lax culture from an insider

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son played VLC U-15 and will be trying out for the high school rising freshman team. Can he expect a leg up on non-VLC boys trying out for the team? Or is it a clean slate for all?

Every club (Crabs, VLC or whomever) is looking to field the best team. They are going to take the best, period. If two kids are viewed equally, you would think they would go with the kid already in the program.

The key is not to take anything for granted and give it your best shot.

VLC tryouts were Kabuki theater. Clearly skewed towards making sure current players made the cut.

Wrong. They run their tryouts just like everyone else - trying to field the best team possible. My son's team saw 50% of the team cut last year.

Yikes. Which age group was your son's team that cut 50%?

[Anonymous]

Hey admin, isn't it time to move this to the sports thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 3d coming to town will definitely impact the local lacrosse clubs, especially clubs like VLC and Blackwolf that do not have a national footprint. After all, recruiting isn't limited to the DC Metro area, and 3d has assembled a killer network of directors/coaches across the country with deep connections to D1 schools.

Great coaches, D1 connections, and a new, more modern style of play (box/field hybrid) is much more important than the number of commits, and likely why some of the VLC players decided to join the program. I imagine that trend will continue...

That may be. 3D has a lot of money and has been buying up clubs all over the country. Most of their success, however, is in Colorado, where they are based. Remains to be seen if they can get recruiting success in other areas.

My son went to a 3D clinic run by Fuze/3D, and saw their touted box/field hybrid system. It is more marketing than anything else. The stuff they were teaching were things other kids have learned/are already doing.

Recruiting success does, however, move the needle. Blackwolf's recruiting success made them a favored destination almost immediately. The 3 kids who left Madlax and the three kids who left VLC didn't leave because of a hybrid system. Kids leave clubs all the time. Usually it's because the family feels the kid will get more attention/playing time elsewhere.

You are wrong on so many levels. That was exactly the reason why my son left his club (which, btw, was neither Madlax or VLC) - had nothing to do with attention/playing time. The box/hybrid system is very different. Kids get into their man much more than field. They throw more fakes. They play in tighter areas. It's not just dodge down the alley and fire a shot on the run. Look at how well Edge does down here, and how well the Thompsons have done at Albany. It is much more of a team sport, more picks, more cuts, more modern. My son has flourished in this style of play. So how bout you not speak for the rest of us, and stop posting on topics you know nothing about. Furthermore, look at the coaches that have recently joined, many are MLL players and former D1 coaches like Ohio State's Coach Dobbins. Even if you feel the box/field style is a marketing ploy, you can't argue with great coaches that have direct ties to many D1 schools. Lastly, why do you care so much? Keep doing your thing with VLC - what we do has no affect on you. I'm sorry you have an axe to grind with madlax and are bitter that a few players left your program. Take it up with them next time, with arrogant parents like yourself we probably would have left for greener pastures as well.

I have never posted before on this thread, or on this website, but this is too funny. "wrong on so many levels"?? How do you know so much about the "box/hybrid system"? The FuZe to 3d transition started in summer and to the best of my knowledge this "system" hasn't really been implemented simply because they have only been here 3 months. Has anyone on the current 3d NoVa staff played one minute of box lacrosse? Pretty sure no. I think the jury is out on 3d here in VA. I hope they do teach box and I hope it isn't just a marketing ploy. Only time will tell...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey admin, isn't it time to move this to the sports thread?

Don't do it. You'll kill the thread. You did this with that lax mom recruitment thread, and that is dying on the vine. Like it or not, there is a big overlap between the private school crowd and the lax crowd . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son played VLC U-15 and will be trying out for the high school rising freshman team. Can he expect a leg up on non-VLC boys trying out for the team? Or is it a clean slate for all?

Every club (Crabs, VLC or whomever) is looking to field the best team. They are going to take the best, period. If two kids are viewed equally, you would think they would go with the kid already in the program.

The key is not to take anything for granted and give it your best shot.

VLC tryouts were Kabuki theater. Clearly skewed towards making sure current players made the cut.

Wrong. They run their tryouts just like everyone else - trying to field the best team possible. My son's team saw 50% of the team cut last year.

You either need to be from Great Falls rec or a Landon lax bro. Otherwise, no need to try out.

Wrong. Paul VI students have a direct connection to the head of programs at VLC. Think VLC is turning into a farm team for Paul VI.

[Anonymous]

VLC has kids from all over. On the private side, they have a lot of Landon and PVI kids. On the public side, they have a lot of Robinson kids.

[Anonymous]

I did a quick scan of the 15 2015 and 2016 VLC college commits listed on their website and figured out where they are in high school. Look like they come from the following high schools: Yorktown (2), Madison, Washington-Lee, Robinson (2), Westfields, South County, PVI (3), Landon (2), Boys Latin, Gonzaga. Seems like a pretty broad group to me: 8 public, 7 private.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son played VLC U-15 and will be trying out for the high school rising freshman team. Can he expect a leg up on non-VLC boys trying out for the team? Or is it a clean slate for all?

Every club (Crabs, VLC or whomever) is looking to field the best team. They are going to take the best, period. If two kids are viewed equally, you would think they would go with the kid already in the program.

The key is not to take anything for granted and give it your best shot.

VLC tryouts were Kabuki theater. Clearly skewed towards making sure current players made the cut.

Wrong. They run their tryouts just like everyone else - trying to field the best team possible. My son's team saw 50% of the team cut last year.

You either need to be from Great Falls rec or a Landon lax bro. Otherwise, no need to try out.

