BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys High School

True. My son tried out. Based on the players we know, we thought he was
Number 2 or 3 going in and this held up in the tryouts. He didn't even get a callback. Even though his coaches and other had him top 3, our realistic goal and hope was to at least make it to the call back. 2 of the callbacks are head sctratchers for sure. The one kid may have had the 8th best tryout but when the names of the callbacks are released, you will understand and be able to piece together why he got invited. The top 2 that SHOULD now make the team are excellent players and well deserving. I just hope it is those 2 who make the final roster.

True. My son tried out. Based on the players we know, we thought he was
Number 2 or 3 going in and this held up in the tryouts. He didn't even get a callback. Even though his coaches and other had him top 3, our realistic goal and hope was to at least make it to the call back. 2 of the callbacks are head sctratchers for sure. The one kid may have had the 8th best tryout but when the names of the callbacks are released, you will understand and be able to piece together why he got invited. The top 2 that SHOULD now make the team are excellent players and well deserving. I just hope it is those 2 who make the final roster.

True. My son tried out. Based on the players we know, we thought he was
Number 2 or 3 going in and this held up in the tryouts. He didn't even get a callback. Even though his coaches and other had him top 3, our realistic goal and hope was to at least make it to the call back. 2 of the callbacks are head sctratchers for sure. The one kid may have had the 8th best tryout but when the names of the callbacks are released, you will understand and be able to piece together why he got invited. The top 2 that SHOULD now make the team are excellent players and well deserving. I just hope it is those 2 who make the final roster.

None of this makes any sense. Were you watching your son or were you watching everyone else on both fields? Did you jot down all the goalies numbers and rank them yourself? Just trying to figure out how you take the callback email with only numbers listed and figure out which ones were goalies, how many got called back and where they were in your personal rankings.

Its no secret certain goalies have been and always will be protected at UA. The kids know who they are and those who cant be cut under any circumstances. It is what it is, you just have to decide if it makes sense for your son to try out based on your own situation.

None of this makes any sense. Were you watching your son or were you watching everyone else on both fields? Did you jot down all the goalies numbers and rank them yourself? Just trying to figure out how you take the callback email with only numbers listed and figure out which ones were goalies, how many got called back and where they were in your personal rankings.

Clearly some kids / dads / coaches / boosters have felt or have been told that their favorite goalie is "the best" in the 2021-22 group and are now feeling salty and blaming the process. Scroll back a couple months and see which A conference bottom-feeder was popping of about their recruits and their JV goalie and you can connect the dots.

Clearly some kids / dads / coaches / boosters have felt or have been told that their favorite goalie is "the best" in the 2021-22 group and are now feeling salty and blaming the process. Scroll back a couple months and see which A conference bottom-feeder was popping of about their recruits and their JV goalie and you can connect the dots.

Clearly some kids / dads / coaches / boosters have felt or have been told that their favorite goalie is "the best" in the 2021-22 group and are now feeling salty and blaming the process. Scroll back a couple months and see which A conference bottom-feeder was popping of about their recruits and their JV goalie and you can connect the dots.

They won the JV Championship. They will make playoffs next season and then 3 straight titles after that.

Who watched/attended the Baltimore highlight callback game? What did you think?

Didn’t think the talent was there. Both games too many kids trying too hard to do it alone. Was not overly impressed with either game and certainly not the best players in the area. Good lacrosse; not great lacrosse. The event is not what it used to be. Thinking there are too many “elite” events out there now which is diluting the talent pool and the college coach attendance. Kids have also begun to realize that much of the team is decided before they even tryout so not worth their time during finals week, their parents money etc. unless they are connected. Very surprised to see the number of dad, high school and club coaches evaluating. Do they expect different results when all have a vested interest in having their son, club or high school represented? Perhaps have more objective evaluators involved? Really no different from the All MIAA, All County, All State teams throughout the region. Each high school coach fighting and negotiating behind the scenes for their own kids to make the lists and teams-not because they are the best players (or best coaches capable of making the best assessments) but because it validates them as coaches and is indirectly used as a marketing hammerhead for the school or club they are associated with.

Didn’t think the talent was there. Both games too many kids trying too hard to do it alone. Was not overly impressed with either game and certainly not the best players in the area. Good lacrosse; not great lacrosse. The event is not what it used to be. Thinking there are too many “elite” events out there now which is diluting the talent pool and the college coach attendance. Kids have also begun to realize that much of the team is decided before they even tryout so not worth their time during finals week, their parents money etc. unless they are connected. Very surprised to see the number of dad, high school and club coaches evaluating. Do they expect different results when all have a vested interest in having their son, club or high school represented? Perhaps have more objective evaluators involved? Really no different from the All MIAA, All County, All State teams throughout the region. Each high school coach fighting and negotiating behind the scenes for their own kids to make the lists and teams-not because they are the best players (or best coaches capable of making the best assessments) but because it validates them as coaches and is indirectly used as a marketing hammerhead for the school or club they are associated with.

I agree that the play was sloppy and selfish, but I can't think of too many stand out players who weren't there. Every kid was trying to make an impression and as a result there weren't a whole lot of guys sharing the ball or making the one more pass. My son in particular probably suffered as a result. One shot all game from the midfield. As a casual MIAA fan outside of my son's games, I recognized most of the kids trying out and I'd consider them the cream of the crop even if they didn't play that way at the call back game. Enough coaches were watching the tryouts that I think it was worth it despite the me ball on display at yesterday's game.

Who should they get as evaluators if not high school and club lacrosse coaches? Youth coaches? Bunch of guys from walmart?

