Club lacrosse early years - share "wish I had known"

[Anonymous]

I can't believe such negative comments. It's not all about playing in college! We LOVE the club team - my daughter has her best friends from there, loves going to the tournaments, keeps her healthy and disciplined, and we have a fantastic time with the other parents. It literally is my daughter's favorite thing and a huge part of her identity. I would recommend to anyone considering club give it a try.

[Anonymous]

Choose your club carefully - and look at the club teams of the sophomores and juniors- does the club consistently field two teams or only one in the later years?
And talk to parents of the high schoolers to get the real story before signing up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed Club Lax is a waste younger years. My DS played from 8th grade through 11th then quit. Walked on in college division 1 scholarship. It's a waste because of the cost and lax really doesn't provide that many scholarships that are better than an academic one. it's not a career. Let them play if they want and you can afford it. Would I do it again nope. Same with soccer clubs huge waste of money, unless your kid really truly enjoys.

As a parent who actually has a child playing at Navy, I must congratulate you on your unicorn of a crotch goblin.

[Anonymous]

Club is only good if your child is enjoying it. My kids loved club experiences, but didn’t love their high school teams. Off to college walk on Div 1 soccer and LAX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Choose your club carefully - and look at the club teams of the sophomores and juniors- does the club consistently field two teams or only one in the later years?
And talk to parents of the high schoolers to get the real story before signing up.

In my experience the clubs that offer one team are better than the ones that offer two teams. The second team is always a waste of time and money. It is better to go to a club with one team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choose your club carefully - and look at the club teams of the sophomores and juniors- does the club consistently field two teams or only one in the later years?
And talk to parents of the high schoolers to get the real story before signing up.

In my experience the clubs that offer one team are better than the ones that offer two teams. The second team is always a waste of time and money. It is better to go to a club with one team.

Perhaps b teams are a waste of time for those whose only goal is to play division 1 lacrosse. If your goal is to get more coaching and possibly work your way onto your high school roster I think it’s a fine use of time and resources

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choose your club carefully - and look at the club teams of the sophomores and juniors- does the club consistently field two teams or only one in the later years?
And talk to parents of the high schoolers to get the real story before signing up.

In my experience the clubs that offer one team are better than the ones that offer two teams. The second team is always a waste of time and money. It is better to go to a club with one team.

Perhaps b teams are a waste of time for those whose only goal is to play division 1 lacrosse. If your goal is to get more coaching and possibly work your way onto your high school roster I think it’s a fine use of time and resources

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Choose your club carefully - and look at the club teams of the sophomores and juniors- does the club consistently field two teams or only one in the later years?
And talk to parents of the high schoolers to get the real story before signing up.

In my experience the clubs that offer one team are better than the ones that offer two teams. The second team is always a waste of time and money. It is better to go to a club with one team.

Perhaps b teams are a waste of time for those whose only goal is to play division 1 lacrosse. If your goal is to get more coaching and possibly work your way onto your high school roster I think it’s a fine use of time and resources

+100

This. My son played mostly on B teams. He's now on a mid-level D3 squad and will play a lot as a freshman in the spring.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above. Because we are in a hotbed, our "B" team players are typically as talented, and certainly as knowledgeable about the game, as "A" players from non-hotbed areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above. Because we are in a hotbed, our "B" team players are typically as talented, and certainly as knowledgeable about the game, as "A" players from non-hotbed areas.

Just to be clear. The post referred to B teams not players as a response to a comment about evaluating clubs based on the B team’s ability to get enough players. A player on a D3 college team is not a B player in HS. The B team or second team is often not close to the top team and players do not move up. It would be better for those players to move to the A team of a lesser brand name club. Lots of clubs out there besides the ones often mentioned here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above. Because we are in a hotbed, our "B" team players are typically as talented, and certainly as knowledgeable about the game, as "A" players from non-hotbed areas.

Just to be clear. The post referred to B teams not players as a response to a comment about evaluating clubs based on the B team’s ability to get enough players. A player on a D3 college team is not a B player in HS. The B team or second team is often not close to the top team and players do not move up. It would be better for those players to move to the A team of a lesser brand name club. Lots of clubs out there besides the ones often mentioned here.

I understood your post quite clearly. My daughter is on a B team. It is quite full as is the A team. Girls move up and down from A to B as needed. Both teams are strong for the level they are in. In fact there are some on the A team who had mixed feelings about being placed there, because the coach is so awesome on the B team. His approach is all about development with a strong desire to win, of course. My daughter has been playing lacrosse for a very short time, but has made so much progress with this team. Much better than the rec team she was on. We had some wins already at a tournament this year. I would guess some of these girls will handily end up on a varsity team at the high school. That is really our only hope. We are not relying on LAX for college placement, LOL. DD can accomplish that quite easily with her academics if needed, and maybe even walk on to play some day, depending on the school.

Bottom line, B teams have at least two purposes: development of a skillful player with a lot of potential or for the player who is not interested in college placement, but wants to play varsity in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, there are several of us posting with daughters and sons who did wait and are kids are playing on top teams and going to play in college. I've seen that method work for plenty. If you really don't mind the expense and time and burn out potential and lost weekends, club is fine. As far as bad habits, some personal training is way less expensive and very effective.

This fails to take into account that the landscape has changed significantly in just a few years. My high school freshman dd did not start club until sixth grade and that was fine. Most clubs did not start until fifth grade so she only missed a year. Now clubs are starting in second or third grade and the rec leagues get weak at a pretty young age. I would o even her earlier now, if she were in elementary, because the club/rec scene has changed significantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above. Because we are in a hotbed, our "B" team players are typically as talented, and certainly as knowledgeable about the game, as "A" players from non-hotbed areas.

Just to be clear. The post referred to B teams not players as a response to a comment about evaluating clubs based on the B team’s ability to get enough players. A player on a D3 college team is not a B player in HS. The B team or second team is often not close to the top team and players do not move up. It would be better for those players to move to the A team of a lesser brand name club. Lots of clubs out there besides the ones often mentioned here.

Plenty of kids, boys and girls, on the top Baltimore clubs “b” teams play college lacrosse. They also regularly beat lesser known clubs with only one team.

[Anonymous]

B team for middle school and even for a freshman is fine as kids mature/develop as players at different rates.

With some extra wall ball and perhaps a few sessions with a trainer or college player can often move a player up to an A team - you may have to try out for other clubs though. Plenty of Madlax B players have done this and moved to VLC, NextLevel, Crabs etc. Many play now for college. Girls develop and are recruited earlier so may be different for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:B team for middle school and even for a freshman is fine as kids mature/develop as players at different rates.

With some extra wall ball and perhaps a few sessions with a trainer or college player can often move a player up to an A team - you may have to try out for other clubs though. Plenty of Madlax B players have done this and moved to VLC, NextLevel, Crabs etc. Many play now for college. Girls develop and are recruited earlier so may be different for them.

Pretty clear sign you don’t know what you are talking about -under current rules, no lacrosse player, regardless of gender, can verbally commit until September of their Junior year.