DCE and NL have definitely gotten better, but they are fighting BW, Crabs, FCA and Madlax to a much lesser extent for Mongtomery County kids.

Landon's conference winning soccer team also has several lacrosse standouts as well.

Also Landon is a small school and athletic students typically play at least 2 varsity sports. For example, a number of football standouts on the conference winning football team at Landon are also standouts on the varsity lacrosse team. This dynamic has been encouraged by school staff--more well rounded athletes and minimizes the types of injuries you see with over-training/specialization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree VLC 2017 and 2018 racked up an impressive number of commits to a great range of quality D1 and D3 schools. Also agree that the coaches are a great group of guys who help salvage the overall reputation of club lax in the DMV.

3 observations cause me some concern that VLC may be losing a little bit of luster. First, even if it is true that 2019 has 3 commits to great schools, none are lax powerhouses like Hop or UVA, and the numbers are low even keeping in mind the new recruitment rules.

Second, they lost Langley. One of main builders of program, Phenomenal coach and great advocate during recruitment.

Third, the rosters seem less filled with private school kids. I think this is great for he development of lacrosse in the region. But the fact remains that for the foreseeable future the center of high school lacrosse - where the best players gravitate and largest pool of future recruits - are in the privates. The rise of DCExpress and Next Level across the river may account for this.

What rise? What great recruits are at DCExpress or Next Level for 2018 or 2019?

I think what people are saying by this is -- at least anecdotally -- DC Express and Next Level teams are retaining more players that are college lacrosse type players. To be sure, the usual suspects (Madlax, BW, VLC) still currently have more/stronger commits in the 2018/19 range, but NL/DC Express have gone from having virtually no recruits to having I think 5 D1 commits for NL in the class of 2019 -- and DCE and NL have players in the pipeline that seem to have the potential to play D1. Say what you want about the strength of the 2019 commitments, the fact that there are ANY is a difference from prior years in which every (or virtually every) D1 player came from the VLC, BW, and Madlax. People from DCE and NL in the pipeline could still ultimately bolt in the main recruiting years, but I think we are seeing somewhat of a change in club scene in which NL and DCE are stronger than they once were. Whether or not they ever rise to the level of the traditional players is something that remains to be seen, but they definitely seem on the upswing when compared to prior years for NL and DCE's predecessors. So this isn't a knock on the traditional clubs or a claim that their current recruits match those other clubs.

Surprising that the website hasn't been updated. The crabs love to crow about the number of their recruits. Also I noticed a big jump in organization this past year with VLC organization and communication. Think they hired a new admin guy. They will probably focus on the website nearer to spring.

Has anyone heard how Blackwolf 2019 is doing with college recruiting so far?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.crabslax.com/AlumniVLC.aspx

VLC commit list for 2019 is anemic. What's happening to VLC?

That is list is out of date. They have 3 commits: Colgate Bucknell and Marquette.

VLC had 20 commits in their 2017 Team and 18 on their 18 Team. Their 2019 started slow but should have 10+ when it's all said. The club is in better shape now than evee.

VLC booster - your arithmetic seems off for 2017 and 2018. I checked their website and I'm not counting as many as you are. Still impressive numbers I'll give you that. Just not pinpoint accurate numbers.

I am the one who wrote that because I had a kid on one of the teams. It's because the website is maintained by the Crabs and not accurate.

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that Landon, one of the best programs in the area year in and year out, does not participate in any type of Fall Ball League or indoor box.

They don't need to. I think box is great for fostering team chemistry. It probably gets the guys excited about lacrosse. Also good to keep those stick skills up. But there is no real correlation between success at box and field. So that's probably why you see a lot of publics doing this as they are all trying to expand and improve their programs.

I find it interesting that Landon, one of the best programs in the area year in and year out, does not participate in any type of Fall Ball League or indoor box.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.crabslax.com/AlumniVLC.aspx

VLC commit list for 2019 is anemic. What's happening to VLC?

