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

This is a good one. "No talent left" except for 6 really good starters.

I don't think many clubs would turn away new players that are comparable (or better) in ability to their current players. They'll do everything possible to accommodate them. Unfortunately the impacted players only recourse is to leave - which then impacts other clubs and families. Having coaches/clubs not stick to the roster they select at tryouts has been my least favorite part of club lacrosse. No idea how you can fix that.[/quote]

All of these conversations end the same way whether it's a child advocating for themselves or a parent(s) rightly addressing a bad situation. "If you don't like it, perhaps we're just not the right club/school for you." There is no such thing as going to the coach and talk it out. It's short term at best.

Start with better club directors.

Disagree 100%. A good coach would welcome the conversation with a player and figure things out. The end result may be “this club may not be for you” but a good coach WOULD talk it out. That’s the problem. There aren’t enough coaches in it for the players.

A good coach wouldn't be in this situation.

True DAT

Looney's dad here. You are wrong. We don't have friends.

Now hit the wall, junior!

So nobody has said whether or not the new incoming NL coach is responsible for all of this commotion. Perhpas just like the Looney's debacle, the coach is bringing his players with him, and to #@&( with the existing NL players. FCA made room for the Looney's coach and his players, pushed some of the FCA Blue team (ranked 71 2-4) players down to the White team (ranked 175, 0-6). Some players who came to tryouts where offered white team spots, because the blue team spots were already signed, sealed, and delivered before tryouts ever began, just a money grab. Those 2nd teams are just deposit boxes for parent's money. The 'promise' that boys might move up to the 1st are shallow.

So the rumblings online and talk by players is a St John's coach is taking over at NL for the Good Counsel (formerly St Andrews) coach. Any ideas if that is true?

Mehhhh I think 2nd teams serve a legitimate purpose (for utility players, bench warmers, and public school players) but I agree that the selling point of "one day maybe Jonny will get sent up to the major leagues" dream is not realistic.

Nothing wrong with those B teams but the best argument against them is why not just play your kid at a regular team at that level, Sidewinders, Rough Riders, Predators, etc. Yes I know those teams are all not elite. Neither is your FCA White, Crabs Hardshell, 91 "Practice Team" ML DMV, or Hawks Black, or NL Red player.

Who is the new 26 coach?

This is admittedly off track from the original post but a B team is generally just another team and it may just be convenient. You have no better chance of going from a B team to an A team than a player from an outside club. The chances may actually be lower because clubs want new families in the program and the A team is a carrot. I've witnessed quite a few kids moved down, but never seen a single one move up. It's always been kids from other clubs make A and displace an incumbent to B. Curious if others have had the same experience. In the situations I've observed, all the kids ended up on the appropriate team though (imho).

FCA Director and NL heads must’ve had dinner and shared notes on how to tank not one but two teams. How did that new FCA team do this past fall?

We all saw how well this worked when BLC 27 moved in mass to ML.

You are correct.

The SJC coach.

Which sjc coach?

Offensive assistant

If NL is smart, they would cut the bottom 10-12 players on their (bloated) 2027 roster, and replace them with the top 6-7 players on MadLax. And if the Madlax players are smart, they would jump at that opportunity.

An email went out with coach names. Head coach (Good Counsel) is still head coach.

2026 class is the weakest class entering high school in years

Are the jumping Madlax kids at SKC and GC?

Ince coming on as co-head coach. From what I’ve heard, current “head” coach has not attended a practice all winter (2/week)

Random. What’s your point with this?

What school got the most 26 talent?

Loyola dad will tell you LB
Calvert Hall dad will tell you CH
Gilman face off dad will tell you Gilman
PREDS dad will tell you SP
GB will tell you Spalding.
Who did I leave out?

Agree.

27s don’t look much better…

You guys sound like Mel Kiper Jr…..only dumber(if possible)

This is probably coming from a 25 parent who is worried about his kids spot on JV.

Who cares about Madlax and Next Level? you guys compete with HoCo and Swarm and PLC

I mean the only two teams in the MIAA footprint remotely elite nationally are Crabs and Hawks. All the other 2026 teams are…meh.

But sure, keep telling yourself that the talent abounds at 2026.



OTOH This should be a good thing for your little Johnny. MUCH more opportunity to make an impact in his high school class.

Tryouts in two weeks for MIAA. Guess we will see. The freshman class is loaded at one school. Looking forward to seeing how many play on JV vs ride the bench on V.

Honestly in terms of % improvement I would look at Gilman and LB honestly. Lots of opportunity. Huge freshman class of laxers.

In terms of pound-per-pound actual new talent my very strong guess would be McDonogh and St Marys though.

Most disappointing new classes in terms of (realistic) expectations: CHC, St. Pauls

X Factor: Boarding students at BL.

😂🤣🥲Got a big laugh at know-all-the-freshmen-at-every-school-dad. See your boy on the field.

😂🤣🥲Got a big laugh at know-all-the-freshmen-at-every-school-dad. See your boy on the field.

St. John's

I’m from Baltimore with no SJC kid and I agree with this statement.

Probably has a 25 or 24 son about to lose time to a 26.

What school would that be? Curious who you think that is.

What/Who is GB?

St. Marys. But it doesnt matter. It'll be settles on the field in the next few years.