BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Bypassing Middle School Lax for Club Team

The problem we have is our varsity coach and an A.D. from a neighboring district coach the summer team and they charge quite a bit without making cuts or holding tryouts. They are also forming a younger "travel" team, and yes-if you don't pay you won't play for the school. My son and several of his friends tried out for and would like to play on legit travel teams but it was strongly "suggested" that they stay with the team to "build the program". Coincidently, the coachs son made varsity as a freshman last year, barely played and got pummeled when he did but that's politics 101.

I agree with one thing - if you are in 7th or 8th grade... Why wouldn't a player want to play on his middle school team?? ...its everyday after school running around playing lax w friends... its only the PAL and Club teams schedules that often conflict...

...a choice that makes playing PAL after 6th grade has become a TOTAL waste of time for any experienced, athletic player... YOUR point is lost when you start generalizing and handing out badges of loyalty for playing home town PAL

Did it occur to you that the 7th or 8th grade player who decides to try out for a highly competitive club team without the comfort of his buddy's around , may be considered courageous?? maybe even start learning those "man" lessons that you like so much;)

making a 12 year old sign a commitment waiver as a condition to play for youth club (fl$) team is rediculous...
1 - if its all about loyalty and commitment, why are the players forced to sign??
2- last time I checked, fl$ was not free, nor gauranteeing playing time, nor scholarships

so please stop!! fl$ doesnt have to look too far as to reasons why, even the newest of club teams are rapidly leaving them in the dust...

District coaches are coaching the varsity and JV teams(current 8th graders and up). They care because they are loosing players in the summer to the club teams.

District coaches are coaching the varsity and JV teams(current 8th graders and up). They care because they are loosing players in the summer to the club teams.

Ugh, that's just wrong. The clubs are where the kids are learning their skills and I wish the school coaches would remember that fact. I'll paint with a broad stroke here but my kids didn't learn bubkus from their school coaches, they learned what they learned from club programs and used those skills to better the school team, not the other way around. Your mileage may vary but that's how it is in my district, where coaches come from the teaching pool first and any teacher can hold on to their coaching position for as long as they want it, regardless of performance.

In our schools, the town team in the 7th and 8th grade sent a letter that if you do not play for the town club team, then I will severely affect your chances if Playing varsity! Also, the kids on that town club are forbidden to do any outside LAX.
They are B level at best in a tourney, yet our son plays for a AA club team. Why would thy not recognize the inherent value of letting a kid play high level club LAX and then bringing that experience back to the town team

In our schools, the town team in the 7th and 8th grade sent a letter that if you do not play for the town club team, then I will severely affect your chances if Playing varsity! Also, the kids on that town club are forbidden to do any outside LAX.
They are B level at best in a tourney, yet our son plays for a AA club team. Why would thy not recognize the inherent value of letting a kid play high level club LAX and then bringing that experience back to the town team

That's just terrible. But it reminded me that my son's lacrosse team (a start-up, we liked it) folded after the a bunch of the boys from two other towns were told they "had" to play for their town/school team. That was the end of my boy's lacrosse career because by that time it was too late to try out for another club. Lucky for him he found a new love with
another sport.

stop. you're grasping at straws... adolenscent relationships change from day to day, if not minute to minute.
Based on your warped logic... your son's loyalty and relationships will contintue to his choice of community college vs. going away to college... maybe all his wonderful bonds will continue when they interview for the same job

If you are talking about Team Smithtown, I don't understand why you would have a problem with JV/Varsity coaches wanting kids to play with school team. Are you talking in H.S. or middle school ? Smithtown West has been a nationally ranked program for a while, sending many players to top D-1,D-2 and D-3 colleges. If you're son is a good player he will be looked at playing for Smithtown West. Now Smithtown East- not as good, but they still have players play top college lax. I'm sure you already know this. If your son was on one of top 3 club teams in high school and went to S.E. , then I think you may have a decision to make. If he is going to West , I would have him play for H.S. team. If he is talented he will get looked at. The varsity/J.V. coaches want kids to play together for cohesiveness and to learn their system. Is it selfish ? Maybe, but like I said the programs are some of the best on L.I. and I'm sure they want to keep it that way.

If this is true- that is insane!!!!

In our schools, the town team in the 7th and 8th grade sent a letter that if you do not play for the town club team, then I will severely affect your chances if Playing varsity! Also, the kids on that town club are forbidden to do any outside LAX.
They are B level at best in a tourney, yet our son plays for a AA club team. Why would thy not recognize the inherent value of letting a kid play high level club LAX and then bringing that experience back to the town team

A lot of kids (turtles/91/outlaws/express) that have been playing club for years are about to enter HS.. I would think playing AA with club is a lot better than being on East or West teams, and for the coaches to hold it against the kids is ridiculous.. When my kid enters this age, I will look to the club to help him get college looks not these selfish coaches.

If you are talking about Team Smithtown, I don't understand why you would have a problem with JV/Varsity coaches wanting kids to play with school team. Are you talking in H.S. or middle school ? Smithtown West has been a nationally ranked program for a while, sending many players to top D-1,D-2 and D-3 colleges. If you're son is a good player he will be looked at playing for Smithtown West. Now Smithtown East- not as good, but they still have players play top college lax. I'm sure you already know this. If your son was on one of top 3 club teams in high school and went to S.E. , then I think you may have a decision to make. If he is going to West , I would have him play for H.S. team. If he is talented he will get looked at. The varsity/J.V. coaches want kids to play together for cohesiveness and to learn their system. Is it selfish ? Maybe, but like I said the programs are some of the best on L.I. and I'm sure they want to keep it that way.

How is this any different with st Anthony's or Chaminade? There is no difference and if people have a problem with public school coaches then they should also have a problem with the coaches from those two being the directors of a club. The only difference between the school types are the sources of school revenue. Otherwise the exact same conflicts exist and the kids feel the same if not more pressures not to stray, which is just wrong. How many st Anthony's kids play for another club not called express. I bet less than 15% brave souls of the JV and varsity rosters.

thank you for your pity... do you offer a class or a have a video on how develop my son into a loyal, tollirant, compassionate, well rounded Man?? ....or should I skip all that and sign him up for 8th grade PAL as you originally suggested??

This is how I feel about HS JV and Varsity coaches giving attitude to those players that play on a team outside the schools summer team...........this is called BULLYING and as far as we know, there is ZERO tolerance for that kind of behavior in a school environment........lead by example coaches....why should a player be punished for building character, skills and sportsmanship!! They are team players, and exemplify committment, dedication, perserverance and integrity.... all the traits a school coach should want.....Shame on these coaches be a coach and a leader and stop acting as if you are in high school yourself!!

Lets turn that around... is it any less of a bullying tactic if the Turtles organizers "strongly suggested, offered or otherwise encouraged" an alternative to the boys intended to bypass their school seasons? What would be the outcome be for a boy who decided to play with his school and bypass the Turtles "school season alternative"? We all know the answer to that. Bullying pressure comes from the clubs too!

Not sure about those Turtles, but MOST clubs tell their players that school events always come first, we are taking summer people how does that interfere with school, and as far as middle school, I agree that a player should play for their school team, support the school, that same player should also play for their school team throughout high school......a well rounded individual/player can learn something from every coach he or she playes for, but those coaches also have to respect a players decision to advance their skills if that is what they want, and not hold being on a club team during the summer against them when it comes to playing time in the spring!