BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2028 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

but the thing is for the 2028 we have so much talent that even the few Aplayers are os good at handeling there stick and still have time to move to programs like ML NL hawks KP claws 91 md and so on

this is true but for no reason should these players that are good should be on a travel team by now because soon the only open spots are when people get cut but there still is open spots BLC and VlC cavs all need help for these guys

(Same poster as above).

I see your point and I think the 2028s are in that transition where you *used to* be able to hide subpar players at ATT and DEF while the meat of almost any team was really the top 6 middies (including FO and SSDM) and whether or not the #1 goalie was "not good" "better than average" or "lights out." Increasingly, those ATT and DEF kids who aren't really cutting the mustard, are going to be identified by opposing coaches by the time the 2nd half of any game rolls around.

Also will be curious to see, in this day and age and at the boys' age, how much position shifting is still coming. Some of these poles have been playing only defense since 1st grade and have incredibly high IQ for the position. I am telling you, there are a number of A and AA poles (like 1 per every 2 teams) who are going to show up at their HS tryouts and they will do fine.

Have to agree that for every confused, non-sliding defenseman out there there is an attackman who camps on the crease and still can't cradle.

While I would agree you can find a pole on most A or AA teams who certainly can slot in at AAA or Elite, the main difference is the stick work - primarily on the clear.

There are certainly kids who are athletic and physical enough to guard a man one on one - but when the goalie saves the ball, an elite attack line ride will render the poor kid worthless.

One main reason Teams get annihilated at this age is they can’t get the ball over the midfield line and a lot of that is largely due to the poles ability to handle the ball.

Agree with this. Also off-ball defense is way better among the defenders in elite. I’d much rather have a smaller kid who is reliable off-ball and on the clear than a monster who is good on-ball, but nothing else. When teams get beat badly, poor off-ball defense and failing to clear are usually the culprits.

ML dad here. But my kid is not a D man. But had to challenge the guy who says ML has the 3rd best D crew of the DC teams. I mean are you serious? Hawks got 2 goals on them in July, I don’t think they gave up 4 goals in any of their other 30 games this summer/fall other than to NL at Hershey. The Ex North game they gave up a bunch but they had B team kids playing because they were missing 3 poles to other stuff. I won’t mention the 24 goals that ML hung on BLC in May, I guess their #2 defense was a little off that day.

They struggle at times at a few positions, but D is NOT one of them. That’s just an absurd statement.

And here I thought we might string together a couple of posts about lacrosse. Nope. ML apologists, who will bring out the ML haters. At least the forum is consistent and true to form. Unlike the boys at this age. They are all still 11/12 years old and still developing. Consistency won't come for some time. And it has nothing to do with "my team was missing the [insert whatever position] studs during that game" and "my kid [is/isn't] a holdback, how dare you." They are still kids who are learning the game. heck, top level D1 defenses still throw the ball away on clears at times. OK, back to your normally scheduled programming.

Hawks dropped 20+ goals in 2 games in HOCO. Get that noise outta here…

Don’t make me tap the NOT ALL GOALS are because of pole play sign. Goalie play, SSDM play, faceoff wins, offensive turnovers, transition chances, penalties, lucky bounces, failure to clear by short stick players, etc. These all impact scores as well so scores aren’t that useful by themselves in evaluating pole play.

signed,
Former close defender

You care too much, they are 11. Or in ML case 13.
It’s like somebody challenged your manhood because they said your kids d was just ok…

Jeez

Haaa, yeah, and they literally couldn’t get the ball past midfield in July. Good one though. 1 goal until their final w a minute to play.

You forgot good play from the offense.

So which is it — that your defense is so good or that the Hawks couldn't clear? What dopes these Madlax parents are.

These guys need to get a life.

You lost me at BLC has 5-7 poles. More like 2. But they are legit.

The guy who comes on here to tell people to get a life. 🧐

Those are my favorite 🙄

So what are the Spring HoCo lineups for Elite, AAA, AA, A? I'm sure the Lax Ranking Dad can tell us.

