BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NEW JERSEY LACROSSE NEW JERSEY FORUM Top Boy's Club Teams in New Jersey

Actually 21 out of 24 players qualify for U13 division.

3 players can't attend? So you aren't better than this!

Ok. So by this logic, say your son gets into two schools. NJIT and MIT. you gonna send him to NJIT and cross your fingers he gets plucked out of there for gainful employment?

These responses are coming from a Club Owner. Why would a parent really care if players from another team will "never be recruited."? That parent would be happy and let them do their thing. A club owner would feel threatened and attempt to scare parents. That Club Owner needs to do this because their Club is big business and they need to protect their livelihood.

Each team makes an enormous amount of actual profit per team. In the range of $40k-$45k of actual profit. When Big Club has tryouts and they draw 110 kids at their tryout, some parents ask, "Do you think they will make a B team?". Of course they will, that is an additional $40k. It is smart business.

The advantage of a 1-off team is that they can provide their players with so many additional resources when they are a not in it for profit team. They can play twice as much lacrosse, hire great Non-Dad coaches and hire a recruiting coordinator in their 8th grade year... and still be 1/3 the price of your traditional big club. Also, their coaches actually coach 1 team. It is not 2 coaches hopping on 6 different sidelines at every tournament.

Some notable teams in the 2026 grade - Tigers XXVI, Tommyknockers and TM. All have been ranked in the Top 10 and all have outstanding players. Come sophomore year, when the Tigers destroys a Big Club team by double digits in a tournament, will it make sense for recruiters to flock to the sidelines of that Big Club team and completely ignore the Tigers? The Tigers will be fine and their players will be playing bigtime ball some day.

Do some research on the Tenacious Turtles. They were a 1-off team in long island. A team that stayed together until Senior year. They were a 1-off team and won a lot. The majority of their team went and played bigtime D1. Team 91 Crush started as a 1-Off team. They stayed together until senior year and they all went to play bigtime lacrosse. That team was one of the most successful teams in club history and that team was responsible for the Big Club that is Team 91 today.

Scare tactics are over. The truth is out. Go back to figuring out how you can charge your players more and giving them less. Leave the parents alone and let us hang out on BOTC and argue over which team is better.

You’re not from NJ. No NJ team has 110 kids at tryouts.

If you read the prior post, this all started with a Tommyknocker parent saying they were the best team in NJ at the 2026 level. I believe a parent then replied, wait until high school when your players start leaving for bigger clubs.

You don't need to look that far back. A Shore travel team had an amazing 2021 team in middle school they couldn't keep together. Half the team played on one of the top national teams. They are all going to end up playing in college but none of their little brothers are playing for the same club. That tells me the parents were not happy with the process and they are not willing to spend $3,000+ a year on another 1-off team.

A lot of teams break up... big clubs, small clubs, 1 off clubs. No Dads coaching, the leadership of the team and winning will give them the best chance of survival. There are situations were players and parents enjoy each other and buy in. Those are the ones that will make it. When you care about the player and not the money, that is a gamechanger.

Team 91 Crush was not a one-off team, and, much like the other 91 teams, they added a lot of different kids in high school

So Towermen have three players born prior to Sept 1, 2007 that play 2026? That is lame. Three too many if you ask me.

Regarding the team staying together, they have some Rockland County kids, as well as some kids from northern Bergen County. These families are not likely to want to travel to where the real BBL teams practice, or where Leading Edge is. Just as likely to go to Prime Time if they are to leave for a big nationally recognized club.

I am glad they exist. 20 or so more spots for other kids are open because they exist. The more kids get to play travel lacrosse, the better. Its a great sport, and tournaments (especially pre-covid, and hopefully soon again) are a lot of fun, for kids and parents alike. I wish they didn't have the older kids, but that is not a problem they have created.

Whoa Whoa Whoa...too much thought and positivity in this post. Take it over to Reddit Pal. BOTC is for complaining about holdbacks and living vicariously through your kid's lacrosse team.
You probably talk to your son about stuff other than lacrosse...crazyiness!

