The previous posters are correct. The early try out date was only for the 7th & 8th graders so it's clearly an attempt to keep existing players from trying out at other clubs and lock up new players. Pride, Metro, Cardinal, M&D, MC Elite try outs are still mid-late August.

Yes, let's not go too far and attribute some altruistic reason to the tryout date change. I'm sure that they feel this gives them some sort of competitive advantage. That's totally fine, but let's call it for what it is.
It's great for girls Virginia lacrosse that Stars has some serious competition now. They will all get better and, hopefully, match up with some of the Baltimore teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Baltimore area teams still have a tournament in mid-July, and some teams have one next weekend. One reason tryouts are later here and I assume elsewhere in the area.

Typically teams move their tryouts up to get commitments before other tryouts even occur.

Stars did it at the request of families - folks in DC want to be able to go away for August. Being stuck in this town from mid-to-late August just for a middle school try out sucks. Also, so girls can go away to non-lacrosse camps and enjoy themselves and not have to worry about try outs.

And keep their girls from trying out for other teams at the same time.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great experience with Stars and DD playing back when it started in 6th grade. My advice would be to get in as early as possible so the move to Capital is as smooth as possible. Not saying other girls don’t make Capital, it’s just an easier transition.

Just to be clear, there are Stars girls who don’t make Capital.

Just to be clear for everyone else, if you start talking about Stars there will be a whacky Pride parent jumping in. Let it go people.

It would be more effective if you spelled "whacky" correctly.

Anonymous wrote:The Baltimore area teams still have a tournament in mid-July, and some teams have one next weekend. One reason tryouts are later here and I assume elsewhere in the area.

Typically teams move their tryouts up to get commitments before other tryouts even occur.

Stars did it at the request of families - folks in DC want to be able to go away for August. Being stuck in this town from mid-to-late August just for a middle school try out sucks. Also, so girls can go away to non-lacrosse camps and enjoy themselves and not have to worry about try outs.

The Baltimore area teams still have a tournament in mid-July, and some teams have one next weekend. One reason tryouts are later here and I assume elsewhere in the area.

Typically teams move their tryouts up to get commitments before other tryouts even occur.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any feedback on the 7th and 8th grade try out held last weekend?

Why were they held so early compared to other teams and clubs?

For several reasons but mostly because they have just completed their major season - spring league through summer tournaments - so the are really at their best. It is really good for the girls, if you think about it. No they can just enjoy the rest of their summer. Plus, all the clubs now have try outs at the same time in August so girls can't look around and every year there are a few who get stuck without a team. Stars is looking to minimize that for their players. And lastly, it allows families to take summer vacations in August when many of them really want to get out of DC. Once your kid is in high school she has to be home in August for school practices. Since Stars girls are still in middle school their families don't have to be in town for school stuff in August. Its a nice move that benefits the girl and their families.

Anonymous wrote:Any feedback on the 7th and 8th grade try out held last weekend?

Why were they held so early compared to other teams and clubs?

Any feedback on the 7th and 8th grade try out held last weekend?

Anonymous wrote:How many new girls will be invited to play for seventh and eighth? I’ve been told it’s very difficult to make the team.

I don’t know overall but can only speak to my DD’s experience. My daughter joined Stars Black (B team) from another club in 7th. She was one of 3 girls new to both Stars and the team. Another two girls were moved down from Blue (the A team). The other 15 or so girls had been on the team since at least 6th grade. When my daughter was in 8th grade and on Stars black, 5 girls new to Stars joined the team, 3 were moved down from blue and at least 3 who’d been on the team the year before were not invited back.

Seventh and eighth grade tryouts are tomorrow.

Anonymous wrote:How many new girls will be invited to play for seventh and eighth? I’ve been told it’s very difficult to make the team.

Its not particularly difficult to make the B team (black) although girls are cut every year, but yes, making the A team (blue) in 7th and 8th is tough. You have to be one of the best 22 or so girls at the try out and past team members tend to get the benefit of the doubt. Every year however there are one or two new team members added to the blue team as past players either dont return or are moved down to the black squad. Work really hard all summer and go for it.

Anonymous wrote:How many new girls will be invited to play for seventh and eighth? I’ve been told it’s very difficult to make the team.

Every girl who has tried out from our local rec club has made a Stars team. It might be that only the girls trying out are good (self-selection if you will), as they all have come from the A/AAA or UB teams. But it seems attending a lax camp, skills sessions and practicing prior to the tryout is key.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Generally all clubs focus in their A teams more than their B teams, but girls on the B teams still play varsity lacrosse and may be recruited by colleges. Rhe Stars B team does very well in both their NGLL division and in tournaments. My daughter plays for a Baltimore club and there is significant movement between the A and B team, in both directions. Sounds like the prior poster has not quite gotten over her daughter being placed on the B team.

Eh, my DD plays for the blue (A) team and the poster was pretty much correct. At Stars there is very little movement up to blue. Usually only one girl each year. Once you are put on black (B) its very hard to move up to blue. OTOH more than one blue player gets moved down every year, replaced by the one black team member and new girls who try out. So basically, its hard to get a spot on blue and hard to keep it. You have to be very good and dedicated. That said, there are always weaker players on defense on the Stars blue team (girls whose skill level is really deserving of black) because at this age the weaker players tend to gravitate to defense. That begins to change a little as the girls enter high school.

Interesting, my observation has been that coaches tend to stick the weaker kids on attack, just because they tend to do the least running, amd everyone can throw and catch by middle school. Of course, there are also very strong girls on attack as well.

That makes zero sense. Attackers have to have the best stick skills - catch, pass, and shoot with incredible accuracy or a team will suck. Plus they have to be able to move really well to dodge and get to goal. Defenders need speed, more accurately quick feet, but they dont need any advanced stick skills at all as long as they can scoop and throw. I have never seen any girls team put weaker players on attack.

Borh my daughter’s middle school A team (at a Baltimore private that is nationally ranked) and her club put weaker players on attack so it certainly happens. But most girls in Baltimore have good stick skills since they start so young. With four attackers on the field, one weak player In a rotation isn’t that big a deal.

Because you're such an expert on who the weaker players are? You have no idea what you're talking about. The weakest players are those on the bench, subbing at any of the above positions.

Just responding to the poster who started this tangent (presumably you) by saying the weakest players were defenders. Clearly, you don’t handle being challenged ( by more than one poster) well.

How many new girls will be invited to play for seventh and eighth? I’ve been told it’s very difficult to make the team.