US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2029 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

This is not a deep grade year. Rankings are embarrassing for MD teams. Long Island owns this group.

I would argue DC/Annapolis 29’s are strong
It’s Baltimore that is very weak

What ??? Anyone born in June, July, August could easily be a Holdback . A Prefirst or late starter born June, July, August is a Holdback. Sept 1 is age requirement of MD schools to be on age. Majority of students start Sept 1 . Really simple. Holdbacks are allowed at HOCO in all grades, and Wow , especially in 8th grade.

Now 8th grade HOCO you are allowed to be a full year and 3 months older than the Sept 1 age cutoff of students in MD schools. Now that means it is possible to have the famous Double Holdback playing in 8th grade !!

So that means at the worst case scenario, which is a 8th grade holdback or double holdback born June 1 , 2009 . He could be playing against an on age player born in August 2011. A 2 years and 3 months difference !!

HOCO keeps its place in Hall of Shame of Lacrosse and the reputation as the provider to MIAA holdbacks looking to play down against younger players.
And all their other leagues are still based on school age, but not lacrosse !

HOCO ruined age based lacrosse in MD when it started and frankly most of east coast as other areas had to catch up with MD older players playing down.

Go HOCO !!

Please explain why this is a problem? Hockey both here and in Canada follows a 2 year age bracket. Same with box lacrosse. Seems like they are doing just fine. I blame poor coaching. Unless a coach has the same kids for years to drill in plays and make them seem good, they can’t do a thing. Coach fundamentals and how to play and the 2 year model works just fine.

Well, much like all the pro-holdback arguments, you example is a poor one. in that type of grouping, one year you are the younger kid and the next year you are the older kid. In lax, you are always the older kid picking on younger kids. In the old days, good kids played up against older kids because they wanted to challenge themselves. Now, it is about sinking to the lowest common denominator.

Exactly, The holdback apologists just cant say that they do it to gain an advantage others dont get, Their son is always playing down, so sad, Always some lame excuse from them.

I like the summer holdbacks excuse, they are only a month or two older, basing it on every age player is born Sept 1. LOL

Years ago, the U,9, U11, U13, etc was fine, as you were young one year and older next year. Yea, some boys born in summer were on young side, but there were no younger ones getting an advantage while they with same birthday played on age. Sad now.

Thanks HOCO

fantastic to see parents understanding what is going on in the Baltimore area.

If you have a top 3-4 kid you owe it to them to get them a chance to jump onto a top squad.

tough for FCA to recruit new talent in a down year, my $ is on the crabs pulling the talent and maybe some 28’s!

Word is that crabs are bringing 4 kids down from 2028 and have already poached four from FCA

Let the games begin

Crabs really isn’t that good. So what’s the draw?

Exactly, The holdback apologists just cant say that they do it to gain an advantage others dont get, Their son is always playing down, so sad, Always some lame excuse from them.

I like the summer holdbacks excuse, they are only a month or two older, basing it on every age player is born Sept 1. LOL

Years ago, the U,9, U11, U13, etc was fine, as you were young one year and older next year. Yea, some boys born in summer were on young side, but there were no younger ones getting an advantage while they with same birthday played on age. Sad now.

Thanks HOCO

Well, much like all the pro-holdback arguments, you example is a poor one. in that type of grouping, one year you are the younger kid and the next year you are the older kid. In lax, you are always the older kid picking on younger kids. In the old days, good kids played up against older kids because they wanted to challenge themselves. Now, it is about sinking to the lowest common denominator.