First off the director is expanding because T91 recognizes there is an opportunity to provide an option for lacrosse in NoVa. When it comes to the coaching I will not disparage any other programs, but MadLax owner coached his kids and did a great job with those teams for whatever you think. There are some talented fathers there. When it comes to VLC the owner there coached his son’s team and did a great job with that team for whatever you think about him. When it comes to True they have fathers who coach who do a great job and coach the game. Plenty of professional coaches coached their sons, but none of you have the gumption to say any of this to them. When it comes to the coaches for T91 in NoVa actually NONE of them have kids playing at T91. T91 NoVa has NOTHING to do with Blackwolf and all three of the coaches coach at high schools in NoVa. No one in the DMV has ANY business talking about kids leaving to play at other programs because this happens all the time and half the good kids in this area play for multiple teams. My suggestion would be for you all to find a program for your young men which treats them well, teaches them the game, prepares them for college and is honest with assessments for the players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s tough for even the very best coaches to teach young players to pass when most of the kids can’t throw and catch. They don’t have the time to teach them that in practice - or to make them proficient at it. That’s a skill that comes from throwing with parents, friends, siblings, or a wall - not from going to practice once or twice a week.

Staying on topic, Team 91 Virginia isn’t close to as organized as Next Level, Madlax or DCE. Their director is a buffoon, most of their coaches are dads, and almost all of their best players leave the program in High School for better programs in the DC area. I can’t imagine the director has the attention span or acumen to expand northward. He’s likely just trying to get Fredericksburg kids to drive south to Richmond.

Wrong. they are trying to create NoVA teams for 2028-2030. They are having tryouts in January to try to form teams that will play this summer.

Doesn't mean he's wrong about the buffoon, dad coaching, and best players leaving parts. All sadly correct.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not impressive coaches in the slightest. Just Blackwolf coaches trying to grasp onto something since that program folded.

Can you explain/share more for the folks who don't know anything about Blackwolf?

Oh boy. Pass the popcorn.

Who is the he? Who is running this?

Anonymous wrote:Development is always the issue. Obviously players can develop in either rec or in club. Rec program quality in NOVA overall has dropped considerably in the last decade since your son would have played (rec). That's due to a lot of things, including the fact that most players (of any sport, not just lacrosse) who would have at one time played rec now play only club.

So while I agree that bad clubs aren't the answer to poor development, neither is rec as it currently exists in NOVA.

i don't think he understands this. rec is down 50%. and in that 50% that are gone, are all the club players who help level up their teammates/friends. This could be and was predicted to happen, could see it a mile away.

Anonymous wrote:It’s tough for even the very best coaches to teach young players to pass when most of the kids can’t throw and catch. They don’t have the time to teach them that in practice - or to make them proficient at it. That’s a skill that comes from throwing with parents, friends, siblings, or a wall - not from going to practice once or twice a week.

Staying on topic, Team 91 Virginia isn’t close to as organized as Next Level, Madlax or DCE. Their director is a buffoon, most of their coaches are dads, and almost all of their best players leave the program in High School for better programs in the DC area. I can’t imagine the director has the attention span or acumen to expand northward. He’s likely just trying to get Fredericksburg kids to drive south to Richmond.

Wrong. they are trying to create NoVA teams for 2028-2030. They are having tryouts in January to try to form teams that will play this summer.

It’s tough for even the very best coaches to teach young players to pass when most of the kids can’t throw and catch. They don’t have the time to teach them that in practice - or to make them proficient at it. That’s a skill that comes from throwing with parents, friends, siblings, or a wall - not from going to practice once or twice a week.

Staying on topic, Team 91 Virginia isn’t close to as organized as Next Level, Madlax or DCE. Their director is a buffoon, most of their coaches are dads, and almost all of their best players leave the program in High School for better programs in the DC area. I can’t imagine the director has the attention span or acumen to expand northward. He’s likely just trying to get Fredericksburg kids to drive south to Richmond.

Development is always the issue. Obviously players can develop in either rec or in club. Rec program quality in NOVA overall has dropped considerably in the last decade since your son would have played (rec). That's due to a lot of things, including the fact that most players (of any sport, not just lacrosse) who would have at one time played rec now play only club.

So while I agree that bad clubs aren't the answer to poor development, neither is rec as it currently exists in NOVA.

VA doesn’t need another club team, they need kids to be developed in rec and dads who don’t think their kid is D1 material in 3rd grade. Now that my DS plays in college we’ve met so many kids from Long Island and New Jersey who learned to pass the ball as 8 years olds, and know you don’t go to goal with 3 defenders on you. Development is the issue in the DMV, not a lack of programs.

Anonymous wrote:With the news of Rebels and Blantant filing for bankruptcy does that mean Rebels DMV is folding as well?

No, they aren’t folding because they aren’t affiliated with the Long Island Rebels.

With the news of Rebels and Blantant filing for bankruptcy does that mean Rebels DMV is folding as well?

Daddy coaches at 91 Virginia

91 Virginia has potential. I like it!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The region desperately needs a club that knows WTF it’s doing. Northern Virginia has loads of talent that all goes to Bethesda to practice.

I agree that there is definitely room for another top-level club in the DMV. On the VA side, ML is toxic and that won't change absent new ownership. VLC has slipped considerably as the folks that made that organization go a few years ago appear to be playing less of a role now, not to mention the disastrous Cavs merger. True is not a player. Across the river, DCE/BLC has (with the exception of the 28s) fallen off considerably from where it was 5 years ago. Whether the merger will change anything remains to be seen. They have a huge pipeline issue, as the talent in 2029-2035 is not there currently. So that leaves just NL, which is exploiting the void quite nicely.

The STJ in-house teams are worse than many area rec teams. The STJ could solve the field issue for a new club, but they are, for whatever reason, unwilling or unable to partner with an existing program. I can only assume that the $ from their in-house program dues is more than they'd get from a partnership. SF is a splashy name, but if you think he's there to do anything other than collect a check, I have a bridge to sell you.

I'd love to see another elite team come to NOVA--it'd be great for DMV lacrosse overall. Could Team91 be answer? Depends on a lot of unknowns. But there's definitely demand for it, IMO.

Some STJ teams folded this year due to their poor management. they also care more about money than their teams- have their own teams practicing outside at GMU because they can make more renting out their clubhouse for other things.

Anonymous wrote:Wow. The region desperately needs a club that knows WTF it’s doing. Northern Virginia has loads of talent that all goes to Bethesda to practice.

I agree that there is definitely room for another top-level club in the DMV. On the VA side, ML is toxic and that won't change absent new ownership. VLC has slipped considerably as the folks that made that organization go a few years ago appear to be playing less of a role now, not to mention the disastrous Cavs merger. True is not a player. Across the river, DCE/BLC has (with the exception of the 28s) fallen off considerably from where it was 5 years ago. Whether the merger will change anything remains to be seen. They have a huge pipeline issue, as the talent in 2029-2035 is not there currently. So that leaves just NL, which is exploiting the void quite nicely.

The STJ in-house teams are worse than many area rec teams. The STJ could solve the field issue for a new club, but they are, for whatever reason, unwilling or unable to partner with an existing program. I can only assume that the $ from their in-house program dues is more than they'd get from a partnership. SF is a splashy name, but if you think he's there to do anything other than collect a check, I have a bridge to sell you.

I'd love to see another elite team come to NOVA--it'd be great for DMV lacrosse overall. Could Team91 be answer? Depends on a lot of unknowns. But there's definitely demand for it, IMO.