BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2026 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

Will the Crabs YoungGuns tournament happen?

Realization is sinking in that there are only so many kids who can reclass (ones with talent, not just size) and the talent in Baltimore county has moved on to other programs because they were around at the lower age groups a few years before Crabs had younger teams. Just recycling the same players through different teams at this point.

Any team talking about tryouts? Will there be any this year or is everyone running back the current teams?

Most teams in AA county are having them.

How are the 2026's looking in the area? There has been some scrimmages and games. Any assessments from Baltimore or Anne Arundel County?

True.....👍🏼👍🏼🚀

Howard County is where its at...Watch out for the Pink Flamingos !

I heard Looneys lost to FCA the other day 5 or 6 to 1. I think Looney’s is scrimmaging 91 next week as well. I think most teams are still rusty from lack of playing time.

Thanks for the update Dave

Crabs crushed Bayriders today; this tram is going to be special.

Too soon.......how did games 2 and 3 go!

Lol.

Crushed? 7-4. Then the Roughriders brought you back to earth

And then FCA finished you off. Crabs 1-2.

Next please.

More like train wreck.

FCA was legit. Those boys hit their growth spurts early. Impressive defense. (Not an FCA parent)

Hit their growth spurts of more than likely HOLDBACKS!! Yes I went there!! The one defenseman is at least 6 foot and runs like a cheetah and hits like a rhino. They have at least 3 midfielders that are close to 6 foot with the athleticism of freshman in HS. This team loaded with holdbacks; prove me wrong! It’s the CH blueprint!!

Very disappointed by the Crabs showing yesterday but I will say this team will continue to improve they just need to add a few more pieces on the offensive side of the ball.

Only yesterday?

I’ll take FCA over 91.

Revised 2026 Elite Rankings - Md

Hawks - have they played anything yet this year?
BLC
91
FCA
Crabs
Looneys

Who else would be playing in the Elite Division?

No way! 91 has way too much talent overall and on attack for anyone but maybe the hawks that could compete with them. On another note the FO/Mid for crabs and the big attack kid are very good. Puberty is definitely kicking in early with some of these boys.

My original post I was unable to edit but I meant to say the tall kid runs like a cheetah and the other big kid hits like a rhino; that’s the #2 kid on FCA is a beast. I’ll stand by my original post and say at least 5-6 kids are holdbacks on this team; they are a completely different team then what we saw this time last year in the championship game. This is what is ruining youth lacrosse and needs to be addressed. This is what is pathetic about youth sports today!!!!

I think Next Level was a team being considered but I know they went 0-4 yesterday. Not sure if the entire team was there or not but didn’t look impressive.

Not enough data yet, but from what I saw in the fall, and scores I have heard in the first week of summer play, three of the teams mentioned are on very thin ice to be considered Elite. Those would be Crabs, Looneys, and NextLevel. There are some teams not mentioned, especially the one on which my son plays, that I think will show they deserve consideration once more summer lacrosse is played. We shall see. I just pray that all the games currently scheduled actually happen.

Has Madlax played any games this summer? Haven't heard a word about them?

Regardless, hard to get worked up about any game results. Kids haven't played much and, with vacations, teams are pulling kids from everywhere to field a full squad.

True pulls out of Summer Exposure. Someone is ducking Hawks

#booooooooo ontrue
#weduckmore

NOT COVID related

Time to move on. As much as I agree with you, The holdbacks/prefirsts won. 7th and 8th grade are the worst when it comes to holdbacks/prefirst and frankly gives them the most advantage. Many are good players and with puberty kicking in earlier than others, turns some Holdbacks/prefirst(not all) into superstars. They come back to earth with puberty kicking in for others and of course the new reclassed 8th graders, but they are still good ( with more reps and being starters) and older and continue their advantage thru High School.

My advice..Reclass your child if you want to compete. Most private school kids are prefirst ( somehow they dont think that is a holdback?LOL) or heldback by now. Go for it, you will regret later not reclassing him if your child is a good player.

I completely agree with this breakdown; there have been a handful of games from teams that have barely had anytime to gel. Looney's and crabs seem to be treading water as elite teams but these clubs are bound to bounce back with reclassification becoming more prevalent right before the HS years. I also agree there needs to be more discussion on this board outside the Elite category; there is good lacrosse being played at AAA and AA for sure.

Another year another team

There has been plenty of discussion today about a AA team

True has some good players and some enthusiastic parents, but is not an Elite team by any stretch. But MadLax is the more interesting omission from the projected list of Elite teams that somebody posted recently. They did not play Hershey this weekend, but the ML 2027 and 2028 teams both were there. And I assume that MadLax 2026 is playing its own tournament in Poolesville this coming weekend, but it is not yet on Tourney app, so it is unclear whether there will be good competition.

Does anybody know how that team is looking, or when we will find out?

Great question; I have heard nothing about MADLAX this entire summer. Many clubs are obviously struggling with COVID and what they should be doping moving forward. At this point we shoudl feel forunate the kids are playing and hopefully having some fun.

I kind of like the 'work harder' mentality over the reclass and make things easier one but hey that's just me.

I am assuming those same kids were out still on Saturday?

It will be their excuse all summer. Kind of like 91’s excuse of it being too windy.

Crabs should move out of elite and let another team in.
Performance should equal level of play.
Time to move on and find another competitive club.
Move Roughriders or Bay Raiders up.
Those teams are well coached and play classy.

I concur. Both of those teams play top level in summer tourneys. Let them play with the big boys in the Spring too. They can handle it. They may need to add some holdbacks to their rosters to win, but both teams are worthy.

I would agree as well. Both of these teams competed against what is being considered elite teams in Crabs and FCA and played them both well. Looney's, Crabs and Next Level should be playing AAA; Roughriders and Bay Raiders would give better competition to the elite level teams.