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Updates on anyones FL season?

Our school can schedule games depending on covid at the opposong schools but not during week. Trending towards Fri/Sat double headers.

We will have double headers on Fri/Sat but no Wednesday games. Hope this helps.

One of the top boys on Avon already left (it was in the fall though in anticipation of this awful decision). The heads of the FL truly have done a disservice to these boys and only care about lining the schools pockets. Putting aside the fact that IMG, schools in the south (Georgia and NC) have already started their season, even locally, Long Island, Westchester, NJ, Connecticut public are all going to be playing. Its really pathetic and these boys are getting screwed. And yes I think COVID is real but lacrosse can be played.

The problem is not entirely covid itself. The rules or contrainst being applied to specific sports are based on concussion protocols. For example basketball is considered moderate or medium risk for concussions while football and boys lacrosse are listed as high risk for concussions as compared to other activities which they obviously are. However, those same designations are being applied at a national, some state, and NEPSAC level to the risk associated with transmitting covid. Obviously playing basketball indoors in gyms with little or no advanced filtration is a much higher risk for covid than playing lacrosse outdoors however since lacrosse is a higher concussion risk in their minds it must be a higher risk for transmitting covid. The reality is no one has taken the time to develop new standards with regards to classifying sports based on covid because their is no money in that. Shame for all our boys.

Well it looks like we are going to all play some sort of disjointed season. I don't know how any teams will be ranked and it probably doesn't matter as long as the boys hard work is rewarded. Good luck to all teams!

Founders will be stacked next year as reclassing apps are up 30% from this time last year. Should be some interesting internal competitions for PT

Most of the kids going to these elite schools for an additional year of lacrosse were given scholarships. Yes it's sad their season got cut but they were going there as post grads to get a better spot in colleges.

Ummmm...most FL teams have 3-5 PG's. The rest are flat out losing another year.

Seems CT is going to let schools play interstate games so maybe there can be a quasi normal season?

Where and when was this announced ? Official ?

Last week. Its up to the individual schools. Has already been stated here some PG and transfers have already left because of the decision.

ISL just approved play, basically saying schools can do what they want. Likely play in-state. But they are approved.

Big tournament for private schools on 6/9 and 6/10 after school ends. Finally the boys can have a pseudo championship.

???? where and whats the name. Tks

NGHSLC is technical name or just High School Championship. At FSA Sportsplex in Farmington, CT. Limited to 24 teams from New England West I/Founders League, ISL, Lakes Region, MAPL conferences. Should be good. Teams cannot compete under their school so have to use generic names such as Red, or Tigers etc.

you have to also account for the academic differences amongst these institutions. so as to not hurt anyone's feelings, I wont specify amongst the preps, but there are pretty marked differences in the testing levels, acceptance rates and academic reputations and "output" from school to school. there are kids who attend and thrive at some of these schools that would not be admitted academically to other schools on the list. the best example would be to maybe think about the difference between Princeton and Hofstra. great schools, great lacrosse but a Princeton degree will open doors that Hofstra wont.
the same applies to the preps, so coming in to do 2 years (likely after reclassifying) or doing a PG year, can open academic doors for a student athlete that will not open staying home and playing for their local high school regardless of the quality of the program at home. another season, another chance at the SAT or AP classes, another year of lifting and an opportunity to live away from home in a more guided manner all add to the total value and make the adjustment to college much easier.

No doubt that in the NEPSAC there is an academic as well as athletic hierarchy and they are mutually exclusive for the most part. That being said, most children will benefit from being in the right prep school vs their local public school. Obviously there are exceptions to everything but in general you get what you pay for and this includes education.

Brunswick is the exception - look where those kids go year in and year out - Princeton, Duke & Harvard. It's indignity they won't be playing Taft this year. -another school which has high academics and would have a strong team this year.

Is Taft playing this spring? They aren't on my sons schedule either although 'wick is.

Lucky for you. Taft would destroy your sons team!!!

"Lucky for you. Taft would defeat your sons' team!!!"

This is a hoot! I thought by the time high school rolls around, the lax dads settle into the fact that there are great players everywhere and their sons may or may not be one of them, if they are being realistic. This comment is the equivalent of saying my dad could beat up your dad on the elementary school playground. Grow up and act like an adult.

Actually my sons team defeated Taft the last time they played so thanks for the warning. That really doesn't matter. I was simply implying there are probably are very different schedules this year due to covid. Nothing more, nothing less. Does anyone know if there are 2 divisions in NEPSAC West I this season?

There are really no formal divisions or leagues within NEPSAC this coming season. Schedules will not be typical and each school will do things somewhat different from normal. The most likely and common difference is that there likely will not be games across states lines (or at least hardly any).

Teams can cross state lines to play as CT teams can play Trinity-Pawling which is in NY. Not sure if boarding schools only but it's a start.

Some teams have snippets of schedules on Max preps. A partial example shows Brunswick is playing Kent, Avon Old Farms, Lawrenceville, Darien, New Canaan and Trinity Pawling. Hopefully a good sign bc shows day schools playing boarding schools, public playing private and teams crossing state lines. Fingers crossed.

Seems as though season will be mostly double headers or back to backs on weekends for Founders teams. May have 6-7 teams on the schedule but 12-14 games.

Anyone from the ISL out there? How about NE Division II? Yes Founders is king but there are plenty of strong teams all over New England.

