Maryland has mostly gone pay to play and killed off their rec (think Ngyll).
You joins team and pay and pay and pay. No coming up, paying less than $200 and play.

Nova is headed that way with pride and you can’t play rec Bs.

[quote=Anonymous]Thx for the thoughts, she has an option to play for a "lower" tier club lax team that I feel like would weed out any of the kids not wanting to be there but also not be so intense for her. It is hard not to get sucked in and think that she is missing out on something long term, which sounds really crazy at age 8. [/quote]

Lots depends on the quality of coaching. A few cities have great rec programs; most have a parent coach with a dad who played lax and doesn't understand the rules/nuances of girls lax.

Thx for the thoughts, she has an option to play for a "lower" tier club lax team that I feel like would weed out any of the kids not wanting to be there but also not be so intense for her. It is hard not to get sucked in and think that she is missing out on something long term, which sounds really crazy at age 8.

No need to start travel that early as long as she is getting training and development.

The only potential negative of staying in rec that that 1/2 the girls clearly don't wanna be there so I can be a negative experience and cause some girls to dislike the sport.

Goodness no. Don't worry about the hysteria. Get her on a team and practicing with a stick. Play other sports and stay balanced. Try out for a club after a few rec seasons and good luck!

OP here thanks, it almost seems nuts the culture around here (I am in Baltimore) and feeling like missing out if not on a top tier club by age 8 but also don't want her to miss out on opportunity. . . some say its hard to break in once the team is formed and I am stressing about something that shouldn't really even be a worry.

Not too late at all. I'm not sure if she is too old for a devo team? But if not do that at the club you like. If so and she has never played she should do REC first. And any B team would take her at a club as well.

No, not at all. I’d almost argue 5th grade is the year to start travel lacrosse. 🙂

Is 4th grade too late to be able to break into these clubs... I am struggling with what I imagine is my young 8 year old daughter that is going into 3rd grade and the stress that is out there to join a club ASAP. Does anyone have positive experience not going to one of these superior clubs until 4th grade? Will she miss out on her team spirit and being part of the group etc.