Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Lawrenceville with Cabell in 89. He was a complete dick then.

This made me laugh loud. I’m sure there’s a 3rd grade report card for that guy with something to the effect of “he’s short and angry but has the makings of a good Amway salesman. He’s also a dick.”

I graduated from Lawrenceville with Cabell in 89. He was a complete dick then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to disagree with your assessment. At the better public schools and at most of the private schools, kids need a lot of experience to make (let alone get playing time) on a high school team. At my local public high school almost all the starters had club experience in elementary school. The rise of club is a function of how competitive the sport has become. Even the kids who are new to lacrosse on these teams played travel soccer or baseball.

Lacrosse has changed significantly from ten years ago. It’s not a little weird sport that very few people have ever seen it’s much closer to soccer and basketball in terms of exposure.

I am sympathetic to your point that far too many kids a funneled into super competitive leagues particularly since there are so few spots on varsity team (there are 2400 kids (so 1200 boys) at my local HS with only about 14 boys getting any real playing time on varsity)

If your varsity team only plays 14, then the program is really bad. Ten start leaving 4 subs? This is why real sports/lax families flee publics. Schools with 200+ boys a class can't field a team of 20 who can catch and throw.

That’s not true even at SJC and Gonzaga no more than 16-18 boys are getting quality minutes. And those teams have bench players who would make the all state public teams

14 is not 16-18. And those privates have an entire 2 other sets of 10 who would start at every public in the area with few individual exceptions. I just watched Riverside lose easily to St. Albans and Riverside's few skilled short sticks wouldn't even look to throw to a pole on a clear because they knew it would be a turnover right away. This is STA who might win 2 games against other DC privates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to disagree with your assessment. At the better public schools and at most of the private schools, kids need a lot of experience to make (let alone get playing time) on a high school team. At my local public high school almost all the starters had club experience in elementary school. The rise of club is a function of how competitive the sport has become. Even the kids who are new to lacrosse on these teams played travel soccer or baseball.

Lacrosse has changed significantly from ten years ago. It’s not a little weird sport that very few people have ever seen it’s much closer to soccer and basketball in terms of exposure.

I am sympathetic to your point that far too many kids a funneled into super competitive leagues particularly since there are so few spots on varsity team (there are 2400 kids (so 1200 boys) at my local HS with only about 14 boys getting any real playing time on varsity)

If your varsity team only plays 14, then the program is really bad. Ten start leaving 4 subs? This is why real sports/lax families flee publics. Schools with 200+ boys a class can't field a team of 20 who can catch and throw.

That’s not true even at SJC and Gonzaga no more than 16-18 boys are getting quality minutes. And those teams have bench players who would make the all state public teams

Anonymous wrote:I have to disagree with your assessment. At the better public schools and at most of the private schools, kids need a lot of experience to make (let alone get playing time) on a high school team. At my local public high school almost all the starters had club experience in elementary school. The rise of club is a function of how competitive the sport has become. Even the kids who are new to lacrosse on these teams played travel soccer or baseball.

Lacrosse has changed significantly from ten years ago. It’s not a little weird sport that very few people have ever seen it’s much closer to soccer and basketball in terms of exposure.

I am sympathetic to your point that far too many kids a funneled into super competitive leagues particularly since there are so few spots on varsity team (there are 2400 kids (so 1200 boys) at my local HS with only about 14 boys getting any real playing time on varsity)

If your varsity team only plays 14, then the program is really bad. Ten start leaving 4 subs? This is why real sports/lax families flee publics. Schools with 200+ boys a class can't field a team of 20 who can catch and throw.

There is no rec in Montgomery County except for a really poor one out of Silver Spring. Either cross the river or go to Howard County. The private club system is essentially rec except it is more expensive. There are typically 2 teams per age group and the clubs throw a lot of clinics. If you want to run a business at a loss, then the government rec system has shown you how.

I have to disagree with your assessment. At the better public schools and at most of the private schools, kids need a lot of experience to make (let alone get playing time) on a high school team. At my local public high school almost all the starters had club experience in elementary school. The rise of club is a function of how competitive the sport has become. Even the kids who are new to lacrosse on these teams played travel soccer or baseball.

Lacrosse has changed significantly from ten years ago. It’s not a little weird sport that very few people have ever seen it’s much closer to soccer and basketball in terms of exposure.

I am sympathetic to your point that far too many kids a funneled into super competitive leagues particularly since there are so few spots on varsity team (there are 2400 kids (so 1200 boys) at my local HS with only about 14 boys getting any real playing time on varsity)

Many years back (over a decade) I had 2 kids go thru northern Virginia youth Lax - both played many seasons - had a ball playin with their friends - volunteer coaching was fine -
Rec leagues at younger ages is a great way to get a kid to see if they like it - at very low price point. Parents have gotten way too concerned about “good rec team / bad rec team / yadda yadda “. So they (the parents before the kids) flee to club teams and continually jump around to get on “the best “ team.

Club teams start way way to early - luring parents (with their
wallets and egos) to believe that kids in elementary school are going to be “developed” !

Fate and timing of Puberty dictate who’s a “stud” in the youth game !

Ever see a club team without matching helmets, gloves, bags, jackets etc? All plus plus items paid for at a profit for the clubs
Kids burn out - and then don’t have the confidence to tell their folks this creating added anxiety.

Let em play rec and learn to love the game !!!

Been out of lax for ~10 years but club teams took priority on Saturdays??? Also good to see not much changes as CM has always been a hothead… while he was a pioneer of the club system I’m surprised his first mover advantage has lasted so long…

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have thoughts on the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League (NVYLL) this season? Especially since it will be the last rec season for the 2028's.

14U A division is playing on Sundays to avoid conflicts with HOCO. All the other ages and non 14U A division games will be played on Saturday. Based on prior years, I think games start the weekend of March 23rd but could be off on that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have thoughts on the Northern Virginia Youth Lacrosse League (NVYLL) this season? Especially since it will be the last rec season for the 2028's.

it is a fantastic experience, especially if you are lucky enough to live in a town with good coaches.
my son plays both travel and rec and he is more pumped for his rec season. he says travel is like a job and rec lacrosse is fun.

Mine is excited too! I hope lots of the boys play this year. It's fun for them to play with their local buddies.