a MD family, and have a favorable impression of Next Level through the summer, but we can make the trip across the river if that's where the best teams are. So is there a measurable difference between Next Level and those VA clubs?

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you are looking for from club. If your goal is a D1 college offer, than Next Level probably isn't for you.

[Anonymous]

They have the best coaches.

There 2020 team is very competitive.

Their B teams even have great coaches and will teach
Your kid more about lacrosse than their HS coach.

[Anonymous]

It's a great program and run by wonderful people. I would definitely give it a shot.

[Anonymous]

How does Next Level compare to DC Express?

[Anonymous]

LOL. They do not have the best coaches. They have a great 2020 team. Some of the other teams are good and some are terrible. They dont have the track record of Madlax, VLC or BW when it comes to college recruiting.

[Anonymous]

What you should be looking at is Crabs:

https://crabslax.com/

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you want from a travel team. Since your son went to a camp, I am guessing he is young. If your son is in ES, NL is a very good choice and will learn a lot. If in MS, the 2023 team is very good. But 2024 and 2025 team is very average. My son plays on the 25s and our coach also coaches the 24s. In my opinion, neither team will really get better until the head coach decides to coach only one team. Splitting time between the two teams only hurts the teams.

[Anonymous]

Should the coach have said something to parents during camp if they want kid to try out for club team?

[Anonymous]

If the coach didnt talk yo you or your son at camp about trying out, that means your son is not good enough to make the team.

[Anonymous]

Ownership of the club changed hands 2 years ago and the new owners are established coaches at the high school and club level. They are still feeling their way as to whether the younger travel teams should be win/loss based or player development based, i.e. do all kids play relatively the same or is playing time and strategy based on winning. If you live on the MD side of the river and in lower Montgomery County, Next Level is a great place to start. They have tons of clinics and run a weekend rec league. Currently, their lower and middle school teams are not so deep in talent that a relatively athletic player shouldn't be left out. Their coaches are not volunteer parents so there is less favoritism than that of some of the others. A pp is correct. The coaching staff is stretched very thin and many do double duty. I've noticed many different coaches on sidelines for games and practices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the coach didnt talk yo you or your son at camp about trying out, that means your son is not good enough to make the team.

Really? When on earth would the coaches have time to talk to all the little guys they want to have try out, and/or their parents? During Gatorade breaks? Chasing them down in the parking lot?

[Anonymous]

If your kid has talent - they make time to talk to your kid. I know of two different kids that they targeted last year and is on travel teams this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ownership of the club changed hands 2 years ago and the new owners are established coaches at the high school and club level. They are still feeling their way as to whether the younger travel teams should be win/loss based or player development based, i.e. do all kids play relatively the same or is playing time and strategy based on winning. If you live on the MD side of the river and in lower Montgomery County, Next Level is a great place to start. They have tons of clinics and run a weekend rec league. Currently, their lower and middle school teams are not so deep in talent that a relatively athletic player shouldn't be left out. Their coaches are not volunteer parents so there is less favoritism than that of some of the others. A pp is correct. The coaching staff is stretched very thin and many do double duty. I've noticed many different coaches on sidelines for games and practices.

I heard the 24 coach sent an email early in the season saying that all players had to earn their playing time this year, since they were moving up to the Elite division. My understanding is that the coach did not hold up his end of the deal. He often put in lesser players to "even play time" instead of going with stronger players to win the game. If he continues to say one thing and do another, I'm told the better players are going to move on to another team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on what you want from a travel team. Since your son went to a camp, I am guessing he is young. If your son is in ES, NL is a very good choice and will learn a lot. If in MS, the 2023 team is very good. But 2024 and 2025 team is very average. My son plays on the 25s and our coach also coaches the 24s. In my opinion, neither team will really get better until the head coach decides to coach only one team. Splitting time between the two teams only hurts the teams.

New to travel lacrosse. Is it normal to coach multiple teams? or is this just a Next Level thing? Wouldn't that cause conflicts especially with different tournaments and league schedules?