Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: Avoid Next Level. They will take your money (lots of it) and in return you will get an incredibly disorganized organization, inexperienced coaches who come and go without warning, bloated rosters of well over 20 kids per team (which means a lot of competition for playing time because of course there are only 10 players on the field at a time), "tryouts" where mediocre players don't get cut because their dad knows someone, and nonexistent communication from the coaches.

This previous posting may at least explain what's going on at Next Level. But still, I do agree that the talent field in general seems lacking (perhaps it's more diluted due to the expansion of the sport)?

I disagree with the first post on Next Level. Our kids have had good experinces with their teams and some excellent caochiong. Yes, the teams are slightly large (22-25, when should really be under 20) but, a lot of the kids play other sports too so you need enough players for days when some cant play. It is expensive but you dont deal with the crap you get in organizations like Club Blue and Bethesda where the dads are the coaches and have natural biases. Nnext Level isnt perfect and this season has indeed been rough in the NYPLL for the boys teams. My daughetr's team, on the other hand, is undefeated. I think having winning seasons AND loosing seasons is good for kids. My son's team won everything last year. This year they are rebuisling a bit and are on the young side. Nothing wrong with that.

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it a good thing to have a lot of kids interested in the sport?

Yes, but the coaching needs to keep up, or it's just a whole lot less fun to watch.

Isn't it a good thing to have a lot of kids interested in the sport?

Anonymous wrote: Avoid Next Level. They will take your money (lots of it) and in return you will get an incredibly disorganized organization, inexperienced coaches who come and go without warning, bloated rosters of well over 20 kids per team (which means a lot of competition for playing time because of course there are only 10 players on the field at a time), "tryouts" where mediocre players don't get cut because their dad knows someone, and nonexistent communication from the coaches.

This previous posting may at least explain what's going on at Next Level. But still, I do agree that the talent field in general seems lacking (perhaps it's more diluted due to the expansion of the sport)?

As someone who never played group sports I don't get this. I can see it developing leadership skills if you're the captain, but how does it develop leadership skills for the average player?

Anecdotal but...

My son was an average player and eventually 5 kids left our team for travel teams. It was going to a rebuilding year and we were going to lose, a lot. My son had been playing 3 years and the coach was the same so he knew the plays and on the field he would be instructing the kids to cut, slide, etc. really out of desperation more than anything. But the new kids looked up to him and eventually he was the go to kid that the other kids trusted and they would pass to him, where in the past the pass went to the "best kids" and he eventually became the "best kid". That is why club level is important. It gives the "average kid" the opportunity to be a leader at his level. He also loves it so much he volunteers with the little kids levels, scooping and catching. That has helped him be a "leader" and it teaches him patient, etc.

Also, I think it has taught my son how to lose gracefully. It took years to learn that but when 5 players leave your team it takes time to play like a team. It is something he has come to understand and can take a lose in stride.

I think the best position to learn leadership skills is the goalie position. If you are a good goalie everybody listens to you. You have to read the defense, tell players where to go and when to slide, etc. you also are fearless. Have you ever been hit with a lacrosse ball?

Teams from the Annapolis area seem very strong at the club level

Anonymous wrote:I have seen a lot of lax this season at the youth level and many club teams talent level is down. 9u 11u and 13u

But it appears to vary by club, because many teams are looking very strong. Other programs are struggling (Next Level, for example, is struggling in nearly every boy's age division).

The players set individual and team goals and work hard to achieve them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, music is an activity which can actually be pursued and perfected well into adulthood, long after physical (athletic) skills decline. Music can also be enjoyed both individually and with a group. Of course music actually develops your brain, which lacrosse doesn't. And certainly the risk of injury with music is less of a concern. Is it fun to get hit with a lacrosse stick all day long? Any additional thoughts?

I hope my children like me and my husband peruse both exercise and music well into their adulthood.

Sports does develop leadership skills, working as a group, and basic health.

The best way to prevent adulthood injuries is to build strong muscles in our youth.

Lacrosse players graduate from college at a higher rate than any other single group of people, including musicians.

I hope for my kids to enjoy both. They will be pros at neither.

As someone who never played group sports I don't get this. I can see it developing leadership skills if you're the captain, but how does it develop leadership skills for the average player?

Anonymous wrote:or the good players were in Chicago playing hockey.

That you Naomi?

Saw a few npyll games and lots of blow outs

or the good players were in Chicago playing hockey.

I agree with the above post and attribute it to the wider popularity of LAX. Basically, the passing isn't as crisp and neither is the catching but you just have less athletic kids playing.

An alternative theory is that most of the really good players are being picked off for elite teams.

I have seen a lot of lax this season at the youth level and many club teams talent level is down. 9u 11u and 13u

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to get "recruited," but not receive the handful of full/partial scholarships available? In other words, can my DC still get an admissions bump due to lacrosse, even if the scholarship money is not soughtgiven? Or is everyone else just a walk on after the scholarships are given out?

Absolutely. Especially if your DC is a good student. A lacrosse coach (or collegiate coach in any sport) would be thrilled to give a recruit money out of the merit scholarship pool rather than the athletic scholarship pool. There are rarely enough athletic scholarships to go around, while merit aid is more likely to go unused.

My DC plays a different sport at a high level and his GPA (4.0+) is getting as many admiring looks from college coaches as his play. Together they are a great package and make him attractive to coaches.