2026 Boys - Madlax or DCE?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madlax 26 just went 4-1 and BLC 1-4 in this past weekend’s NAL tournament. They didn’t play each other, but based on those stats I think OP has his answer about which team will be better next year.

How many of those ML 26 players were actually 2025s is the question.

If you are trying to decide which program is better for your son, why does this metric matter? Both ML and DCE express have their share of holdbacks or reclasses. You can view this as good or bad, but I would not recommend choosing one team over the other by counting the holdbacks on the roster.

It matters if you intend to decide which team is "better" based on their record at a recent tournament. If ML went 4-1 because of holdbacks and BLC went 1-4 without holdbacks then can it really be said that ML will be "better" next year? And what does "better" mean to you - better in terms of their W/L record, or better in terms of the experience for your son?

In terms of the experience for your son, a team with lots of holdbacks is not going to be better for your son than a team that doesn't have any. Holdbacks increases the likelihood that those holdbacks are going to be playing instead of your son. Holdbacks indicate a team that is focused on winning games instead of developing players. Therefore, I would choose a team with fewer holdbacks over a team with more, all other things being equal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BLC played those teams closer than the score indicates. Next year’s DCE 2026 team will be fine. Their coach is a class act. Future is bright for that team.

If the coach is a class act, why has he promised roster spots to way more MadLax, NextLevel, and VLC players than he has room for?

[Anonymous]

our son previously played for Madlax 2026 Capital team, not a holdback/redshirt/reclass. Boy, am I glad we are out of this world...

Lessons learned:

- we were on the team when Cabell couldn't seem to hold on to coaches and there was lots of turnover
- lots of bouncing around with players jumping between DMV to Capital
- some players fly in and get tons of playing time and weren't there for practices which impacted team comradery
- Parents very opinionated and a bit gossipy on the sidelines - atmosphere felt like high school cliques at times. Team mom (not sure if it's still the same one) appeared to create/reinforce this dynamic
- My son (who was a starting player) ultimately asked to switch teams because many players were "cocky" - I would say "privileged and entitled"
- Ultimately we went and played for another club and we are much happier - my son is very happy because he's with his friends. IMO, the most unappreciated aspect that contributes to success on the field.

[Anonymous]

+1, esp. the toxic team Mom.
If you want your son and your family to have a good experience, go with DCE, VLC, or NL, depending on where you live and where his friends are playing.

[Anonymous]

lots of bouncing around with players jumping between DMV to Capital

Keep in mind that plenty of kids on DMV are promised that someday maybe they’ll get to play Caps but in reality they never do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

lots of bouncing around with players jumping between DMV to Capital

Keep in mind that plenty of kids on DMV are promised that someday maybe they’ll get to play Caps but in reality they never do.

Never never 1-5 probably make it to CAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

lots of bouncing around with players jumping between DMV to Capital

Keep in mind that plenty of kids on DMV are promised that someday maybe they’ll get to play Caps but in reality they never do.

Never never 1-5 probably make it to CAP

+1, Madlax’s strategy to keep the DMV kids around. Otherwise there is zero reason to spend that kind of money for poor coaching and terrible tournaments.

[Anonymous]

The number of 2026 DMV kids promoted to Capital is zero, because MadLax is upgrading its Cap teams by re-classes, out of state players, and poaches from other programs. This will push Capital players to the bench, the DMV team, or out of the program. It is happening right now. Nobody is moving up from DMV to Capital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The number of 2026 DMV kids promoted to Capital is zero, because MadLax is upgrading its Cap teams by re-classes, out of state players, and poaches from other programs. This will push Capital players to the bench, the DMV team, or out of the program. It is happening right now. Nobody is moving up from DMV to Capital.

Are the kids promised a chance to move up? Is it implied? Most clubs have a B-team and the same thing happens, so I am not sure this is only a ML thing. I know DCE has an Orange team, as one example.

Yes, Clubs recruit. In particular as they head into HS (8th grade it starts). Kids go to where they can play and where the team is the best. DCE is recruiting. ML is recruiting. Crabs. Hawks. FCA. Looney's Etc. Work hard to protect your play time. Best to assume nothing is ever guaranteed. Best way to handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Madlax 26 just went 4-1 and BLC 1-4 in this past weekend’s NAL tournament. They didn’t play each other, but based on those stats I think OP has his answer about which team will be better next year.

