Feedback on Next Level Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

Do kids on the top private school varsity lacrosse teams (Landon, Bullis, Gonzaga, georgeprep, stj, pvi) all play on travel teams? Is it possible to make varsity and not be on a travel team?

[Anonymous]

Very good question. I would answer yes, in order to play on a varsity lacrosse team the caliber of those schools, you need to play on a travel team as a youth player. Even if your son is on a top rec team, many of which have excellent coaches, he would not have the consistent level of teammates and opponents to be ready for the top level of HS lacrosse. I would go a step further and say that he probably needs to be on one of the top four teams, in no particular order, BLC, VLC, MadLax, NextLevel. There may be exceptions but I doubt very many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Ex Madlax 20204 Bullis kid to the Next Level 2023 team.
Four or five Ex Madlax kids to the Next Level 2024 team.
All just wanted to get away from the controlling Madlax owner.

Four Mad Lax NL 2024 kids left for Next Level 2024. 3 of them are starting at St. Johns this Fall. A SJC current varsity assistant coaches the Next Level 2024 team. SJC has a history of forcing their kids to play on the same club program.

This is false for lax. Kids are on hawks, dc express, crabs, Next Level, VLC, Blackwolf, and MadLax. There will be a NL Cadets team Playing at ‘22 level but that will supplement their regular club.

Don’t forget the cannons, rough riders, API, and Top caliber!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Very good question. I would answer yes, in order to play on a varsity lacrosse team the caliber of those schools, you need to play on a travel team as a youth player. Even if your son is on a top rec team, many of which have excellent coaches, he would not have the consistent level of teammates and opponents to be ready for the top level of HS lacrosse. I would go a step further and say that he probably needs to be on one of the top four teams, in no particular order, BLC, VLC, MadLax, NextLevel. There may be exceptions but I doubt very many.

So it sounds like most of the Varsity teams are made up of travel kids. How do the schools get them on their team, I am assuming many of kids can’t afford the steep price at some of these schools. Do the schools give grants to lure top players?

[Anonymous]

The honest answer is that lacrosse skews to an upper middle class demo. So the majority of kids even on the youth travel teams are already at independent or catholic schools - or were always eventually going to go that route. This is probably more true in MD than say Loudon, but you get the gist. There is some money floating around for specific players and everyone contends that other schools do it more than others. But that kind of issue will just devolve this thread into an argument over whether Bullis is especially likely to do this and then replies than Landon, Prep, Gonzaga, etc. have done it too in certain instances. But the point is these schools have an established pipeline for getting kids that happens fairly organically. The old IAC threads discuss this issue ad naseum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I love knowing the best players from Cabell’s 2024 team left for Next Level.

Yes, because NL snakes other teams players. They do it every year, by offering incentives and making promises in an attempt to lure kids from other clubs over.

[Anonymous]

ML 23 and 24 still ranked #1 in the nation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, because NL snakes other teams players. They do it every year, by offering incentives and making promises in an attempt to lure kids from other clubs over.

NL is not alone in this. The top clubs will always try to lure talent to make their team(s) better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ML 23 and 24 still ranked #1 in the nation

Who do you think is involved in the “rankings”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ML 23 and 24 still ranked #1 in the nation

Who do you think is involved in the “rankings”?

ML 23 is ranked #2. For the rest of lax clubs, it's a brand new season so those rankings just released are history. Good luck to all this coming fall, spring and summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ML 23 and 24 still ranked #1 in the nation

Who do you think is involved in the “rankings”?

ML 23 is ranked #2. For the rest of lax clubs, it's a brand new season so those rankings just released are history. Good luck to all this coming fall, spring and summer.

People can say what they want about US club lax rankings but they post schedules for each team. It is by far the most accurate thing out there for lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

US lacrosse rankings generally good for the high school teams. The attempt to do middle school ones are the ones that made they look silly. Not enough convergence of teams in tournaments for the middle school teams for the methodology to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I love knowing the best players from Cabell’s 2024 team left for Next Level.

Yes, because NL snakes other teams players. They do it every year, by offering incentives and making promises in an attempt to lure kids from other clubs over. [/quote


Wrong, they Left because Cabell Maddux is a jackass who has assaulted players in the past. He attacks players who leave his program by sending them nasty email. He has threatened kids, yes kids.

[Anonymous]

We have been in the NL community for a while now.

I have never, ever met anyone that is not satisfied with there time at NL. There is no one in the entire world I would trust my kids with more than the Mitchell Brothers or Coach Heeter. They are competitive, but sportsmanlike, there ultimate goal is to raise children as leaders, and role models. The three have poured there hearts into this program, giving everything up for this. Coach BOH for example, was on track to become a top medical expert. Instead, he perused his dreams, he graduated Cum Laude and had the highest GPA in the Philosophy Department. Dave and Boh also has opportunities to take over their families Law Firm, but they didn’t. They care more about raising young men in a positive environment. Coach Heeter cane from an extremely well off family, and also had many options to inherit a mini fortune. He as well chose to lead and mentor our children instead through Lacrosse. The coaches have chosen away from many opportunities to coach at the best High Schools and Colleges (St. Johns, PVI, Maryland...). Instead, the Mitchell brothers coach for NO SALARY at the Heights school.

There just isn’t any person that is a better role model for your children.

[Anonymous]

This must be a joke post ^