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

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Ehhhh, that's about 70% true. Really, 80% true, but 10% off for using "supposably" over and over.

I know nobody here will believe this, but it didn't start as a lacrosse problem. It started as a baseball, basketball, and football problem with the MIAA schools competing with the PA (Philly/Main Line) prep schools. Namely McDonogh, GP, and DeMatha. Talking 20+ years ago. It's important to understand that in VA and MD, you must legally send your kid to school at age 5, always been that way since at least the 1970s. In PA, it's AGE 6 ****with exceptions readily available to age 7**** . So the PA schools like Malvern, St. Joes, La Salle, and even Bishop McDevitt since it's right up I-83, just look like much more dominant programs to send your son, vs. the then mostly on-age MIAA and IAC schools.

So interestingly, a lot of the "last generation" older players for MIAA were actually just "late start" PA kids. Great example, Pat Spencer who did Pennsylvania "late kindergarten" and completely ducked the "holdback" debate, but turned 20 at the end of his freshman year.

The important part of the story above, which is notable, is that the HoCo League strongly embraced grad-class based competition about the same time that Spencer and his cohort were moving through middle school. The connection between Crabs and BL Lax (really starting a few years before Spencer) were enthusiastic about the new league because among other things, it provided some evidence that the "BL reclass model works." Absolutely zero private schools complained about it, and all were happy to join in, and take an extra year of tuition per starting athlete, especially if they could blame it on "the club coaches" which is exactly what happen, if you ask a HS coach ("oh their club coach decided it was best....".

Also notable was the early recruiting phase you mentioned. It's awkward-sauce when you're a 20 year old senior and can't play league games anymore. But substantially LESS awkward if you committed in 9th grade when you were 16, beating up on 14 year olds, so who cares about senior season, you're locked in. UNC Lax sticker for mom's volvo SUV...purchased!

Thanks you for these explanations.

So these kids get to play 8th grade HOCO 3 years in a row?

You forgot to mention the 5th year college kid and the PG from up north. Things are really getting out of hand. They're stealing all the GLORY.

y’all are off the darn rails. get a life!

This isn’t about hoco or middle school lacrosse. Reality is that elite players will be recruited 3 summers from now (yes hard to imagine 29’s) and the majority of the top 100, will be older, bigger, and stronger. Most of them would still go high level D1 in the grad year above. They will be recruited on un-coachable athleticism, aggression, and will to compete. There will be commitments from players you don’t think are any good to elite schools that will have you scratching your head. Kids with no varsity reps going to the Big 10 and ivy’s purely off of potential.

By the time that rolls around to the 29’s complaining about reclasses will be so far in the rearview y’all be will laughing about how wound up you used to get.

The best players in 2029 are on age, but may still be reclassed…what about that!?

Ehhhh, that's about 70% true. Really, 80% true, but 10% off for using "supposably" over and over.

I know nobody here will believe this, but it didn't start as a lacrosse problem. It started as a baseball, basketball, and football problem with the MIAA schools competing with the PA (Philly/Main Line) prep schools. Namely McDonogh, GP, and DeMatha. Talking 20+ years ago. It's important to understand that in VA and MD, you must legally send your kid to school at age 5, always been that way since at least the 1970s. In PA, it's AGE 6 ****with exceptions readily available to age 7**** . So the PA schools like Malvern, St. Joes, La Salle, and even Bishop McDevitt since it's right up I-83, just look like much more dominant programs to send your son, vs. the then mostly on-age MIAA and IAC schools.

So interestingly, a lot of the "last generation" older players for MIAA were actually just "late start" PA kids. Great example, Pat Spencer who did Pennsylvania "late kindergarten" and completely ducked the "holdback" debate, but turned 20 at the end of his freshman year.

The important part of the story above, which is notable, is that the HoCo League strongly embraced grad-class based competition about the same time that Spencer and his cohort were moving through middle school. The connection between Crabs and BL Lax (really starting a few years before Spencer) were enthusiastic about the new league because among other things, it provided some evidence that the "BL reclass model works." Absolutely zero private schools complained about it, and all were happy to join in, and take an extra year of tuition per starting athlete, especially if they could blame it on "the club coaches" which is exactly what happen, if you ask a HS coach ("oh their club coach decided it was best....".

Also notable was the early recruiting phase you mentioned. It's awkward-sauce when you're a 20 year old senior and can't play league games anymore. But substantially LESS awkward if you committed in 9th grade when you were 16, beating up on 14 year olds, so who cares about senior season, you're locked in. UNC Lax sticker for mom's volvo SUV...purchased![/quote]

Interesting history

Interesting history[/quote]

Well as mostly MD and VA parents on this board, prob worth putting a pin in this story, since as you know, the parents of top level PA kids have plenty to say about holdbacks. But if you look at top PA teams in 9th grade (Dukes, NXT, Freedom, Team 10 etc) the top 2/3 of the roster will be "late start PA kids." Now, those PA parents will never tell you that. They'll just whine about holdbacks, meanwhile, their 16 year old PA 9th grader is playing vs MD 16 year old 9th graders, so IDK what they are even complaining about.