Anonymous wrote:Looked like a bunch of ML kids, as predicted. A reclassed goalie from outside the area. A few more kids (helmets) I didn’t recognize. Plus the NL kids that were already on the team. There were quite a few injured kids on the sidelines.

Coaches were funny/nervous with the awkwardness of the moment. Everyone knew what was going on, but nobody came out and said it. Elephant in the room.

Based on what I saw, I think my kid will be ok. A bunch won’t be. We’ll be better for sure, but I don’t know how much better.

Any St John's helmets?

Anonymous wrote:When will they let you know?

Tryouts were all smoke and mirrors - the ones that made the team already know - the new additions knew before the tryouts even began - the existing boys who became part of the new team knew before tryouts were over - the others will never receive a call.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looked like a bunch of ML kids, as predicted. A reclassed goalie from outside the area. A few more kids (helmets) I didn’t recognize. Plus the NL kids that were already on the team. There were quite a few injured kids on the sidelines.

Coaches were funny/nervous with the awkwardness of the moment. Everyone knew what was going on, but nobody came out and said it. Elephant in the room.

Based on what I saw, I think my kid will be ok. A bunch won’t be. We’ll be better for sure, but I don’t know how much better.

Would agree for sure. Better how much better is still to be determined but would be for sure get this team out of the low rankings (#70) into the top 20 just were the ML team sits today (#25) this past Fall. Will the additions get them out of the top 20 and into the top 15/10 team this summer is the question but only thing changing would be coaching and colors. DCE is at #11 and VLC #44. I know "nobody cares about rankings" but you do care or people would not be making all this noise.

It is hard to see how the combination team will be much better than either of its parts. NextLevel 2026 has always had a tight knit culture of kids and families, but underperformed due to lack of dominant talent. In the last year of HoCo they were not even in the top division. MadLax 2026 had some talent, but never as much as they wanted, but consistently underperformed due to kids not showing up at practice, toxic parents and players, and generally poor culture. And on their best day they were never higher than 20 in the national rankings, and in their last year of HoCo they finished near the bottom. And many of their top players have already left for VLC or DCE. Now the combined team will be pulling players from NL and ML and going to summer tournaments against top national teams who have been playing together for years, with little or no practice of their own, and expectations sky high. What could possibly go wrong?

Anonymous wrote:Looked like a bunch of ML kids, as predicted. A reclassed goalie from outside the area. A few more kids (helmets) I didn’t recognize. Plus the NL kids that were already on the team. There were quite a few injured kids on the sidelines.

Coaches were funny/nervous with the awkwardness of the moment. Everyone knew what was going on, but nobody came out and said it. Elephant in the room.

Based on what I saw, I think my kid will be ok. A bunch won’t be. We’ll be better for sure, but I don’t know how much better.

Would agree for sure. Better how much better is still to be determined but would be for sure get this team out of the low rankings (#70) into the top 20 just were the ML team sits today (#25) this past Fall. Will the additions get them out of the top 20 and into the top 15/10 team this summer is the question but only thing changing would be coaching and colors. DCE is at #11 and VLC #44. I know "nobody cares about rankings" but you do care or people would not be making all this noise.

When will they let you know?

Looked like a bunch of ML kids, as predicted. A reclassed goalie from outside the area. A few more kids (helmets) I didn’t recognize. Plus the NL kids that were already on the team. There were quite a few injured kids on the sidelines.

Coaches were funny/nervous with the awkwardness of the moment. Everyone knew what was going on, but nobody came out and said it. Elephant in the room.

Based on what I saw, I think my kid will be ok. A bunch won’t be. We’ll be better for sure, but I don’t know how much better.

Anonymous wrote:Yes inquiring minds want to know. Is NL 2026 now big time?

Sounds like this story may have been overblown. Shocking.

Yes inquiring minds want to know. Is NL 2026 now big time?

Anonymous wrote:Is the tryout just one day?

One day and the question all are waiting to know is WHO showed up?

If not offered spot on combined team (which could implode from too many egos) reach out to VLC and DCE and stay on current team for the meantime, depending on what type of players are left behind as well. Could be opportunity to shine if player was previously second string. I disagree about going to a team like Hammers or TC for D3 opportunities. Top D3 coaches are at the best tournaments as well and plenty of kids from the better DMV teams end up going D3 once the D1 prospects are snapped up, even if not on the combo team. VLC for example, is already starting to place 2024s in D3 as well as D1.

Anonymous wrote:Is the tryout just one day?

Connect with any of the clubs, they are always looking to add talent - always.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So true, if you are at the top tournaments Sophomore summer the sidelines will be crowded with college coaches. They don't care who wins or loses but want to see kids play against the type of competition that they are recruiting for. The best way to look good that summer is to play as a TEAM where defense and offense work together as a unit. Going to a lesser program like Hammers is recruiting suicide at this point but so it playing on a team with a bunch of ball hogs/attention seeking non-team players (with parents fueling this fire) that turns into showcase play when the coaches are there. It is a lot of pressure playing in front of loaded sidelines but that is when solid coaching and player character really shine. Less chest bumping is always good as well.

Where do you suggest a 2026 with college aspirations should go if they were in NL 2026 or ML 2026 but aren’t offered a spot in the combined team?

Play on the ML 2026 team. They’ll be playing in many of the same tourneys as NL 2026, so if a kid is good enough to play in college the recruiters will see them.

Is the tryout just one day?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So true, if you are at the top tournaments Sophomore summer the sidelines will be crowded with college coaches. They don't care who wins or loses but want to see kids play against the type of competition that they are recruiting for. The best way to look good that summer is to play as a TEAM where defense and offense work together as a unit. Going to a lesser program like Hammers is recruiting suicide at this point but so it playing on a team with a bunch of ball hogs/attention seeking non-team players (with parents fueling this fire) that turns into showcase play when the coaches are there. It is a lot of pressure playing in front of loaded sidelines but that is when solid coaching and player character really shine. Less chest bumping is always good as well.

Where do you suggest a 2026 with college aspirations should go if they were in NL 2026 or ML 2026 but aren’t offered a spot in the combined team?

Next year is the key recruiting window for the 2026 class. If a player is not a top player on ML VLC NL or DCE better off at Hammers or True and shoot for D3.

Anonymous wrote:So true, if you are at the top tournaments Sophomore summer the sidelines will be crowded with college coaches. They don't care who wins or loses but want to see kids play against the type of competition that they are recruiting for. The best way to look good that summer is to play as a TEAM where defense and offense work together as a unit. Going to a lesser program like Hammers is recruiting suicide at this point but so it playing on a team with a bunch of ball hogs/attention seeking non-team players (with parents fueling this fire) that turns into showcase play when the coaches are there. It is a lot of pressure playing in front of loaded sidelines but that is when solid coaching and player character really shine. Less chest bumping is always good as well.

Where do you suggest a 2026 with college aspirations should go if they were in NL 2026 or ML 2026 but aren’t offered a spot in the combined team?