Both my sons started lacrosse in kindergarten and have played ever since, and are rising 9th and 11th graders at a DC Catholic school, so they're obviously the target for a lot of the dislike here, based on what I've read.

What I will say from my experience as a parent involved with the sport is that you have a small group of complete f--kwits, a small group of genuinely nice/awesome people, and then a large group of just average types who aren't always nice but are also nice enough that I wouldn't throw them in the f--kwit group.

I.e., it's generally a bellcurve of behavior and --OMG--I'm pretty sure you'll find that same distribution across all competitive sports, and in all public and private schools. Lacrosse players are no more or no less obnoxious than your average teenager.

There's such a strong tendency across this whole message board to divide up society into "good"/in groups (of which the poster is a member) and "evil"/out groups (it's okay to attack them--they're the BAD guys!). It's pretty tiresome and if you're an adult doing this maybe look in the mirror and try to be better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's lax team has the highest average GPA of all the D1 athletes at their university. They also do community service year round as do many of the other teams.

This is the problem.. It's like maintenance alcoholics in the making. It is not okay to drink excessively, treat women like they are disposable, and be an entitled a$$hole ... Then say but I get good grade and volunteer so it is okay.

This is true!! The culture is toxic. They love to trash talk women. Treating others like crap is their sport because lacrosse is just weird.

Lacrosse was a prep school sport when I grew up in 70s , when did it become popular around here? Our kids did not get into lacrosse, DD played for a year but never really got into the game. It was looked down as a rich kids sport when I was a kid, no one, and I mean no one played lacrosse in central PA in 70s and 80s except for kids that went to prep schools.

Lacrosse was a yearly "unit" in my MCPS school PE classes starting in 1st grade, back in the late 90s/early aughts, given the same weight as soccer, basketball, gymnastics, etc. But my PE teacher definitely had lax bro vibes, so maybe that was just my school. That said, it was also taught in middle school PE, and iirc kids were playing on club teams by middle school, still the aughts. I get the impression that it was big in Maryland before it became more popular nationally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I posted on this thread 10 years ago.

What I heard then seems to be true;

Lacrosse (for boys) is the last sport they’ll attempt to (fill in the blank): prove to themselves and/or a parent that they are athletic, to align with a socially acceptable “cool team,” and therefore do some high school social climbing, try out for - knowing they’ll get a spot on the team.

So if it it’s a last chance sport, these boys bring a ton of baggage, psychological, physical and emotional!

This is really insightful. Where I live, lacrosse starts much later than where I great up- it really isn't a thing until 4th/5th/6th grade. So it is full of boys who didn't click with soccer, baseball, swimming or any other sports that start much earlier. And the parents bring such high expectations to the sidelines.

Cross-country is similar in its timing and how it attracts kids who didn't find their sport earlier, but it seems to draw a totally different group of kids and parents. Rowing used to be like cross-country, but I see its culture at the HS level shifting to more of a lacrosse culture mindset. Big regattas used to be so chill and friendly, but lately they've been full of insanely aggressive, arrogant parents. Maybe because rowing starts even later and so it's truly the last chance for those families to build their ego through sport.

Someone study this, please!

No what you’re saying is pretty accurate

My son has started lacrosse. He’s a strong swimmer and does club swim as well but wanted a team sport in addition to his individual activities.

He’s kind of a little bro, but I don’t discourage it. He seems well liked at school and at all of his activities so I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s only ten now, so I’ll report back when he’s 17 lol.

Anonymous wrote:I think I posted on this thread 10 years ago.

What I heard then seems to be true;

Lacrosse (for boys) is the last sport they’ll attempt to (fill in the blank): prove to themselves and/or a parent that they are athletic, to align with a socially acceptable “cool team,” and therefore do some high school social climbing, try out for - knowing they’ll get a spot on the team.

So if it it’s a last chance sport, these boys bring a ton of baggage, psychological, physical and emotional!

Oh, so little man syndrome.

Anonymous wrote:I think I posted on this thread 10 years ago.

What I heard then seems to be true;

Lacrosse (for boys) is the last sport they’ll attempt to (fill in the blank): prove to themselves and/or a parent that they are athletic, to align with a socially acceptable “cool team,” and therefore do some high school social climbing, try out for - knowing they’ll get a spot on the team.

So if it it’s a last chance sport, these boys bring a ton of baggage, psychological, physical and emotional!

