Feedback on VLC Club Lacrosse?

[Anonymous]

We are better than we were 1 month ago, and especially 1 year ago. I will say that all of this negative chatter does not help anyone. Have some faith that the coaches will do their jobs,

Under this coach you are 2-6-2 at tournaments and 0-3 in HoCo. If this is “improvement” since last year then what would “no improvement” look like? If your coach is doing his job, then the kids on your team must be un-coachable or something.

“When are your coaches going to start doing their jobs?” is the real question here. Personally I would expect more considering what you’re probably paying them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We are better than we were 1 month ago, and especially 1 year ago. I will say that all of this negative chatter does not help anyone. Have some faith that the coaches will do their jobs,

Under this coach you are 2-6-2 at tournaments and 0-3 in HoCo. If this is “improvement” since last year then what would “no improvement” look like? If your coach is doing his job, then the kids on your team must be un-coachable or something.

“When are your coaches going to start doing their jobs?” is the real question here. Personally I would expect more considering what you’re probably paying them.

Not a 2025 parent but others can know VLC is one of the lower cost lacrosse options

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We are better than we were 1 month ago, and especially 1 year ago. I will say that all of this negative chatter does not help anyone. Have some faith that the coaches will do their jobs,

Under this coach you are 2-6-2 at tournaments and 0-3 in HoCo. If this is “improvement” since last year then what would “no improvement” look like? If your coach is doing his job, then the kids on your team must be un-coachable or something.

“When are your coaches going to start doing their jobs?” is the real question here. Personally I would expect more considering what you’re probably paying them.

Not a 2025 parent but others can know VLC is one of the lower cost lacrosse options

its not cheap enough to be called budget lacrosse but is it coaching or babysitting?

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone considers VLC "budget" lacrosse. They are a good choice for Virginia players and a nice option to have compared to Madlax and some others. It seems like VLC families are very happy with the coaches and organization overall.

[Anonymous]

As a long time VLC parent I would say that there are years that VLC definitely has a hard time finding enough talent. VLC doesn't have a long history of cultivating young players and until recent years started all kids at 8th grade. This was seen as a huge disadvantage because other programs were fielding 9 year olds and keeping them in the pipeline. VLC has made a concerted effort to engage yout lacrosse and it will pay dividends over time.

There are always going to be exceptions but most of the VLC teams start to hit their stride in the summer between 9th/10th grade. Regardless of wins or losses, VLC puts kids in a position to be seen. They compete in top tier tournaments and college coaches could care less what the score is. If your son is playing for VLC he will have his looks and opportunities. Trust the process and trust the coaches are scouring for a few pieces on every team. It's amazing what can happen with just a few additions (or subtractions). Just enjoy being out and watching lacrosse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a long time VLC parent I would say that there are years that VLC definitely has a hard time finding enough talent. VLC doesn't have a long history of cultivating young players and until recent years started all kids at 8th grade. This was seen as a huge disadvantage because other programs were fielding 9 year olds and keeping them in the pipeline. VLC has made a concerted effort to engage yout lacrosse and it will pay dividends over time.

There are always going to be exceptions but most of the VLC teams start to hit their stride in the summer between 9th/10th grade. Regardless of wins or losses, VLC puts kids in a position to be seen. They compete in top tier tournaments and college coaches could care less what the score is. If your son is playing for VLC he will have his looks and opportunities. Trust the process and trust the coaches are scouring for a few pieces on every team. It's amazing what can happen with just a few additions (or subtractions). Just enjoy being out and watching lacrosse.

+1

[Anonymous]

most of the VLC teams start to hit their stride in the summer between 9th/10th grade.

Not because VLC trained them to be great but because they replaced all the weaker / less motivated players over time.

Trust the process and trust the coaches are scouring for a few pieces on every team. It's amazing what can happen with just a few additions (or subtractions).

VLC 2025 has been around for what, three years now, and has always been weak despite some adds / subtracts. When is “the process” going to start working? If it’s not straining your sense of trust yet, I’m surprised.

[Anonymous]

Not sure how you define weak/strong, but if your son has been on the team for three years and you are dissatisfied, and he is good enough to make a team that you perceive as stronger, then go ahead and make your move. VLC expects a one year commitment, so the right time to move is August tryouts, but they can't stop you from moving, and unlike MadLax, will not give you too much flack for making your choice if that is what you want. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how you define weak/strong, but if your son has been on the team for three years and you are dissatisfied, and he is good enough to make a team that you perceive as stronger, then go ahead and make your move. VLC expects a one year commitment, so the right time to move is August tryouts, but they can't stop you from moving, and unlike MadLax, will not give you too much flack for making your choice if that is what you want. Hope this helps!

My son is not on that team. Just observing the desperation of those who keep trusting a process that clearly isn’t working based on observation of team performance. If you’re happy with the “process” though, by all means stick with it.

[Anonymous]

If your son is not on that team why do you care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your son is not on that team why do you care?

Trying to rationalize that $1K college recruitment assistance fee.

[Anonymous]

VLC does not charge a recruitment fee

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your son is not on that team why do you care?

If your son is on the team, why don’t you care that VLC doesn’t care about fixing a struggling team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how you define weak/strong, but if your son has been on the team for three years and you are dissatisfied, and he is good enough to make a team that you perceive as stronger, then go ahead and make your move. VLC expects a one year commitment, so the right time to move is August tryouts, but they can't stop you from moving, and unlike MadLax, will not give you too much flack for making your choice if that is what you want. Hope this helps!

My son is not on that team. Just observing the desperation of those who keep trusting a process that clearly isn’t working based on observation of team performance. If you’re happy with the “process” though, by all means stick with it.

So you scout random teams that your son is not on, and track their performance and improvement (or lack of it) over three years, and then post your critique as a public service?

Either you are lying, or you are an awfully strange person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how you define weak/strong, but if your son has been on the team for three years and you are dissatisfied, and he is good enough to make a team that you perceive as stronger, then go ahead and make your move. VLC expects a one year commitment, so the right time to move is August tryouts, but they can't stop you from moving, and unlike MadLax, will not give you too much flack for making your choice if that is what you want. Hope this helps!

My son is not on that team. Just observing the desperation of those who keep trusting a process that clearly isn’t working based on observation of team performance. If you’re happy with the “process” though, by all means stick with it.

So you scout random teams that your son is not on, and track their performance and improvement (or lack of it) over three years, and then post your critique as a public service?

Either you are lying, or you are an awfully strange person.

You don't have to trust the process but yes addition by subtraction of players who showed promise early and don't put the work in is part of improving, even without adding more talent. The kids that remain get more playing time and will get better. If your son is putting in the work and the talent isn't there around him, i am sure there are a number of teams that would take him. You can't take a 20 kids and have 10 of them only putting in 50% effort (meaning they only work on lacrosse/fitness during practice) and expect to be great. That said, take 18 kids who are working on and off the field on fitness and lacrosse skills/IQ, you can accomplish a great deal. In short, if you don't trust the process, look elsewhere. EVERY club has years that just don't perform like the rest. The top 10 clubs seem to be able to reload year after year and good for them, they absolutely get there by loading up early and often. ML has multiple teams at every age group, DCE does, NL does, its all over the place.

VLC is definitely behind the curve with regards to growing the talent, but again, college coaches could care less how many games your club team won. Regardless of COVID, college coaches RARELY find talent at tournaments. They find talent through prospect days, showcases and your club/high school coaches calling them. So you don't really have to trust the process about tournament wins, you have to trust that coaches like Dico and Z will push to get coaches to see your kid and give them a quality look.