How many of those ML 26 players were actually 2025s is the question.

If you are trying to decide which program is better for your son, why does this metric matter? Both ML and DCE express have their share of holdbacks or reclasses. You can view this as good or bad, but I would not recommend choosing one team over the other by counting the holdbacks on the roster.

It matters if you intend to decide which team is "better" based on their record at a recent tournament. If ML went 4-1 because of holdbacks and BLC went 1-4 without holdbacks then can it really be said that ML will be "better" next year? And what does "better" mean to you - better in terms of their W/L record, or better in terms of the experience for your son?

In terms of the experience for your son, a team with lots of holdbacks is not going to be better for your son than a team that doesn't have any. Holdbacks increases the likelihood that those holdbacks are going to be playing instead of your son. Holdbacks indicate a team that is focused on winning games instead of developing players. Therefore, I would choose a team with fewer holdbacks over a team with more, all other things being equal.

BLC has plenty of holdbacks. The holdback game knows no boundaries. Don't kid yourself. It is most likely that ML holdbacks are just better than BLC holdbacks, at this stage in development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The number of 2026 DMV kids promoted to Capital is zero, because MadLax is upgrading its Cap teams by re-classes, out of state players, and poaches from other programs. This will push Capital players to the bench, the DMV team, or out of the program. It is happening right now. Nobody is moving up from DMV to Capital.

Are the kids promised a chance to move up? Is it implied? Most clubs have a B-team and the same thing happens, so I am not sure this is only a ML thing. I know DCE has an Orange team, as one example.

Yes, Clubs recruit. In particular as they head into HS (8th grade it starts). Kids go to where they can play and where the team is the best. DCE is recruiting. ML is recruiting. Crabs. Hawks. FCA. Looney's Etc. Work hard to protect your play time. Best to assume nothing is ever guaranteed. Best way to handle it.

This is good advice. Going into 8th grade there are no more guarantees. Playing time is earned. Kids should join the team where they can get the most playing time.

[Anonymous]

Are the kids promised a chance to move up? Is it implied?

From what I hear, it is implied. Along the lines of "if you work hard enough". But somehow junior has neeeeeever quite worked hard enough. But keep trying, junior, keep trying!

[Anonymous]

If your goal is to play in high school and eventually college then you want to be on a club team where you get significant playing time. There are lots of travel teams that have room for new players. Tryouts are around the corner.

[Anonymous]

Over-promising spots on the Capital teams is the MadLax business model. It has been profitable for the last 25 years, and will probably continue for another 50 if Cabell chooses to transition the business to his sons.

Here are the profiles of players who will have a good experience in MadLax:

(1) An exceptionally good player, due to his natural ability, size, and/or reclass status, who is in the top 7-10 players on the Capital roster and untouchable as new players come in, and whose family is able and willing to pay for private skills coaching, outside of MadLax, to teach fundamentals;

(2) A casual, fun player who is happy to be a permanent DMV player and play in mid-level tournaments and HoCo divisions, and wear the MadLax jersey.

There are plenty of players in both categories who are having a good experience in MadLax, including my son. But if your son falls anywhere between these two profiles, you are paying a ton of money for an experience that will be more bad than good, and in many cases will end in extreme disappointment and frustration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over-promising spots on the Capital teams is the MadLax business model. It has been profitable for the last 25 years, and will probably continue for another 50 if Cabell chooses to transition the business to his sons.

Here are the profiles of players who will have a good experience in MadLax:

(1) An exceptionally good player, due to his natural ability, size, and/or reclass status, who is in the top 7-10 players on the Capital roster and untouchable as new players come in, and whose family is able and willing to pay for private skills coaching, outside of MadLax, to teach fundamentals;

(2) A casual, fun player who is happy to be a permanent DMV player and play in mid-level tournaments and HoCo divisions, and wear the MadLax jersey.

There are plenty of players in both categories who are having a good experience in MadLax, including my son. But if your son falls anywhere between these two profiles, you are paying a ton of money for an experience that will be more bad than good, and in many cases will end in extreme disappointment and frustration.

+100% accurate. I don’t understand why some on Madlax aren’t looking at different clubs. They could be impact players on other teams and developing the skills and gaining the game-time experience to prepare for the next level.