Wrong. Paul VI students have a direct connection to the head of programs at VLC. Think VLC is turning into a farm team for Paul VI.

Not the case going forward - although PVI will continue to have a good relationship with both Madlax and VLC, PVI's coach was the one that brought 3D into the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think 3d coming to town will definitely impact the local lacrosse clubs, especially clubs like VLC and Blackwolf that do not have a national footprint. After all, recruiting isn't limited to the DC Metro area, and 3d has assembled a killer network of directors/coaches across the country with deep connections to D1 schools.

Great coaches, D1 connections, and a new, more modern style of play (box/field hybrid) is much more important than the number of commits, and likely why some of the VLC players decided to join the program. I imagine that trend will continue...

That may be. 3D has a lot of money and has been buying up clubs all over the country. Most of their success, however, is in Colorado, where they are based. Remains to be seen if they can get recruiting success in other areas.

My son went to a 3D clinic run by Fuze/3D, and saw their touted box/field hybrid system. It is more marketing than anything else. The stuff they were teaching were things other kids have learned/are already doing.

Recruiting success does, however, move the needle. Blackwolf's recruiting success made them a favored destination almost immediately. The 3 kids who left Madlax and the three kids who left VLC didn't leave because of a hybrid system. Kids leave clubs all the time. Usually it's because the family feels the kid will get more attention/playing time elsewhere.

You are wrong on so many levels. That was exactly the reason why my son left his club (which, btw, was neither Madlax or VLC) - had nothing to do with attention/playing time. The box/hybrid system is very different. Kids get into their man much more than field. They throw more fakes. They play in tighter areas. It's not just dodge down the alley and fire a shot on the run. Look at how well Edge does down here, and how well the Thompsons have done at Albany. It is much more of a team sport, more picks, more cuts, more modern. My son has flourished in this style of play. So how bout you not speak for the rest of us, and stop posting on topics you know nothing about. Furthermore, look at the coaches that have recently joined, many are MLL players and former D1 coaches like Ohio State's Coach Dobbins. Even if you feel the box/field style is a marketing ploy, you can't argue with great coaches that have direct ties to many D1 schools. Lastly, why do you care so much? Keep doing your thing with VLC - what we do has no affect on you. I'm sorry you have an axe to grind with madlax and are bitter that a few players left your program. Take it up with them next time, with arrogant parents like yourself we probably would have left for greener pastures as well.

I have never posted before on this thread, or on this website, but this is too funny. "wrong on so many levels"?? How do you know so much about the "box/hybrid system"? The FuZe to 3d transition started in summer and to the best of my knowledge this "system" hasn't really been implemented simply because they have only been here 3 months. Has anyone on the current 3d NoVa staff played one minute of box lacrosse? Pretty sure no. I think the jury is out on 3d here in VA. I hope they do teach box and I hope it isn't just a marketing ploy. Only time will tell...

That's a good one. I also have never posted on this site before.

Just to educate you a bit, there are three 3d teams within reach of the DC metro area, Howard County, Mid-Atlantic/Maryland, and NOVA. All of the guys running the programs have had box experience at some point. I also have grown up playing box in Baltimore (remember the Thunder - likely you don't), which is why I can tell you how wrong you newbie, wannabe lax dads are...

[Anonymous]

The entire 3D 2016 team just left 3D for another program. The entire team.

The base for 3D in this area is the Fuze program, which is pretty bad. Thus they are resorting to trying to discredit other programs and poach players with every promise imaginable.

Learning box lacrosse is good and definitely can help an offensive player's game. 3D's box offering isn't earth-shattering, though. A lot of other clubs are doing the same thing. Plus, it doesn't do anything for the guys playing goal and defense.

[Anonymous]

I never said it was earth shattering. I simply stated it was one of the reasons my son left his current club, in addition to 3d having great coaches, and connections to d1 schools. I also have to disagree that a lot of other clubs in the DC Metro are are teaching lever, behind the back, and shovel passes as part of their practice routine.

"Thus they are resorting to trying to discredit other programs and poach players with every promise imaginable." That statement is just silly and you know it!!! No one is poaching players. How many kids left other programs to join VLC when the Crabs took over at the helm. How many VLC parents/coaches tried and continue to try to discredit other teams (see your comment about fuze, "the Fuze program, which is pretty bad")? Guess that's ok - but when kids leave VLC for another team, then it's poaching. Lie down with dogs, get up with flees.

[Anonymous]

I can only go by what my son said when he went to the box hybrid clinic Fuze put on after they were bought by 3D. Some of the guest 3D guys who were brought in know this "system", but the Fuze guys were baffled.

Nobody's son is going to get to the next level just because one club might teach a shovel pass better than the next. The fact that the entire 2016 left 3D is enough for me to stay away.

[Anonymous]

Great. Please stay away. No place for know it all dad's who post opinions from their teenage son as if it is the gospel. You've missed just about every point I've made. Take some time to learn about the game so you don't look like such a fool next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The entire 3D 2016 team just left 3D for another program. The entire team.

The base for 3D in this area is the Fuze program, which is pretty bad. Thus they are resorting to trying to discredit other programs and poach players with every promise imaginable.

Learning box lacrosse is good and definitely can help an offensive player's game. 3D's box offering isn't earth-shattering, though. A lot of other clubs are doing the same thing. Plus, it doesn't do anything for the guys playing goal and defense.

Which club did they go to?

[Anonymous]

They left to form a new club and team. Some parents told us the box hybrid system is just marketing, and the price had gone sky high.