Anonymous wrote:Why can't you name coaches who coach both at Dulles South and VLC?

No coaches are dad’s of DS kids. The VLC directors coach the Hs teams. This is a very false claim.

Why can't you name coaches who coach both at Dulles South and VLC?

Anonymous wrote:DS higher ups? You mean volunteers? They have kids on several clubs and daughters as well. No ties exist between DS and VLC. No DS coaches coach at VLC. Bethesda is a different story

I'm not naming names but you are totally mistaken.

DS higher ups? You mean volunteers? They have kids on several clubs and daughters as well. No ties exist between DS and VLC. No DS coaches coach at VLC. Bethesda is a different story

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised that VLC hasn't taken on a model like BLC->DCE, with a direct feeder from Dulles South or another Loudoun county team. Seems like a model that has been successful for BLC and DCE.

That would require a direct link between the 2 organizations. Are they currently affiliated? DCE was started by a BLC parent and supported by BLC parents.

Dulles South higher-ups have kids who play for VLC so there's a pipeline there.

Yeah, but your kid still has to try out and be good enough to make the team. Just being on DS doesn’t get you a spot on VLC.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised that VLC hasn't taken on a model like BLC->DCE, with a direct feeder from Dulles South or another Loudoun county team. Seems like a model that has been successful for BLC and DCE.

That would require a direct link between the 2 organizations. Are they currently affiliated? DCE was started by a BLC parent and supported by BLC parents.

Dulles South higher-ups have kids who play for VLC so there's a pipeline there.

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised that VLC hasn't taken on a model like BLC->DCE, with a direct feeder from Dulles South or another Loudoun county team. Seems like a model that has been successful for BLC and DCE.

That would require a direct link between the 2 organizations. Are they currently affiliated? DCE was started by a BLC parent and supported by BLC parents.

Dulles South is not like other Rex programs. They have 7 HS in the area most other Rec
Programs feed 2-3

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised that VLC hasn't taken on a model like BLC->DCE, with a direct feeder from Dulles South or another Loudoun county team. Seems like a model that has been successful for BLC and DCE.

VLC has plenty of kids who were (or still are) on Dulles South. Lots of Great Falls rec team kids too.

I am surprised that VLC hasn't taken on a model like BLC->DCE, with a direct feeder from Dulles South or another Loudoun county team. Seems like a model that has been successful for BLC and DCE.

VLC has done a great job over they years moving into the younger ranks. They do it right, slow and steady and build their teams into very competitive ones for HS. Solid coaching and consistent ownership has done the club well

2025 team is a great example. That team is only 1-2 seasons into their development with the program. Lost a year to COVID and was a 24/25 team the first year VLC moved into fielding younger teams.

That team is coming together very well. Performance based playing time with some real standouts joining the team from other clubs. Some kids who were not as strong have left making the result very competitive as evidenced by their very strong showing against a very good DCE team last week.

VLC is a great offering for kids in NOVA, and kids are coming to the club from the MD suburbs too!

I think the 25/26 and younger classes will really be strong in the years to come.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why VLC only offers teams down to 2027? Seems like most area teams go to at least 2030...and yes, I've heard all of the people say no need for club that young, but it's nice to have options for year round play in addition to other sports

They will find that they have to start adding younger teams. They held tryouts for 2028s year before last but could not form a team. My guess is with the uncertainty because of COVID issues they decided not to form new teams this year. But the market on club lacrosse has shifted significantly and the better players are playing club younger and younger. The days where you can form a good team in middle or high school are gone. Look for example at the 2027 VLC which is not competitive with local clubs like Madlax and Next Level that form teams earlier. Will be hard for VLC to ever compete in those classes unless they start getting a better youth pipeline. None of this applies to the already formed older VLC teams like 2022 to 2024 which are pretty good and competitive with the top clubs. But the model for the younger classes has changed and VLC will have to adapt if they want to remain one of the top clubs for years like 2027 and down.

In my experience very few kids stay with a club more than five years. A new voice helps. VLC 2023 is probably the strongest VLC class and benefitted fro kids moving over from Cavalier Blackwolf and other clubs. In HS the best kids find the best club no matter where they played in 3rd grade.

Anonymous wrote:Why is VLC holding tryouts for 2026s NOW?

Normally VLC tryouts are held once per year in August. This year the 2026 team chose a lean roster of only 18 players, holding back a spot or two in case an exceptional player came available during the year. But they have a couple of players with fall conflicts, plus a couple of injuries, so they have been playing their HoCo games with just 14-15 players (4-2 in the Elite division so far) and are headed into fall tournaments with that same size roster. So now they are looking for that final 1-2 players sooner than they expected.

The VLC folks are realistic that the quality of player they would consider taking is probably committed to another team for the fall, but they are holding an open tryout this Monday, 10/5, 5:30 on Baron Cameron fields in Reston, mainly to get players on their radar for next spring and summer. If they could add an impact player now, of course they would.
If a good 2026 player on another local team is unhappy with his team's roster size and his playing time, this is a rare opportunity to join a nationally ranked team and get tons of playing time on day 1.
Hope that helps.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why VLC only offers teams down to 2027? Seems like most area teams go to at least 2030...and yes, I've heard all of the people say no need for club that young, but it's nice to have options for year round play in addition to other sports

They will find that they have to start adding younger teams. They held tryouts for 2028s year before last but could not form a team. My guess is with the uncertainty because of COVID issues they decided not to form new teams this year. But the market on club lacrosse has shifted significantly and the better players are playing club younger and younger. The days where you can form a good team in middle or high school are gone. Look for example at the 2027 VLC which is not competitive with local clubs like Madlax and Next Level that form teams earlier. Will be hard for VLC to ever compete in those classes unless they start getting a better youth pipeline. None of this applies to the already formed older VLC teams like 2022 to 2024 which are pretty good and competitive with the top clubs. But the model for the younger classes has changed and VLC will have to adapt if they want to remain one of the top clubs for years like 2027 and down.

Does anyone know why VLC only offers teams down to 2027? Seems like most area teams go to at least 2030...and yes, I've heard all of the people say no need for club that young, but it's nice to have options for year round play in addition to other sports