Anonymous wrote:The Stars girls, most of which go to private school, generally get a leg up, because the Capital coaches know them/have seen them play and already value their skill level. Those kids don’t need an all-star tryout to get in. Kids from other clubs, including Pride, should go to clinics and take private lessons so the coaches are familiar with them. Unless you are top tier, its hard to outshine known entities.

This is a thing of the past and the whole private school deal. The 27 Stars team is about 50/50 or so on Public/Private. The 28 Stars team is probably 70/30 Public/Private ratio. To go further, of the 27/28 teams, there's not many of those private school players that would make Capital Blue. Things are changing and the notion that you have to play at a private school and if you are on Stars you automatically make Capital.

The clinics are always a good idea to get seen and get to know the coaches etc. There are definitely players from other clubs that should be making the Capital teams but get overlooked because they were never seen before the Tryouts.

The Stars girls, most of which go to private school, generally get a leg up, because the Capital coaches know them/have seen them play and already value their skill level. Those kids don’t need an all-star tryout to get in. Kids from other clubs, including Pride, should go to clinics and take private lessons so the coaches are familiar with them. Unless you are top tier, its hard to outshine known entities.

Does it help a girl make a team if she comes from a high school with a strong lacrosse program?

I don't know if it will work this way, but the 2022 coaches for both teams are excellent. They may roll over to the 2025 team. They may not.

Sad for Pride and Coach Katie if all her girls leave in high school. what's the point keeping teams after 8th she must be used to this but I guess all of it is a money grab so the more the merrier for her

2026 is an anomaly. much more talent than the last several years. Not all the strong girls will make the top Capital team for sure and some will because of politics as well. 2026 is stronger than the 2025s for sure - as a whole and in depth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love'em or hate 'em Capital Lacrosse is still the most popular high school travel program in NoVa. My DD wants to tryout so looking to understand the process/politics.

(1) How many girls typically tryout out for new teams/years? Existing teams/years (ie how much movement, if any, happens once the teams are initially made in subsequent years)?
(2) Do public school girls get a fair shot at making the team or is most of the team pre-selected from the existing coaches' incoming high school teams?
(3) How important are the clinics (going to 1/all) in the process?

Thanks

1) Typically 100-120 girls will tryout for the 9th grade team. Mostly Pride, Stars, BLC, VA Metro girls with a mix from other teams. There will likely be 5-10 girls from out of state. Very little movement after 9th grade

2) Public girls definitely get a shot; much more than other clubs. That said most of the girls at Pride and Stars are private school girls

3) Clinics are more important for girls who didn't play for Pride, Stars, BLC or other top local clubs.

These points are spot on. Between these clinics, private lessons, all-stars teams CLC has a pretty good idea of the Stars/Pride girls that they want. Probably 80% of the 25 CLC B slots went to Pride/Stars girls and I would assume the same will hold true for 26 Blue. Orange is another story. Those girls are more scattered, but that goes back to the question are you better off on a CLC "B" team vs an A team for a lessor club? Most people go for A teams.

Start doing a bunch of private lessons with Bill Lewis - if you do a decent amount you will make Capital, and if you do a lot of them you will guarantee a spot on the Blue team

Since when has BLC been a top club? They have one solid team and that year is weak elsewhere. The 26s are loaded in the DMV and not just on one team

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love'em or hate 'em Capital Lacrosse is still the most popular high school travel program in NoVa. My DD wants to tryout so looking to understand the process/politics.

(2) Do public school girls get a fair shot at making the team or is most of the team pre-selected from the existing coaches' incoming high school teams?

Thanks

Public/Private doesn't matter as much as it used to, as there are a number of public girls on Capital teams and several of their coaches are/have been public HS coaches. But then again, some of the local private teams have fallen off a bit in recent years.

Capital is typically made up of girls who have played for Stars, Pride, BLC, and Next Level or MC elite. Aside from politics, those teams have an advantage because they have played in the NGLL spring league throughout middle school, so they have been playing against top competition even if their team is not one of the top teams. There are also girls who are not part of those programs who make it (cardinal, metro, etc) But those girls are usual the best on that team and very athletic, so their athleticism stands out at tryouts.

Anonymous wrote:Love'em or hate 'em Capital Lacrosse is still the most popular high school travel program in NoVa. My DD wants to tryout so looking to understand the process/politics.

(1) How many girls typically tryout out for new teams/years? Existing teams/years (ie how much movement, if any, happens once the teams are initially made in subsequent years)?
(2) Do public school girls get a fair shot at making the team or is most of the team pre-selected from the existing coaches' incoming high school teams?
(3) How important are the clinics (going to 1/all) in the process?

Thanks

1) Typically 100-120 girls will tryout for the 9th grade team. Mostly Pride, Stars, BLC, VA Metro girls with a mix from other teams. There will likely be 5-10 girls from out of state. Very little movement after 9th grade

2) Public girls definitely get a shot; much more than other clubs. That said most of the girls at Pride and Stars are private school girls

3) Clinics are more important for girls who didn't play for Pride, Stars, BLC or other top local clubs.

Anonymous wrote:Love'em or hate 'em Capital Lacrosse is still the most popular high school travel program in NoVa. My DD wants to tryout so looking to understand the process/politics.

(2) Do public school girls get a fair shot at making the team or is most of the team pre-selected from the existing coaches' incoming high school teams?

Thanks

Public/Private doesn't matter as much as it used to, as there are a number of public girls on Capital teams and several of their coaches are/have been public HS coaches. But then again, some of the local private teams have fallen off a bit in recent years.

There is some movement (but not much) between the A & B teams. Your daughter has to be materially better than A player in order move up, being equal doesn’t cut it.

Lots of politics. Certain teams like Stars will feed girls there and several should make the team but several shouldn't. Pride will leave their club and also try out. Then, there will be 2-3 girls from other clubs that might also make it. Clinics are helpful but won't make a big difference. Is it better to be on the b team or the a team for a different club is the bigger question you should ask---as a back up. good luck to your child.

Love'em or hate 'em Capital Lacrosse is still the most popular high school travel program in NoVa. My DD wants to tryout so looking to understand the process/politics.

(1) How many girls typically tryout out for new teams/years? Existing teams/years (ie how much movement, if any, happens once the teams are initially made in subsequent years)?
(2) Do public school girls get a fair shot at making the team or is most of the team pre-selected from the existing coaches' incoming high school teams?
(3) How important are the clinics (going to 1/all) in the process?

Thanks