That is list is out of date. They have 3 commits: Colgate Bucknell and Marquette.

VLC had 20 commits in their 2017 Team and 18 on their 18 Team. Their 2019 started slow but should have 10+ when it's all said. The club is in better shape now than evee.

VLC booster - your arithmetic seems off for 2017 and 2018. I checked their website and I'm not counting as many as you are. Still impressive numbers I'll give you that. Just not pinpoint accurate numbers.

Anonymous wrote:I agree VLC 2017 and 2018 racked up an impressive number of commits to a great range of quality D1 and D3 schools. Also agree that the coaches are a great group of guys who help salvage the overall reputation of club lax in the DMV.

3 observations cause me some concern that VLC may be losing a little bit of luster. First, even if it is true that 2019 has 3 commits to great schools, none are lax powerhouses like Hop or UVA, and the numbers are low even keeping in mind the new recruitment rules.

Second, they lost Langley. One of main builders of program, Phenomenal coach and great advocate during recruitment.

Third, the rosters seem less filled with private school kids. I think this is great for he development of lacrosse in the region. But the fact remains that for the foreseeable future the center of high school lacrosse - where the best players gravitate and largest pool of future recruits - are in the privates. The rise of DCExpress and Next Level across the river may account for this.

What rise? What great recruits are at DCExpress or Next Level for 2018 or 2019?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just curious but which HS teams are participating in a winter indoor box league?

Heights.

Whitman.

BCC. Both Varsity and JV. Go Barons!

Quince Orchard.

Very good sign that all these moco publics are playing year round lax. Will pay dividends for sure.

In that same league are Gonzaga, St Albans and St Andrews.

I agree VLC 2017 and 2018 racked up an impressive number of commits to a great range of quality D1 and D3 schools. Also agree that the coaches are a great group of guys who help salvage the overall reputation of club lax in the DMV.

3 observations cause me some concern that VLC may be losing a little bit of luster. First, even if it is true that 2019 has 3 commits to great schools, none are lax powerhouses like Hop or UVA, and the numbers are low even keeping in mind the new recruitment rules.

Second, they lost Langley. One of main builders of program, Phenomenal coach and great advocate during recruitment.

Third, the rosters seem less filled with private school kids. I think this is great for he development of lacrosse in the region. But the fact remains that for the foreseeable future the center of high school lacrosse - where the best players gravitate and largest pool of future recruits - are in the privates. The rise of DCExpress and Next Level across the river may account for this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NL 2019 has two Saint Andrews boys who have committed to D1 programs: Albany and Bellarmine (Kentucky)

Both excellent schools with great lax programs. Congrats to the boys, St. Andrews and Next Level.

Please. Those are bottom of the barrel schools. Truly awful.

Albany is a national lacrosse powerhouse.

That may be the case but it is hardly an academic powerhouse. It is a state school in NY which the majority of kids going are from NY.

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/suny-albany-2835

Even though I’m a lax parent, these exchanges make me believe this thread should be deleted. Way to continue to give lax a bad name. Thanks guys.

I think VLC does a really good job developing players. So — at least in our kids’ years — they might not have a ton of 8th graders being recruited (or in the current system,being looked at) but they end up with kids going to a nice range of schools, D1 and D3. And our kids’ coaches were people i was happy to have them look up to: bright, personable guys with interesting jobs, great communication skills, and good senses of humor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.crabslax.com/AlumniVLC.aspx

VLC commit list for 2019 is anemic. What's happening to VLC?

That is list is out of date. They have 3 commits: Colgate Bucknell and Marquette.

VLC had 20 commits in their 2017 Team and 18 on their 18 Team. Their 2019 started slow but should have 10+ when it's all said. The club is in better shape now than evee.

2017 kids are in college bro, and 2018 will be on their way this year. Definitely trending downwards. Dem the facts. VLC is terrible, and their parents are the worst.