Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thoughts in next level

NL's HS teams have been terrible for years, so there is little incentive to stick it out. Their youth teams have been hemmoraging for years and the talent is pretty bad. Stay away.

This is there first year with high school teams

I only see a 9th grade team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thoughts in next level

NL's HS teams have been terrible for years, so there is little incentive to stick it out. Their youth teams have been hemmoraging for years and the talent is pretty bad. Stay away.

This is there first year with high school teams

The Heights Head Coach is running Next Level.

I actually think its on the way up.

He is very good with kids and is a pretty good coach.

Anonymous wrote:Thoughts in next level

NL's HS teams have been terrible for years, so there is little incentive to stick it out. Their youth teams have been hemmoraging for years and the talent is pretty bad. Stay away.

A lot of drinking and partying on both male and female teams.

Thoughts in next level

I think almost everyone realizes that the potential scholarship savings is nominal. People are pushing their kids to play college lacrosse because playing college athletics is something their son/they want and/or they are using lacrosse (or any sport) to help give them an admissions edge.

No parent is thinking they are getting anything major in terms of scholarship money.

There isn't a doubt that club programs are a feeder into recruiting since it happens so early now. There isn't a doubt that college coaches lend credibility to the kids being pushed from top clubs like Madlax or VLC or Crabs for what that's worth, which is something.

I'd step back for a moment and say this: our son went through recruiting and settled on a program which does not have lacrosse scholarships to offer. The edge for him is the admissions sponsorship from the coach. In our experience, and take as one example with pounds of salt, the scholarship money offered by schools is with very very rare exception small. We are talking about $5000 - $15000 clipped off what is now a $60000+ tuition bill at some colleges. There MIGHT be 1-2 kids a year at the big programs getting large percentage scholarships, and I understand from some coaches we dealt with sometimes those big numbers are NEED based and not lacrosse talent based. Two super top recruits at one program we know of are both kids from wealthy NY families who didn't focus on $$$ at Duke but rather the school and the prestige of the lacrosse team. Literally their #1 recruit this year is taking no money.

Deep breath --- THERE IS NOT MUCH MONEY AT THE END OF THIS FOR 99% OF THE 1% OF PLAYERS WHO ARE BEING RECRUITED BY THE FEW LACROSSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY FULLY FUNDED! A good many programs that are great programs and great schools have fewer than 5 scholarships to give. A number of programs in the Patriot league are in this category. Go to Lehigh, in the very best case you get a small fraction of the less than fully funded scholarship pool.

Club lacrosse survived to now on the myopia of parents who are convinced they are missing a lottery for their kids. To a great extent that is entirely unfounded in my limited experience and in my opinion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can't kids just play for their HS team and go to showcase camps at the school of their choice especially if they are looking at a D3 SLAC?

Yes, and that would work out well for him. Our son goes to boarding school so it is awkward with the clubs that are adamant about a multiple season commitment. There are several sign up individual showcase events, most notably the Under Armour underclass or Brine one. Most colleges in all the divisions do prospect events which are also sign up. You could play a full summer just doing those things.

I get the boarding school kid conundrum. But what about non-boarding school kids? Is it not a red flag to college coaches if a boy is not playing for a club team throughout the year.

More prep and high schools doing summer events + early recruiting comedy for 8th and 9th graders = less active interest and participation in summer club lacrosse for kids after 7th and 8th grades.

Anonymous wrote:Seems like a very disorganized local scene. Why wouldn't clubs do HS teams? Is the whole point to focus on youth teams assuming kids drop club or mostly play for their schools in summer once in HS?

Why are some private schools only K-8? Everyone has their own take on how they want to tackle a certain segment. Maybe they don't have the resources to do HS teams. Maybe they don't want to deal with HS kids and parents. Could be a lot of reasons.

Seems like a very disorganized local scene. Why wouldn't clubs do HS teams? Is the whole point to focus on youth teams assuming kids drop club or mostly play for their schools in summer once in HS?

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda Travel is actually very good.

it might not be a mad lax or baltimore crabs but its certainly better than Club Blue or Next Level for those living in MOCO.

They occasionally have some good teams at certain grades, but most serious players move on to other options. Their lack of a HS program is a minus as well.

Club Blue has had some powerhouse teams at times, but they aren't doing that well these days.

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda Travel is actually very good.

it might not be a mad lax or baltimore crabs but its certainly better than Club Blue or Next Level for those living in MOCO.

Bethesda does not have HS teams.

Bethesda Travel is actually very good.

it might not be a mad lax or baltimore crabs but its certainly better than Club Blue or Next Level for those living in MOCO.