Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, i get what you are trying to do. As a parent of an older girl I watched a bunch of incomplete DMV teams get killed by the Baltimore teams over the years... but at the end of the day, parents are going to do what is best for their kid, rather than try to field a team that could be competitive. It is not a new story and has been happening for years. IMO, the DMV has about 1-2 too many teams so the talent gets diffused.

And also, at the end of the day, these club directors are powerful and connected. Parents don't have the ability to form a coup.

If the top girls on a team band together and tryout this summer for a different team who exactly is going to stop them? I think you misunderstand who really has the power in this situation.

Good luck and Keep us updated! As I have said, you aren’t the first parent group to try. Maybe ask around IRL about the experiences of older grad years who definitely tried to consolidate.

To be fair the 2 best DMV 28 players are both middies on Next Level. To create any "superteam" they would need to be involved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The challenge will be to find an existing club that all parents are willing to drive to. It would boil down to joining an existing club that's well established. We're back to Pride or Stars. Consolidate to one of these. Certainly not trying to start a new club???

Starting a new club not an option at this age. Almost all top tourneys have long waitlists and a new club would never get into them.

To piggyback off of this comment....anyone with any intel on what needs to happen to get teams into tournaments? Next Level has the talent but doesn't seem to get into the right tournaments. Anyone with any insight there?

3 of the 4 biggest summer tournaments (Lax For the Cure, Live Love Lax and Summer Genesis) have massive waiting lists. If you don't get at least on the list as a 6th grade team, it is tough to get into. Mid Atlantic Summer Championships is another big tourney but still has space, mainly because lots of clubs left to go play in Maryland Cup instead.

Club Nationals, Chesapeake Invite (fall) and G8 are invite only tournaments. G8 is one of the top tourneys in the country, club nationals really isn't worth playing in. At the old age groups, Chespeake is probably the best fall tourney in the country. Small field and pretty much every college coach in the country is there for sophomores and juniors.

I don't know much about Next Level in particular, but I find it hard to believe that they tried to get into top tourneys with their 5th and 6th grade teams and were turned away.

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like next steps is Atleast to get buy in that there is mutual interest from both sides on trying to combine the top talent. Sure sounds like mutual interest. Great opportunity this weekend to have those discussions since the two teams mentioned are playing each other. Hopefully they can iron on logistics

Maybe a cooler of beer and some margharitas will help for the discussion!

You have to beat good teams to be considered.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The challenge will be to find an existing club that all parents are willing to drive to. It would boil down to joining an existing club that's well established. We're back to Pride or Stars. Consolidate to one of these. Certainly not trying to start a new club???

Starting a new club not an option at this age. Almost all top tourneys have long waitlists and a new club would never get into them.

To piggyback off of this comment....anyone with any intel on what needs to happen to get teams into tournaments? Next Level has the talent but doesn't seem to get into the right tournaments. Anyone with any insight there?

I don’t think anyone is suggesting starting a new club at all.

Anonymous wrote:The challenge will be to find an existing club that all parents are willing to drive to. It would boil down to joining an existing club that's well established. We're back to Pride or Stars. Consolidate to one of these. Certainly not trying to start a new club???

Starting a new club not an option at this age. Almost all top tourneys have long waitlists and a new club would never get into them.

Hahah. Putting it on the line with 6th graders. What can go wrong with that.

Whomever wins, that's where we go?!?

Sounds like next steps is Atleast to get buy in that there is mutual interest from both sides on trying to combine the top talent. Sure sounds like mutual interest. Great opportunity this weekend to have those discussions since the two teams mentioned are playing each other. Hopefully they can iron on logistics

The challenge will be to find an existing club that all parents are willing to drive to. It would boil down to joining an existing club that's well established. We're back to Pride or Stars. Consolidate to one of these. Certainly not trying to start a new club???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, i get what you are trying to do. As a parent of an older girl I watched a bunch of incomplete DMV teams get killed by the Baltimore teams over the years... but at the end of the day, parents are going to do what is best for their kid, rather than try to field a team that could be competitive. It is not a new story and has been happening for years. IMO, the DMV has about 1-2 too many teams so the talent gets diffused.

And also, at the end of the day, these club directors are powerful and connected. Parents don't have the ability to form a coup.

If the top girls on a team band together and tryout this summer for a different team who exactly is going to stop them? I think you misunderstand who really has the power in this situation.

Good luck and Keep us updated! As I have said, you aren’t the first parent group to try. Maybe ask around IRL about the experiences of older grad years who definitely tried to consolidate.

The Stars HS program (which already exists with their 2025 team) is meant to be an option for Stars girls that don’t make Capital.

Anonymous wrote:It still is very much a strong feeder to Capital. Kathy Jenkins is still involved with Stars and has good relationship with Capital leadership.

So is it not true that Stars is standing up a high school team? How is Kathy going to be able to both feed Capital and build a high school team? This conflict would seem to change the dynamic going forward.

It still is very much a strong feeder to Capital. Kathy Jenkins is still involved with Stars and has good relationship with Capital leadership.