This is really insightful. Where I live, lacrosse starts much later than where I great up- it really isn't a thing until 4th/5th/6th grade. So it is full of boys who didn't click with soccer, baseball, swimming or any other sports that start much earlier. And the parents bring such high expectations to the sidelines.

Cross-country is similar in its timing and how it attracts kids who didn't find their sport earlier, but it seems to draw a totally different group of kids and parents. Rowing used to be like cross-country, but I see its culture at the HS level shifting to more of a lacrosse culture mindset. Big regattas used to be so chill and friendly, but lately they've been full of insanely aggressive, arrogant parents. Maybe because rowing starts even later and so it's truly the last chance for those families to build their ego through sport.

Someone study this, please!

I think I posted on this thread 10 years ago.

What I heard then seems to be true;

Lacrosse (for boys) is the last sport they’ll attempt to (fill in the blank): prove to themselves and/or a parent that they are athletic, to align with a socially acceptable “cool team,” and therefore do some high school social climbing, try out for - knowing they’ll get a spot on the team.

So if it it’s a last chance sport, these boys bring a ton of baggage, psychological, physical and emotional!

Lacrosse was a safe harbor for jerks and arrogant lax dads and the source of multiple sexual assaults at my suburban public school back in the mid- to late-90s. It's almost reassuring to see that some things never change.

Uncoordinated rich white kids play this “sport”

OMG the kid in the OP is TWENTY THREE YEARS OLD now

OP if by some miracle you see this- give us an update!!!

I’m a little surprised. The lacrosse players at my school were seen as nerdy. A sport no one paid attention to.

My son played LAX for three years. He was terrible. He had the skill and physicality, he just wasn't aggressive enough according to the coaches. He ended up being bullied in school by the co-captains of the team, both sons of the two coaches (two very little men) .
The arrogant little team mate shytes made his life miserable in school and socially. He was hit, tripped and kicked in the hallways between classes. The LAX guys recruited their friends and they ganged up on him mercilessly. The upshot is that the stereotype can be accurate, especially when perpetuated by the Dad \ coaches that think they are teaching their sons to be "men.

I pulled my son out of LAX and attempted to help him through his troubles using recommended contemporary interventions. I spoke to the school but they were useless. The bullying continued. I realized that this needed to be addressed in the old fashioned way, as my old Irish Gran used to say "the best cure for bullying is a punch in the mouth". I grew up boxing and practicing other combat sports as well. With a lot of apprehension I enrolled the lad to the local old school boxing gym. I explained the problem he was having to the coaches and they worked with him. It turned out that he was a natural, lol. It gave him the confidence to deal with his tormentors directly, it was a bumpy couple of week. 3 fights - 3 suspensions. But the bullying immediately ended.

I play lacrosse and this is what I have learned and this is what I do. U be an ass = 2* the ass

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's lax team has the highest average GPA of all the D1 athletes at their university. They also do community service year round as do many of the other teams.

This is the problem.. It's like maintenance alcoholics in the making. It is not okay to drink excessively, treat women like they are disposable, and be an entitled a$$hole ... Then say but I get good grade and volunteer so it is okay.

This is true!! The culture is toxic. They love to trash talk women. Treating others like crap is their sport because lacrosse is just weird.

Lacrosse was a prep school sport when I grew up in 70s , when did it become popular around here? Our kids did not get into lacrosse, DD played for a year but never really got into the game. It was looked down as a rich kids sport when I was a kid, no one, and I mean no one played lacrosse in central PA in 70s and 80s except for kids that went to prep schools.

Lax bros have invaded all high schools and colleges. They are spreading their nastiness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid's lax team has the highest average GPA of all the D1 athletes at their university. They also do community service year round as do many of the other teams.

This is the problem.. It's like maintenance alcoholics in the making. It is not okay to drink excessively, treat women like they are disposable, and be an entitled a$$hole ... Then say but I get good grade and volunteer so it is okay.

This is true!! The culture is toxic. They love to trash talk women. Treating others like crap is their sport because lacrosse is just weird.

Lacrosse was a prep school sport when I grew up in 70s , when did it become popular around here? Our kids did not get into lacrosse, DD played for a year but never really got into the game. It was looked down as a rich kids sport when I was a kid, no one, and I mean no one played lacrosse in central PA in 70s and 80s except for kids that went to prep schools.