Ha ha. No one who gets into MIT would apply to just these 2 schools. This is dense.

The days of 1 or 2 clubs in NJ being the funnel to college are over (sorry BBL and Leading Edge). They used to be the only game in town but those days are over. Just look at how their teams are diluting and they are now hurting for quality players. Everyone has figured out they are not necessary.

Wouldn't they go to Riot? That club is really on the rise?

Who really cares? WSYL is a joke. It won't be around soon.

oh yeah? you are dense. Take that! Also, can you fill me up on regular? And get my windshield why you are at it if you want a tip.

This is compounded by the fact that some club directors are coaching prominent high school programs, so players tend to gravitate towards those clubs.

I don't think Riot is strong at the younger/middle school age groups. If anything, Riot is on the decline. I think they have some strong HS teams, but that is it. No one would leave Towermen for Riot.

Fact: Youtube Legend Jesse James West is a Riot alum! He single-handedly could lead Riot to the Apex

Wouldn't the time to move to a new club be at high school? You don't expect that 1 towerman team to stay together through high school right? That won't happen.

What do you all this of the all American games?

I agree, definitely comments from a club owner. My son doesn’t play for Towermen but I applaud them for what they have created. Kids seem to like it and are happy. They play good teams and games. And I bet they didn’t cut their whole team except 9 after a covid year and not even a whole season.

They are competitive while putting the kids first.

You could also pay BOTC if you want to put up a Towerman ad pal, do not be cheap

It is late in the season, about the time you are ready to pull the plug. The bigger issue, if your kid plays for an NLF team you are going to be at UMass from the 16-21.

Travel Hockey running late this year, how is that going to work for your WSYL bid? Hockey coaches detest when players miss anything.

Towermen is just as cutthroat as any other club: they cut 5 kids in the same Covid season. Not saying they are not good just saying it is not so rosy. Also they went out and got some hired guns to replace some long time players. Unlikely hired guns will be staying there for several years. Those kids’ dad will be looking to love on once the WSYL is fine

This team play in any fall tournaments or have any games since the summer and still around?

Does anyone have BBL's or Leading Edge's summer tournaments schedule for the 23's and 24's?

Becoming a team wide frustration.

Are we still talking about this...most of the kids play hockey. keep it moving folks.

Have the team played since this summer or recently?

OMG. This is putting me to sleep. Let's talk about the holdbacks.

No but if we had to guess: NLF Opening, Big 4, Crab, Naptown, NLF UMass & NAL

Losing site of what started this. All good things come to an end. Fun is done. Kids not happy.

Knowing how disorganized Leading Edge is, you won't know until late spring.

Has this team even played in the last 2-3 months?

What NE teams are playing in January and February. After the WSYL all questions will be answered.

Yes. Flying under the radar. Will make lots of noise at WSYL.

Great strategy. Who have they played lately? Scores?

Let me sum up the Towermen conversation from what I read above.

1. They did not play in any big 2026 Fall tournaments. (God forbid a team actually follows through promoting multi-sports athletes instead of just pay the concept lip service)
2. They are good . But just how good will not be known until after the WSYL qualifier
3. Who knows if they will stay together once they enter HS. There is not a lot of examples for this single year models and what happens when they get to HS. I am sure the top private schools will be interested in these kids for HS and then the club teams they run.
4. They have three kids who are overage, which I would bet is not unique.

Now can we please move on and discuss something else.

I am pretty sure that there are several NJ teams playing at the WSYL, as well as several teams not playing who will be big players in the summer so let us move on.

how bout bluestar's team? they were advertising WSYL team, but haven't heard a peep from this crew in quite some time.

it would be interesting to see what NJ teams are going to the qualifier for 25 and 26.

BBL, Tri-state and Jersey express (old tribal) likely going for both 25 and 26
Towermen going for 26.

Maybe BlueStar. Any other Jersey teams?