The Scam that is DC Express

[Anonymous]

Shelling out $3000 for team fees + $500 for tryout prep/tryouts..... What are you paying for??

I agree that a lot of this spending is over the top. Especially when you include travel costs on top of team fees. However, I think you are discounting how important it is for some, not all, of these players to compete with their friends. My son has a better chance of playing college football than lax. He and his club lacrosse teammates are all at different schools now, but they have grown up playing together and they have a ton of fun at the tourney's. Personally, that alone is worth the money. The boys also love their coach, a former D1 player, not a Dad.

[Anonymous]

I'm not quite sure how to make it better. I'd love for my boys to stay in rec leagues but it's just not competitive enough for them. The problem also is the year around commitment. I know it's to help line the pockets of the club owners but if you aren't a parent of it, you really do feel left out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not quite sure how to make it better. I'd love for my boys to stay in rec leagues but it's just not competitive enough for them. The problem also is the year around commitment. I know it's to help line the pockets of the club owners but if you aren't a parent of it, you really do feel left out.

Capitalism is a beautiful thing. Go to a club that doesn’t monopolize their time. You are the consumer!

Anonymous wrote:

Shelling out $3000 for team fees + $500 for tryout prep/tryouts..... What are you paying for??

I agree that a lot of this spending is over the top. Especially when you include travel costs on top of team fees. However, I think you are discounting how important it is for some, not all, of these players to compete with their friends. My son has a better chance of playing college football than lax. He and his club lacrosse teammates are all at different schools now, but they have grown up playing together and they have a ton of fun at the tourney's. Personally, that alone is worth the money. The boys also love their coach, a former D1 player, not a Dad.

Do those kids a favor a put them on a rec basketball team together. they become better athletes and don’t get burned out of lacrosse. And if the rec lacrosse leagues aren’t good enough competition make them play using only their off hand. There’s ways to adjust

[Anonymous]

Outside of charging $95 for 6 coaches looking at 75 players in 2 sessions, can someone explain how these coaches are labeled "scumbags?" Where does this animosity come from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The poor kids as in the sons of the families who were duped. Seriously, you are defending paying $300 for a tryout?

The reality is that making the roster of a high level club in any sport is difficult because you must REPLACE someone on the the current roster who is already proven - you have to bring something special to replace someone already there.

Align your club try out choices with this reality and your son's skill set by talking to the coaches BEFORE you attend any tryout to get a realistic view of open roster spots and what they are looking for by position. i would not complain about the business model.

There are plenty of lax clubs out there to choose from so pick one that is a good match.

The reality is that making the roster of a high level club in any sport is difficult because you must REPLACE someone on the the current roster who is already proven - you have to bring something special to replace someone already there.

Agreed[/b]

Align your club try out choices with this reality and your son's skill set by talking to the coaches BEFORE you attend any tryout to get a realistic view of open roster spots and what they are looking for by position. i would not complain about the business model.

Charging $95 for a tryout in the team that's already been chosen.... yeah I would complain too about the business model if they are taking people's money w/out some value being given (or even the incumbent kids, why are they paying for a sham tryout as well?) - notice how they don't say, we are only looking for 1 backup goalie, 1 LSM and a FOGO, etc so everyone else PLEAAASSEEE keep their money in their wallet. This might be an continuation of what i've heard BLC w sham tryouts, advocacy of helicopter dads etc


There are plenty of lax clubs out there to choose from so pick one that is a good match

Wish there were more choices

[Anonymous]

They just announced tryouts. Once again it's $95 - almost twice as much as the next highest price.

And don't forget the bogus "tryout clinic" which everyone basically has to sign up for.

Their greed knows no boundaries.

[Anonymous]

I have a son on DCE. We pay the tryout fee, just like we do for travel hockey (which is actually more). No big deal to me. They have a biz to run. Btw, we have never done clinic either. Not sure the big deal. Seems pretty consistent w our experience across all my kids and other sports.

[Anonymous]

Yep nothing to see here. Go somewhere else where you kid might be able to make the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep nothing to see here. Go somewhere else where you kid might be able to make the team.

My kid has no chance to make that team. Cuz I'm not paying $95 for a tryout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a son on DCE. We pay the tryout fee, just like we do for travel hockey (which is actually more). No big deal to me. They have a biz to run. Btw, we have never done clinic either. Not sure the big deal. Seems pretty consistent w our experience across all my kids and other sports.

You are a sucker. Other clubs charge between $0 and $50 for a tryout. They are greedy guys. Kind of like the circus moving from town to town. St. Andrew's, St. John's, Bullis, Prep and now Churchill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a son on DCE. We pay the tryout fee, just like we do for travel hockey (which is actually more). No big deal to me. They have a biz to run. Btw, we have never done clinic either. Not sure the big deal. Seems pretty consistent w our experience across all my kids and other sports.

You are a sucker. Other clubs charge between $0 and $50 for a tryout. They are greedy guys. Kind of like the circus moving from town to town. St. Andrew's, St. John's, Bullis, Prep and now Churchill.

I do not understand the rationale for charging a kid to attend a tryout and be evaluated, unless it is to cover field rental (and even then, the business should pay the fee itself and chalk it up to a loss-leader business expense). More so, I do not understand the rationale of anyone paying to attend a tryout to be evaluated. Seems to me if you are interested in the team and a better player than some already on the team, they'll gladly take you without charging you for a tryout. On the other hand, if they are going to take your money to see you in a tryout, close the wallet and run!

[Anonymous]

Most clubs have to pay for field space and coaches. Those who are HS coaches usually get the fields for next to nothing. Most clubs make money on tryouts, not nothing compared to DCE.

Think about it. They are charging practically $400 for a tryout and bogus prep camp with little cost. Multiply $400 times all those kids and who is the sucker?

[Anonymous]

The market usually has a way of rewarding or punishing this behavior. My guess is that in a short period of time, their tryout pool will have dwindled to very few good prospects. The big question is what is their next move?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a son on DCE. We pay the tryout fee, just like we do for travel hockey (which is actually more). No big deal to me. They have a biz to run. Btw, we have never done clinic either. Not sure the big deal. Seems pretty consistent w our experience across all my kids and other sports.

You are a sucker. Other clubs charge between $0 and $50 for a tryout. They are greedy guys. Kind of like the circus moving from town to town. St. Andrew's, St. John's, Bullis, Prep and now Churchill.

If your kid is good skip the clinic. Otherwise, if you are trying to save money i would recommend another sport than lacrosse. Between stick(s), Helmet, pads, gloves, shoes you are pushing $600 plus travel/hotel/meals...for many weekend travel events. I would leave the personal attacks out of it...bottom line lax is expensive whether you pay a few extra bucks for a tryout or not!

[Anonymous]

If you don’t like their model, go somewhere else.

There are plenty of other club programs in the area to choose from