Anonymous wrote:What is considered younger? I would think they would have more trouble finding HS teams and build with youth if they can’t find enough to build youth teams that’s not a good sign. The HS teams will not be competitive with the big 4 clubs

Anonymous wrote:This has moved pretty far off topic from True Lacrosse. Club programs can exist with Rec and help build rec programs the key is that the club needs to work around the rec schedules so players can do both. It is a win/win as the rec programs feed the clubs. One example is that NOVA clubs like True should lay low in the Spring and stay away from the HOCO league. This only causes schedule conflicts and is a waste for a club like True in my opinion

Anonymous wrote:

Are we talking "grow the game" stuff or "create a highly competitive club program"?

The original point was whether lacrosse is growing or not, and if rec programs can continue to exist. People keep referencing competition of club teams. That doesn't grow the game, that's competition for the kids who already play.

Winners lacrosse is the grassroots program in DC trying to get kids to play. Rec programs outside of DC are trying to get kids to play. Club teams are trying to make money off of that.

Winners was a good idea but it has been dying a slow death for several years for all the reasons listed by pp above. Lacrosse numbers are down because the people who are trying to grow the game are turned off quickly by the obstacles placed in front of them by lack of fields and government field bureaucracy in cities. It is a real problem and is really evident in DC and in Montgomery County. There is little to no help to grow the game so the rec and development wannabes have to turn to profit very quickly to survive or they just get out (see Matt Breslin's exit to BLC).

If you know someone looking to grow the game, their number one priority should be to find and lock down field space and beg the local government to get behind them. Howard Lacrosse Club might be the best local example of a public private partnership with a great rec and club program.

Are we talking "grow the game" stuff or "create a highly competitive club program"?

The original point was whether lacrosse is growing or not, and if rec programs can continue to exist. People keep referencing competition of club teams. That doesn't grow the game, that's competition for the kids who already play.

Winners lacrosse is the grassroots program in DC trying to get kids to play. Rec programs outside of DC are trying to get kids to play. Club teams are trying to make money off of that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Club lacrosse isn't killing growth in cities. It is a suburban or rural sport in the US where you have lots of space to play. Very few rec programs in the inner cities. Name a competitive club team based in a city??
Lots of rec programs have access to turf fields and lights for night practices just like soccer, football etc can practice and play in all kinds of weather day and night. What is hurting growth is Xbox/video games.

I think the aholes who insist everything is about being "competitive" are who are ruining the sport and killing growth.

Inner cities (what a loaded term) have lots of sports played on fields. Soccer, football, baseball, even rugby and cricket etc. They have fields and lights. Rec programs don't exist generally where there's a lack of lacrosse. It takes people willing to grow the game so that more people play. Not people who find excuses.

Disagree. The lack of space, the competition for that limited space, the hoops you have to jump through to get the space and then the price you have to pay make it prohibitively hard to grow any green sport inside of a city. You'd be hard pressed to find any youth clubs growing out of DC right now. No lax, 2 little leagues, 1 football. I'm not sure about soccer but DC United is very strong so would be interested to hear if they have a DC field. Montgomery County's rules are so ridiculous they can't even sponsor a introductory rec program of any value in any sport but soccer.