BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Boys 2023 - 6th Grade Fall 2016/ Summer 2017

Every knows AJ doesn't have say in who makes that team. The badgers practice is he only one where you'll see Mrs AJ carrying AJ balls out on the field.

A brackets in B tournaments don't count. If your playing in B tournaments play up like the real A teams do!!!!

They lost in B tournaments last year. But this year they will be playing A bracket in A tournaments? Almost as miraculous a turnaround as Tornados! Can't wait to see them at LI LX FST.

I am a little late to the tryouts. Is anyone going to Recon or Outlaw tryouts, and if so which is a better option? Thank you for any trusted advice.

There is a good deal of chatter about Express 2023 HB Team. It started out cordial about a parent asking if it is worth keeping his son on the team if all it means is he may get cut next year. From a parent where my son was cut from the team after playing with them for 3 years, and there were only 5 of us, the team dynamic was awesome. Kids loved one another and the parents all got along (let's leave the BM incident out of the equation).

My son was cut and, in the long run, it may be the best thing that happened to him. AJ is an awesome coach and you would know this if you attended any of his practices or really watched him during the game. Yes, he is quiet but don't mistake that for passiveness. He is very passionate about the game and making kids better. His only real downfall is his lack of communication. It may sound naïve but the team had a good season and everyone, at least I thought, had the hopes this would be one of those teams where the kids stay together through to the end of travel lacrosse. Had I known this was not the case, I could have prepared for the inevitability. With the exception of a few stand-outs on the team, there is very little disparity from the top to the bottom. I don't think saying a kid is a 7th or 8th midfielder is fair/accurate. I think the coaches were so used to the boys and their roles that, regardless of how they played, they viewed them a certain way so some of them were simply under-utilized. It's hard for a child to advocate for themselves and a parent can only change the coaches mind so much.

It was a big blow to my son as it was probably for any child cut from a team. It still stings and I worry he may not have the same passion for the game as he doesn't want to be disappointed again. I hope I am wrong but we did scramble to make a couple of late tryouts. He was not his best and it showed. We found a team and the coach is a great guy. He likes my son and I am hoping he brings out the best in him. If you have ever heard the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" it rings true.

My hope is Express 2023 does great and I will continue to root for them and AJ... except when my son plays them

Go ahead and beat me up now!!!

There is a good deal of chatter about Express 2023 HB Team. It started out cordial about a parent asking if it is worth keeping his son on the team if all it means is he may get cut next year. From a parent where my son was cut from the team after playing with them for 3 years, and there were only 5 of us, the team dynamic was awesome. Kids loved one another and the parents all got along (let's leave the BM incident out of the equation).

My son was cut and, in the long run, it may be the best thing that happened to him. AJ is an awesome coach and you would know this if you attended any of his practices or really watched him during the game. Yes, he is quiet but don't mistake that for passiveness. He is very passionate about the game and making kids better. His only real downfall is his lack of communication. It may sound naïve but the team had a good season and everyone, at least I thought, had the hopes this would be one of those teams where the kids stay together through to the end of travel lacrosse. Had I known this was not the case, I could have prepared for the inevitability. With the exception of a few stand-outs on the team, there is very little disparity from the top to the bottom. I don't think saying a kid is a 7th or 8th midfielder is fair/accurate. I think the coaches were so used to the boys and their roles that, regardless of how they played, they viewed them a certain way so some of them were simply under-utilized. It's hard for a child to advocate for themselves and a parent can only change the coaches mind so much.

It was a big blow to my son as it was probably for any child cut from a team. It still stings and I worry he may not have the same passion for the game as he doesn't want to be disappointed again. I hope I am wrong but we did scramble to make a couple of late tryouts. He was not his best and it showed. We found a team and the coach is a great guy. He likes my son and I am hoping he brings out the best in him. If you have ever heard the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" it rings true.

My hope is Express 2023 does great and I will continue to root for them and AJ... except when my son plays them

Go ahead and beat me up now!!!

It's like an avalanche and I can't stop. Thank you for the advice about considering a B team. My older son actually plays on what would be considered a B team and they are anything but. Many of the kids are just as good as the A team players but not better so the original players stay put. It kind of sucks but I actually agree with that.

That said, two points I want to make clear. We went to another club because I was extremely impressed with that particular coach and I truly believe my son and the team will get quality coaching. Regarding the A/B thing, since the quality coaching is not a concern as I stated, there is a psychological component. You may disagree but, as I mentioned in the original post, my son was under-utilized. I never said I didn't think he was an A team player. I want my son to believe in himself and we are using this opportunity for a fresh start. That B team may actually be better than his new team but putting him on the team, in some manner, is admitting defeat which we are not prepared to do at his young age of 11.

Please don't take the last sentence the wrong way... I made it clear I have no issues with B teams.

I hope this is helpful. Getting this out has been for me.

There is a good deal of chatter about Express 2023 HB Team. It started out cordial about a parent asking if it is worth keeping his son on the team if all it means is he may get cut next year. From a parent where my son was cut from the team after playing with them for 3 years, and there were only 5 of us, the team dynamic was awesome. Kids loved one another and the parents all got along (let's leave the BM incident out of the equation).

