BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Boys 2029 - 8th grade Fall 2024/Summer 2025

Try this again

Express roster over haul has proven most impressive.

Yeah what happened?

Fair statement unfortunately at the expense of the rest of the roster can’t feel good to be the one footing the bill

We all reclassed

The promise of “we’ll make and enter a second AA team in each tournament” not panning out?

lol.

Nobody has ever made a second AA team. However, plenty of AA and A second teams. The team just elevated to top 5 national team. Of course kids are being displaced. Nothing wrong with an A team vs the AA. Only thing gets hurt is the ego.

And the wallet

Wow! Express now the top team in the nation based on yesterday’s rankings. This is how the 26 teams were built. And go look at their list of 4 and 5 stars and recruitment.

Slow your roll Express dad. 2-3 more years and plenty of changes coming for this age group. Puberty, holdbacks/reclasses, out of state, etc. your son hasn’t locked in Duke just yet.

Slow your roll Express dad. 2-3 more years and plenty of changes coming for this age group. Puberty, holdbacks/reclasses, out of state, etc. your son hasn’t locked in Duke just yet.

How can a team be ranked 10 when they played all the second teams?

What does that even mean? In the current state they are the best. Is your point things can change??? Thanks never knew that.

With Florida kids and reclasses it feels more like the 2026 91 team than the 2026 Express team.

You're a sad representation of delusional parenting.

2026 team was built on 2025 players. No development happened. Reclasses happened.

And now Canadian kids lol

1-2

Wrong, built on talent. They won the one age World Series.

That was a long time ago. Maybe 5% of those kids are still there. Shall we list all the holdbacks and fly ins?

More fly ins on the way for express? So it’s just a national team now which is fine whatever but would detest to be a parent on that team … as everyone has said keep looking over your shoulder your replacement is coming!!!!

I understand why clubs look out of state and look to improve, but I disagree with it because the enjoyment of being a parent is to watch my son play and being happy. But I would not allow that. So if your son is now riding the bench on the AA Express team, go to the Orange team. Not a big deal.

Go to any other team for that matter.

You guys dont get it. Your sons tryout for teams like Express/91 because they are elite. The reason why these teams are elite is specifically because they are a meritocracy and they are always looking for more talent. If they stopped adding new talent, they would cease being elite and the top kids would leave for another elite team.

You guys want these teams to be elite . . . but just don't cut my kid. Life doesn't work that way. And making the clubs out to be the bad guy because they replaced your kid with a more talented kid from out of state is ridiculous. Did you ever think about the kid that was cut to make room on the 91 roster for your son?

Yes, this means that your son needs to be continually improving to stay on the team. That's a feature, not a defect. If your kid doesn't want to "look over his shoulder" - in other works continually compete for his role on the team - then elite lacrosse probably isn't the right level for him.

If you’re flying kids in your national team, put your big boy pants on and go play international tournament.

Not sure elite is a word that means anything in 8th grade lacrosse. Every kid at this age regardless of team should always be working harder to improve if it’s their passion. Not one person who has any kid playing right now will remember the “elite team” in 8th grade. It’s a term in youth sports that’s used to attract attention that’s what organizations like this do grab headlines. If they truly wanted to be elite why have a not so elite second team? Why not have one team at every age group that’s elite. That would be an “elite organization “

I think people need to readjust their thinking and not worry about being on the elite team as you call it and be on a team that actually develops your kids talent. Just being on Express won’t do that. They recruit talent don’t develop it. Almost everyone comes from another team. You could stay on the team that developed you and still get highly recruited. If more people did that these teams would actually need to develop talent in order to stay in business.

Playing with and against other great players is a huge part of development - just as important as playing for a great coach. Let's say you're a AA caliber player playing for a great coach that focuses on development, but the rest of the players on your team are B level players. You will not be tested in practice. You won't be able to play in the top tourneys and test yourself against the top players in the country. You won't be forced out of your comfort zone and be forced to work on your secondary and tertiary dodges because your primary dodge always works against the weaker comp.

This is why the top players and parents flock to 91 and Express. It's not just about the bumpersticker. And just because 91/Express are always looking to add talent doesn't mean that they don't develop the kids they have. If they cut your kid, it's not necessarily their fault for not developing your kid. Sometimes there are just more talented kids out there.

Which teams “develop” talent?

most teams except express they accumulate developed talent

Depends on the grade and coach. Some develop talent though and that’s up to everyone to decide for themselves.

Absolutely true.But parents should be realistic about the athlete and lax player that their son is currently, and pick a team at a level that challenges their son, but still allows them a meaningful role on a team. Playing time is a good estimator of their current role and development.