Correct. Avon actually has 15 games and plays TP and Salisbury 4x each. Would have loved to see a Taft or Choate or Westy on the schedule but they are playing 15 games and playing Deerfield, Brunswick, Loomis and Kent as well. As a parent I am happy they are playing and I know the boys are thrilled even if the scheduling isn't perfect.

Agreed. I don't know if we will be able to attend games this spring but the boys are excited there will be a season. Would have been nice to play a typical Founders schedule and not play Avon 4x but beggars cant be choosers. Glad the league made the right call by letting the schools schedule their own games rather than not playing.

Just saw the Lawrenceville schedule and its frustrating the Founders league cant play a normal season. They are playing 18x with playoffs etc . . . Ridiculous!

Covid wreaks havoc...again. Deerfield Academy was in Florida and scheduled to "scrimmage" IMG, but game got cxl as a result of a Covid BO amongst the Deerfield team. No game. First goal for the Spring for teams will be to get games on the schedule. The second goal will be for the games to actually take place.

No one get comfortable yet with the assumption well play this spring in Founders. No attendance policies have been posted and we are a mere 2 weeks from games. Also, if your son plays football don't bet against Founders "cancelling" that season also. Any excuse to copy the Ivy's.

Anyone hear about attendance at games? Will parents be allowed in stands or cars?

Here’s a question. What is the recommended process for getting noticed by and select a prep school? Anyone getting money for sports? My son is a rising Sophomore that has finally gone through puberty and is playing club at the top level. Based on his late bloom and this lots year of school we are thinking about holding him back and sending him away after next year. Would love some advice or guidance from those that have gone through the process......and before the snide remarks, yes he is good enough that coaches are willing to make introductions but is there any showcase, is it based on school selection first, were your boys recruited? We are thinking about this regardless of lax.

We have gone through this process with 2 sons at NE boarding schools. Through this process, we have interacted with lacrosse coaches at 11 boarding schools. Our sons have played on top level clubs as well.

It is important to be proactive in this process and begin by familiarizing your family with the various potential schools. There are a lot of differences in academics, lacrosse competitiveness, size, coed, etc. As a start, go the www.boarding school review.com to get an initial sense and then go to school’s actual websites.

From there, have your son reach out to the coaches by email. If your son has a highlight video, include the link in the email. That email will get the ball rolling. Most of these coaches are involved or at least familiar with the club circuit. Some coach club teams and others go to summer tournaments to watch/meet kids.

The degree to which a coach has “pull” within admissions will vary school-by-school. However, almost all interact with admissions and submit a list of the players they want to support (often ranked by how much they want the player). This support certainly helps, but the applicant still needs to be an academically viable candidate for the school.

As for scholarships, it is almost all based on need-based financial aid. Meaning kids will get financial aid based on their family finances, not based on lacrosse talent. So if the family needs it, they will get it and up a full scholarship. It is a very formulaic financial aid assessment process that is similar across schools. However, if it is a very wealthy family, they won’t qualify for aid (even if child is lacrosse star).

Based on what you describe, it sounds like repeating a year would be a beneficial path for your son. Happy to answer more questions.

We just went through this and settled on a prep school for our son for next year, we are from a non-hot bed area so at the start we knew nothing about the process. Our son will reclass, which as parents we felt was his best option on many levels. He is going from a public school that hasn’t been in person for over a year to an academically more challenging school. For lacrosse it helps to reclass, and the coach told him he will be the youngest player in his graduating class of lacrosse players even after reclassing.

My son got noticed at Showtime first as a rising Freshmen and at other big name showcases over the last 2 years, but it took ourselves and our club directors reaching out and starting a dialogue with the prep coaches to gain interest. We sent film, high school coach recommendations and did a lot of visiting prep schools to find the right fit with the right coach. Our club coaches played a huge part in helping us, guiding us and figuring out what to look for in a school.

Along the way we figured out that a good amount of these prep coaches will tell you what you want to hear and BS you all day long. Some prep coaches over recruit, be very careful of that! Some coaches seemed like they were using a script when they talked to us, it felt at times not genuine. And if the prep coach stops texting and reaching out, forget about that school, it’s not the right one. The coach that is really interested will text at least once a week and keep you updated on a weekly basis about your sons application and chances that he will get admitted. You will know ahead of the March 10 decision date if he is getting in, we found this info out in advance with each school that accepted our son. All of these prep coaches have pull in admissions. Being a double or triple Varsity athlete helps, mine is a 3 sport Varsity athlete as a freshman and each sport adds to your value in the admission process. Grades have to be good! Since testing was optional this year, our son did not test.

Yes there is financial aid available. In our situation the financial aid came at right what our “family contribution” said when filling out the FA worksheets online. I think if you son is a great player and a top choice, FA will be met, the better the player, the better the FA. But really look at a school that can take an interest in the development of your child as a whole, if they feel supported away from home this will only improve their game. Look for the school that feels like a family and not a country club for rich kids. Finding the right prep school is like finding the person you are going to marry, you just know when you’ve found the right one, your son will fall in love with the school and you as parents will too and the coach will already be in love.

Thank you both for the most coherent and helpful answers I have ever seen posted on this site!!!

Anyone know if there son/school is playing in the "High School Championships" June 9/10 this summer in CT?

Start early, reach out to the founders league coaches now.