Didn’t think the talent was there. Both games too many kids trying too hard to do it alone. Was not overly impressed with either game and certainly not the best players in the area. Good lacrosse; not great lacrosse. The event is not what it used to be. Thinking there are too many “elite” events out there now which is diluting the talent pool and the college coach attendance. Kids have also begun to realize that much of the team is decided before they even tryout so not worth their time during finals week, their parents money etc. unless they are connected. Very surprised to see the number of dad, high school and club coaches evaluating. Do they expect different results when all have a vested interest in having their son, club or high school represented? Perhaps have more objective evaluators involved? Really no different from the All MIAA, All County, All State teams throughout the region. Each high school coach fighting and negotiating behind the scenes for their own kids to make the lists and teams-not because they are the best players (or best coaches capable of making the best assessments) but because it validates them as coaches and is indirectly used as a marketing hammerhead for the school or club they are associated with.

I don’t know...maybe some truly independent evaluators instead of having high school and club coaches who also have their players trying out or worse yet parents who happen to also be coaches because that always goes so well? Not that hard- take some of the money and hire some college coaches or switch with the staff from another region. Using evaluators who know the kids there is nobody who can in good faith say the teams are not politically chosen. Just because you say your kid is the best and playing at the “best” event does not make them or it the best. It is no longer what it once was. Your failure to recognize that and that having players coaches be the evaluators is an inherent weakness is telling. Unfortunately even in kids sports, the money flow and parental and club bragging rights gets in the mix. Unavoidable maybe but let’s recognize it for what it is.

It's always been local HS and Club coaches. Same with other regions. So why is it no longer what it once was? If your son was one of the best at his position during tryouts he was likely noticed by a college coach - even if he didn't make the team.

You guys are funny. Under Armour Underclass is hands down the best event nationwide. More boys tryout for these teams than any other and to say it's diluted because of other copycats is silly. No one tries out for Warrior. Brine is dead and is now called Maverik. People can hate on UA all they want but mostly it's because their son didn't make the team. Is there some politics involved? Of course. But to say that the talented kids don't show up is BS.

The solution seems pretty simple. The evaluators should be chosen and then they should be sent to evaluate in a different area. For example, Baltimore evaluators go to DC and DC evaluators come to Baltimore. It is ridiculous to have evaluators whose own kids are trying out or even kids that the evaluator coaches. It is impossible for these guys to be subjective in those cases.

How was the goalie play? Heard there were six called back to yesterday’s game.

The solution seems pretty simple. The evaluators should be chosen and then they should be sent to evaluate in a different area. For example, Baltimore evaluators go to DC and DC evaluators come to Baltimore. It is ridiculous to have evaluators whose own kids are trying out or even kids that the evaluator coaches. It is impossible for these guys to be subjective in those cases.

Whats funny is you think no one tries out for Warrior,Brine (not dead) ShowTime Maverick has been around for a while now. All are very good and though you may think UA is the best doesn't mean the talented level is not there as in past years. It was very clear some top talent were not there- politics or not 2020 on down thru 2022 is overhyped players who don't belong - It all will come to light for ya in 2-4 years when we see where al these players who made it attend college-hopefully they will all get to play in college but not D1

This is actually a terrible idea. The evaluators are trying to choose the best players in the area to field the most competitive team to represent Baltimore. Players are chosen not only on the tryout but their overall body of work as they should be. Brendan Grimes had an ok tryout yesterday, imagine someone not knowing him and not selecting him. Even though he was one the best attackmen in the country and had a phenomenal spring season. That's why people who know the players select the team. Want to make the team? Then be consistently one of the best players in your region over the spring and summer, not just for a 2 day tryout.

Please name of the top players in Baltimore that didn't show up. Just one player that should be on the team that didn't come to tryout.

The real question is which of the remaining 5 will get the final goalie spot since one was already locked in before the tryouts. This makes for an interesting quandary. They probably cant take a kid from the same club or HS as the locked in player. Can the second goalie be the same graduating year as the first one? Probably not as that would look bad too. The final spot probably comes down to process of elimination more than anything else. Sad because they cannot take the actual 2 best from the overall tryout. Would be interesting to be a fly on the wall and hear how those conversations go in the coaches huddle.

Highlight - The goalies did not get shelled (you can watch the game online). For what boils down to an all star game, it was a slow, low scoring game with little transition. The white team goalie that started stood out to me.

The coaches from each region are charged with building a team that can win the tournament. There are kids that literally did nothing in the call back game (empty stat line) who are marquee players in the MIAA. Does the coach not choose them because the had an off day or does he choose them knowing they will likely be the difference maker in games vs DC, Philly and NY? My bet is that those kids are on the 22 roster. I still think the process, as imperfect as it is, is worth $190.

Highlight - The goalies did not get shelled (you can watch the game online). For what boils down to an all star game, it was a slow, low scoring game with little transition. The white team goalie that started stood out to me.

The coaches from each region are charged with building a team that can win the tournament. There are kids that literally did nothing in the call back game (empty stat line) who are marquee players in the MIAA. Does the coach not choose them because the had an off day or does he choose them knowing they will likely be the difference maker in games vs DC, Philly and NY? My bet is that those kids are on the 22 roster. I still think the process, as imperfect as it is, is worth $190.

Agree with all of the above. The evaluators rank the kids going into the call back game based on the previous 2 days worth of games. The call back game allows for kids on the bubble to play themselves on or off of the team and gives kids an opportunity to play in front of college coaches one more time.

Highlight - A few observations:

-2 players that did not play in the 44 game are on the roster.
-One player I thought was a lock, had 2 or 3 goals in the 44 game and a phenomenal MIAA season, did not make the team. He has every right to an explanation.
-Several players that had great MIAA seasons and did nothing in the 44 game (empty stat line) made the roster.
- 9 of the 22 are 2020s.

The process is imperfect and could be improved.