No one knows the HoCo brackets yet. But there have been lots of folks who’ve speculated guesses.

Can't we just stipulate that everybody on BOTC actually does have a life, but at the same time, everybody reading or posting on here is equally vulnerable to accusations that they don't have one?

It does get annoying when somebody makes a good point, and the only retort is "get a life," because you are obviously too wrapped up in kids lacrosse.

If we are going to keep talking actual lacrosse, I think the most interesting question for the HOCO season is whether any FOGO ends up being dominant. Madlax and Hawks are both real tough to beat if they are able to keep possession. The best chance other teams have is to win at the X and keep the ball away from those offenses. But does any team have the personnel to pull that off? I don’t think in the fall anyone stood out. Lots of good FOGOs, but no one dominant against all matchups. Maybe FCA has a slight advantage here?

This has to be the LOWEST of the LOW on here. Let me ask you all something, if your kid was doing this in any capacity it would be considered "CYBER BULLYING" so why do you feel that what you are doing is any different, because you're older? If that is your answer you are really in need of some soul searching. This site was good for looking up camps, clinics, tournaments and showcases but now all it does is give really disgruntled parents a way to take out their frustrations on programs coaches or even sometime actual kids (WHICH IS CRIMINAL). ALL of these programs are flawed, WHY, because they are all a business and if you cannot see through that then that is YOUR PROBLEM. Stop thinking your kid is better than they are, again, that is your problem. If your kid got bumped from the A team to the B team because he didn't hit puberty yet, it is what it is and you move on. He will find his way back to the top if and when HE decides it's time not the parent that NEVER did anything at this level. ALL of these programs offer something that can help a kid, ALL OF THEM. It is your job as a parent to find that gap not complain about it just because you want to be on one of the top programs because of name recognition. In less than 3 years, this is ALL DONE, 50% will play at D1, D2 or D3 programs 50% will find their niche in life outside of lacrosse and now the parents will need to scream and yell about something else. PLEASE GET OVER THIS WHOLE thing and just do the right thing for your child. There is good and bad in everything. My kid plays, my kid is good, my kid IS NOT GREAT. My kid is exactly where he needs to be right now and if i see any change in that it's MY responsibility to address the situation, first, with my son and wife, then with the coach if need be. it is not my responsibility to come on here and blast the program the coaches or the parents for that matter. Type your comments, let them sit a little before hitting send and if you ne

Huh, I guess that guy is not interested in talking about FOGOs. Must be more of wing play guy.

The only thing I will applaud at a youth lacrosse game is excellent wing play or generating a 5-4 through superior use of the sub box.

Next Level has a REALLY good FOGO. He’s huge, and he’s good.

Thanks Karen

This board needs more FOGO talk.

And here I would have bet this was a women posting. I’d have lost the bet.

Hawks 2027 Fogo is now the 2028 Fogo. I expect that he’ll be the most dominant come summer. He’s also the Fogo for the 2028 Nationals team. holdbacks should dominate.

Thank you, we need more parents like you. He's right not all of our boys are going to play college lax and when they don't you have to look back and realize why did I spend my time on a message board talking about which youth lax team is better. Thank you for opening up my eyes and hopefully others that read this.

what the heck my boy is going all the way

I got a fever...and the only prescription is more FOGO talk.

And the goalie

Save your safe space talk for your MadLax board. Talking about people is not criminal.

Thanks holdback dad, doubt it though. If was that good they would have to hold him back.
And Hawks already have the fogo who lit up MadLax.

Is he the same one from spring of last year? That kid was not super skilled but was super athletic. He wasn’t huge so, maybe a different kid?

DMV FOGOs dominate the kids from other areas?

holdback U.

Good to see the BOTC whine and cheese carousel continue to whirl! Next stop, "National Teams"!

Back to the HoCo divisions - it seems the logjam will be at AAA.

Blue Claws or KP should move to elite although it appears neither actually want too.

Team MD moves up to AAA. HoCo goes down to AA. If everyone else stays that means Preds and VLC fight it out for the last AAA spot. And there is Cavs also - don’t know how good they are going to be so maybe AA?