Hearing about 2030 teams reminds me how young these kids start, can an 8th grader catch up if he comes to the sport later?

As a father of a NL 2030 boy, I'll give you my perspective. We really like the boys coaching at NL so far. The clinic instructor, who is demanding, but great, has really improved the pipeline and also decided to coach the 2030 team along with the Mitchells, which has been a natural transition for the kids from the clinic program. It’s been my observation that this bottoms up approach has worked well as many of the younger NL teams are very competitive. In any event, we are happy with the coaching and the progress our son has made since the fall, especially since he is actually a 2031 playing up.

I do also think BLC is a great program at the younger ages. We chose NL for our son because that is where he started and we are very happy with his progress, but would gladly recommend BLC to anybody considering the program. My son did several MadLax clinics and our preference was NL for him. However, plenty of people choose MadLax and, since my son isn’t in the program, I’m not in a position to comment beyond, simply based on our clinic experience, we felt NL was the better program for our son at this time.

Is it too late to try out for a summer high school team?

What are you babbling about? Another insecure STA booster trying to feel better about themselves by making elites comments that have no basis in reality.

Meh. They’ll go mainly D3 super smart schools, and end up the boss of you one day.

Interesting

One commit for 2021? Sad.

According to usclublax:

2021: 1) DCE - Madlax & NL not in top20
2022: 6) DCE, 18 Madlax, NL not in top20
2023: 1) Madlax, 15) DCE, 17) NL
2024: 1) Madlax, 12) NL, DCE not in top20
2025: 9) Madlax, NL & BLC not in top20

Next Level somehow formed the best 2020 team in the area. DCE did the same for 2021. How does 2022 look for these teams?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most boys on varsity Sta lax team continue to play club lacrosse through high school?

No. That’s part of the problem. Not the entire problem. But a root cause of the team’s lackluster performance. Last years varsity had some Dce VLC and Madlax representation. But that’s literally 3 players along with maybe another 3 from NL. The hope is that Heeter can charm or persuade or outright demand more STA rostered players sign up for year long club (ie Next Level) lacrosse. The recent track record with 2020 nl college placements may just entice those gray hard marms to do just that, fattening Next Level coffers and maybe the STA win record at the same tome. Win win.

Unfortunately, “demanding” or encouraging STA lax players to play NL club year round is really not going to make that much of a difference. It may help a few players if they start in 4th grade, but for the most part STA just doesn’t have the overall talent that the other IAC schools have. Their 2023 class is more athletically talented than previous classes, but they still can’t hold a candle to the level and depth of talent at their top IAC competitors. STA traditionally has one or two college commits for lax on varsity while a school like Prep, for example, has almost half its varsity roster (12-15) committed to play in college. They are two very different animals and STA has a long way to go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do most boys on varsity Sta lax team continue to play club lacrosse through high school?

If they are any good they do. But STA doesn't have that many good players to begin with. They might have 3-5 on par with the other IAC teams and it drops off pretty fast.

This is true and points more to the overwhelming strength of the IAC rather than the weakness of the saint albans program. In almost any other conference in the country having 3-5 players who are talented enough to get recruited to play at the college level would make you a conference favorite. In the IAC, if your starting lineup and the next 6 up on the bench are not committed or about to be committed, it’s an off year. Some people might quibble with how a team became so packed (beginning with that dirty word, recruitment). I just enjoy watching some of the best high school lacrosse out there on a weekly basis.

Anonymous wrote:Do most boys on varsity Sta lax team continue to play club lacrosse through high school?

No. That’s part of the problem. Not the entire problem. But a root cause of the team’s lackluster performance. Last years varsity had some Dce VLC and Madlax representation. But that’s literally 3 players along with maybe another 3 from NL. The hope is that Heeter can charm or persuade or outright demand more STA rostered players sign up for year long club (ie Next Level) lacrosse. The recent track record with 2020 nl college placements may just entice those gray hard marms to do just that, fattening Next Level coffers and maybe the STA win record at the same tome. Win win.

Anonymous wrote:Do most boys on varsity Sta lax team continue to play club lacrosse through high school?

If they are any good they do. But STA doesn't have that many good players to begin with. They might have 3-5 on par with the other IAC teams and it drops off pretty fast.

Do most boys on varsity Sta lax team continue to play club lacrosse through high school?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heeter is now the head coach for St. Albans school. Good news for the school. They might be able to quietly recruit skilled laxers.

If you play for a club other the next level, will Heeter take away PT on STA lax?

The idiotic statements of children posting never ceases to amaze. There are a total of 9 St. Albans students rostered on 6 A and B level teams at NL. This would also mean having all the freshman make varsity and get playing time. If this is really a parent posting with a kid at STA playing lax not playing for NL, why wouldn't you switch clubs?

The STA freshman from Heeters team last year, should not be hoping to make his varsity team this year. That would be a mistake. They may like the bragging rights, being able to say they made varsity freshman year will give them, but the reality is the team is not very good (so no legit bragging rights) and, if they play, are likely going to get hurt. The top IAC teams are far superior strength and talent wise compared to STA and freshman, especially at STA, do not belong on the varsity team. It would be far more beneficial for them to get solid playing time/experience on the JV team and then move up to varsity when they have gown, built strength, and skill.