My son was cut and, in the long run, it may be the best thing that happened to him. AJ is an awesome coach and you would know this if you attended any of his practices or really watched him during the game. Yes, he is quiet but don't mistake that for passiveness. He is very passionate about the game and making kids better. His only real downfall is his lack of communication. It may sound naïve but the team had a good season and everyone, at least I thought, had the hopes this would be one of those teams where the kids stay together through to the end of travel lacrosse. Had I known this was not the case, I could have prepared for the inevitability. With the exception of a few stand-outs on the team, there is very little disparity from the top to the bottom. I don't think saying a kid is a 7th or 8th midfielder is fair/accurate. I think the coaches were so used to the boys and their roles that, regardless of how they played, they viewed them a certain way so some of them were simply under-utilized. It's hard for a child to advocate for themselves and a parent can only change the coaches mind so much.

It was a big blow to my son as it was probably for any child cut from a team. It still stings and I worry he may not have the same passion for the game as he doesn't want to be disappointed again. I hope I am wrong but we did scramble to make a couple of late tryouts. He was not his best and it showed. We found a team and the coach is a great guy. He likes my son and I am hoping he brings out the best in him. If you have ever heard the saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" it rings true.

My hope is Express 2023 does great and I will continue to root for them and AJ... except when my son plays them

Go ahead and beat me up now!!!

Thank you for the support. The last couple days have been therapeutic. The few people that identified me have only had nice things to say and felt I gave them a voice as well.

I won't pretend I am not one of those parents that never complains. It would be foolish to pretend otherwise. What I can tell you is we should all take a moment to just watch our kids. They get on the field and there is no malice in them. They play because it is fun (and to win). When it stops being fun they will stop playing.

For the person that hopes my child has the same philosophy as me... I am the one that is trying to live by his philosophy. All I can do is try and make sure he continues to love life which is no easy task.

Back to lacrosse.... it's ok to live vicariously through your kids. Their experiences are your experiences. What you need to avoid is getting upset with them when they have a setback. Pick him up, dust him off and send him back out there making sure he knows you will love him no matter what (this goes for your daughters as well).

Every knows AJ doesn't have say in who makes that team. The badgers practice is he only one where you'll see Mrs AJ carrying AJ balls out on the field.

Thanks to this guy for keeping this forum on a heading I for one appreciate. Willing to share specific info, offer an opinion, and let others absorb it. Thank you!

PS- not sure the guys who bombard the forum with silly posts realize there are many of us who don't know or care about random insider snipes like "JS ditched *** because BM is a sideline dad [lacrosse] who should be a B coach!" ... spare us.

Thanks to this guy for keeping this forum on a heading I for one appreciate. Willing to share specific info, offer an opinion, and let others absorb it. Thank you!

PS- not sure the guys who bombard the forum with silly posts realize there are many of us who don't know or care about random insider snipes like "JS ditched *** because BM is a sideline dad [lacrosse] who should be a B coach!" ... spare us.

Did Icon at this age level fold?? They couldn't get a goalie last year and I heard many of the parents were unhappy. Curious if they held it together. I haven't come across anyone on the team.

Why is playing on a B team admitting defeat? Did your older son admit defeat? A real shame you think this way. And maybe you should consider that your view is holding your son back.
You say your son was under utilized. That's code for not playing, right? Maybe he'd play more on a B team. That's not admitting defeat but it could be having fun. I'm sure you think he was an A player. But after being underutilized and being cut maybe not. What's the value in the label of A anyway?

What happened to the Express A team? They cut some awesome players that were devoted to the club for the past several years. If this is the case, should I pull my son from the team knowing they're going to kick him off at some point? I'd rather have security of knowing where my money is going and where my son is playing.

What happened to the Express A team? They cut some awesome players that were devoted to the club for the past several years. If this is the case, should I pull my son from the team knowing they're going to kick him off at some point? I'd rather have security of knowing where my money is going and where my son is playing.

What happened to the Express A team? They cut some awesome players that were devoted to the club for the past several years. If this is the case, should I pull my son from the team knowing they're going to kick him off at some point? I'd rather have security of knowing where my money is going and where my son is playing.

What happened to the Express A team is they upgraded attack with 2 new kids, got one of the best goalies in the 2023 class, and added another great middy. A strong team just got quite a bit stronger. That is what happened. And the coaching group is solid, motivated, and committed.

What happened to the Express A team? They cut some awesome players that were devoted to the club for the past several years. If this is the case, should I pull my son from the team knowing they're going to kick him off at some point? I'd rather have security of knowing where my money is going and where my son is playing.

What happened to the Express A team is they upgraded attack with 2 new kids, got one of the best goalies in the 2023 class, and added another great middy. A strong team just got quite a bit stronger. That is what happened. And the coaching group is solid, motivated, and committed.

What happened to the Express A team? They cut some awesome players that were devoted to the club for the past several years. If this is the case, should I pull my son from the team knowing they're going to kick him off at some point? I'd rather have security of knowing where my money is going and where my son is playing.

Blue fish is having tryouts again for 2023, anyone know how good this team is or what positions there looking for.

Blue fish is having tryouts again for 2023, anyone know how good this team is or what positions there looking for.

Blue fish is having tryouts again for 2023, anyone know how good this team is or what positions there looking for.

I'm not sure about all of that, but this is competitive lacrosse. Like it or not, teams are trying to put the most competitive team possible on the field. If you think your son deserves a spot on one of the top teams because he could throw and catch three years ago, welcome to reality. PAL is for the "every one gets a cookie" crowd, but travel, at any age (5 year olds to 17 year olds) is about the best kid at the position. That's how it should be. That's why we pay several thousand dollars a year, to play with the best possible kids for that team. That doesn't mean your son's development will be stifled because he's not on one of the top teams; on the contrary, he may excel play more minutes. But don't hate on a program for doing what they're supposed to do.

tryout for the Outlaws, they are looking for Middies, and Defense.