This is the right place to start. Some teams depends on grade as one club may have a nationally ranked team and other grades not as strong. . We knew someone who came from connecticut where it was tough to get on a team locally - though at younger years. Don't want to make this a hot button issue but give your friend some info to help their son.
A few things to know - nypll teams switched from age to grade last year to align with baltimore. Even the top players in middle school on the top teams do not generally play up in this area. A lot of the kids on the 6th grade teams are 13, a few maybe older as some parents/schools hold back. last year, many try outs are august, but a few are later in fall, which makes it tricky. Some of the try outs overlap on same weekend/week . I can't say that tryouts would be fully objective - as majority of kids are known commodities, whether on current team or seen in games over past years. we've seen some not so great stuff in tryouts over the years boys/girls lax. most teams do summer tournaments in june/july -( though for some, its a different a summer team rather than team during year). maybe would be helpful if he could do summer tournaments with some of the same teams there- or family go to one, to see level of play of the teams, talk to the coach?