Thanks PP! Agree didn’t mean to infer judging SW based on one year; this shift to a more “national team” for HS, even though still lots of local girls, is interesting and wondered when/what year that shift starts happening at the club. I know this post is generally about making the drive north from DMV and seems like skywalkers is still a really solid option, is that the right read? Do they/SW have a recruiting director that helps or is it really just the girls work hard at it because their 22 verbal commits are really strong (even compared to other top clubs).

(Yes Hero's 26 White has played M&D 26 Black 5 times this Fall, including NGLL Labor Day tournament and Hoco league and Hero’s White has won 4 of the 5 times - the 5th a tie! So not really a “B” team I guess . . . )

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting - thank you - does skywalkers become much stronger in HS? For example, there 2026 team isn’t that strong - do things shift dramatically in HS? Do they have “parent coaches” in HS or hired outside coaches? Thanks!

Typically outside coaches and yes, it can shift dramatically. Their 22 blue squad is extremely strong and the 21 blue squad had quite the rivalry with M&D for many years.

26 class overall is an interesting one with Hero's 26 green being the obvious superior team at that age group in the nation (and better than many of the 25 teams in the nation as well). But then I would argue 26 White (The 'B' team is better than both Skywalkers and M&D 'A' teams. Saw a 26 white v. M&D 26 black matchup before one of my own games this fall and white beat them.

All that saying, the 26 class is tough to judge and I would not base an opinion on Skywalkers based solely on that age group.

*their - sorry!

This is interesting - thank you - does skywalkers become much stronger in HS? For example, there 2026 team isn’t that strong - do things shift dramatically in HS? Do they have “parent coaches” in HS or hired outside coaches? Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friends daughter switched from the Stars/Capitals track to Skywalkers for High School. According to the girl and her parents, they love it. 1 practice per week in Fall. 2 practices per week after HS season/prepping for summer tourneys. Def more intense and a high level of accountability on both fitness and skill work year round. But according to this family (sports family for sure with other children very active, but reasonable people), the commitment has been well worth it. One current case study.

Skywalker’s practices in Baltimore, the other two practice In Howard county (M &D has some practices in western Baltimore county). Skywalkers is about 20 to 30 minutes further away, and a notch down in quality, although still very good. It’s rare for a Skywalkers team to beat a hero’s or m&d team.

—Baltimore parent with a lax playing daughter who doesn’t play for any of these teams.

My perception is that SkyWalkers are also on a downward trend. Not as bad as MC, but still downward.

Key to remember is that SW is more of a national program. At their highest levels, at least a quarter of the roster is from well out of state (Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Delaware, Texas) for example. This is one of the reasons they are much better in the summer than the fall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friends daughter switched from the Stars/Capitals track to Skywalkers for High School. According to the girl and her parents, they love it. 1 practice per week in Fall. 2 practices per week after HS season/prepping for summer tourneys. Def more intense and a high level of accountability on both fitness and skill work year round. But according to this family (sports family for sure with other children very active, but reasonable people), the commitment has been well worth it. One current case study.

Didn't your the family you're bringing up move to Skywalkers because they were not satisfied with placement on the Capital Orange team? Pretty important detail, isn't it?

If this is one of the 18 Skywalkers ‘22 D1 commits someone mentioned above, it sounds like the Capital placement wasn’t correct and that the player has thrived at skywalkers, so who cares, it was a smart move.

Or it shows how jacked up Capital is that they can't get their top team recruited.

I can speak to the 25 Skywalkers team - well somewhat. My guess is they will be pretty solid this year. We didn't play them at all this fall, but I know they have gained two players from M&D Black. Seems like they played fairly well in the tournaments they played in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friends daughter switched from the Stars/Capitals track to Skywalkers for High School. According to the girl and her parents, they love it. 1 practice per week in Fall. 2 practices per week after HS season/prepping for summer tourneys. Def more intense and a high level of accountability on both fitness and skill work year round. But according to this family (sports family for sure with other children very active, but reasonable people), the commitment has been well worth it. One current case study.

Didn't your the family you're bringing up move to Skywalkers because they were not satisfied with placement on the Capital Orange team? Pretty important detail, isn't it?

If this is one of the 18 Skywalkers ‘22 D1 commits someone mentioned above, it sounds like the Capital placement wasn’t correct and that the player has thrived at skywalkers, so who cares, it was a smart move.

Anonymous wrote:A friends daughter switched from the Stars/Capitals track to Skywalkers for High School. According to the girl and her parents, they love it. 1 practice per week in Fall. 2 practices per week after HS season/prepping for summer tourneys. Def more intense and a high level of accountability on both fitness and skill work year round. But according to this family (sports family for sure with other children very active, but reasonable people), the commitment has been well worth it. One current case study.

Didn't your the family you're bringing up move to Skywalkers because they were not satisfied with placement on the Capital Orange team? Pretty important detail, isn't it?

Yes, 18 of 19 Skywalkers Blue 22 players have committed to D1 programs already and the other player had a serious injury last year so is just getting seen again now.

Skywalkers ‘22 blue team has more players committed (all but 1 or 2) than top ‘22 team for either M&D or Heros.

PP - can you provide more detail on your perspective on skywalkers? Starting what years or what teams? Any understanding of why? I know many do/used to travel far to be on a skywalkers team . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friends daughter switched from the Stars/Capitals track to Skywalkers for High School. According to the girl and her parents, they love it. 1 practice per week in Fall. 2 practices per week after HS season/prepping for summer tourneys. Def more intense and a high level of accountability on both fitness and skill work year round. But according to this family (sports family for sure with other children very active, but reasonable people), the commitment has been well worth it. One current case study.

Skywalker’s practices in Baltimore, the other two practice In Howard county (M &D has some practices in western Baltimore county). Skywalkers is about 20 to 30 minutes further away, and a notch down in quality, although still very good. It’s rare for a Skywalkers team to beat a hero’s or m&d team.

—Baltimore parent with a lax playing daughter who doesn’t play for any of these teams.

My perception is that SkyWalkers are also on a downward trend. Not as bad as MC, but still downward.

Anonymous wrote:A friends daughter switched from the Stars/Capitals track to Skywalkers for High School. According to the girl and her parents, they love it. 1 practice per week in Fall. 2 practices per week after HS season/prepping for summer tourneys. Def more intense and a high level of accountability on both fitness and skill work year round. But according to this family (sports family for sure with other children very active, but reasonable people), the commitment has been well worth it. One current case study.

Skywalker’s practices in Baltimore, the other two practice In Howard county (M &D has some practices in western Baltimore county). Skywalkers is about 20 to 30 minutes further away, and a notch down in quality, although still very good. It’s rare for a Skywalkers team to beat a hero’s or m&d team.

—Baltimore parent with a lax playing daughter who doesn’t play for any of these teams.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Training is important, but moreso kids need experience playing in game situations. As a result, it is very important for parents to have an honest reckoning about their kids skills. Whatever team they are on, if they are not getting regular playing time, then they are on the wrong team. It's no good to be the worst player on the best team.

Are you suggesting if a player needs individual instruction, which seems like a reasonable expectation of clubs, they are the "worst" player; and thus, parents should have lower expectations about playing time? So, basically don't ask for help? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't instruction the core of what clubs provide? Not following your logic here. Of the best teams I am aware of players receive equal playing time, so sorry to hear if you are having a different experience. Agree with PP, players of any skill level need and should expect continual feedback and instruction to improve their games. It's called coaching, which is what we all pay a lot of money for. FYI, it's worse to think you are the best player playing on the best team.

PP here. I’m suggesting that playing in actual games is important for development and the best situation for a kid is where they can get both good training and game time. Being the last kid to make the roster for Hero’s or M&D might sound great at first, but if you are not getting game time then there is no point.