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

Black Ops was not an All Star team.

Ok, a team formed specifically for the wsyl.

They did beat Sweetlax at NAL, but everyone knows that the Towermen had holdbacks playing with them. Either way, that will now be common since the WS is over. That’s the beauty of elite club lacrosse, more opportunities to get better and test yourself against the best teams. Who’s going to NLF?

They did beat Sweetlax at NAL, but everyone knows that the Towermen had holdbacks playing with them. Either way, that will now be common since the WS is over. That’s the beauty of elite club lacrosse, more opportunities to get better and test yourself against the best teams. Who’s going to NLF?[/quote]

Stop with the hold back nonsense. Most teams have a few of them and some have a lot of them. WSYL is only on age tourney and everyone knows that.

Stop with the hold back nonsense. Most teams have a few of them and some have a lot of them. WSYL is only on age tourney and everyone knows that.[/quote]

Welcome to the board captain obvious. That’s the whole point, some clubs are simply better and can legitimately win with on age players, while some need holdbacks to compete at the elite level. Those are simple and basic facts that won’t change no matter how hard you tap your keyboard.

Happy 4th to all the other crazy nutmegs on this forum!!

Black ops. Lol. One win over hawks. Take it easy.

PP here. I did not realize that calling Black Ops an all star team would be controversial. It is a collection of the best players from 4-5 teams. What else would you call such a team?

Teams know how to defeat the Hawks and the Hawks will continue to lose games. The defense is their weakness. Soon you will be ranked 7th.

Oops! Don’t forget the loss to Express Channey 10-3.

Of course it was. The 3 main clubs got together to form BlackOps cause they either had too many holdbacks (BLC) or not enough talent (VLC/NL) to compete. Then a few Dads went out and recruited from a few more smaller clubs to fill out the roster. That’s just the facts. DCE will use it to recruit those kids over as they form the 26 Team, hence why it was coached by the DCE coach.

Now, can they pull it off or not? Who knows? Is DCE 26 only going to take BlackOps kids (ie on-age)? Lots to watch and see how the politics and biz of youth sports play out.

Teams end up catching up to the best, some even pass them. It was only a matter of time before other talent on other teams caught up to Hawks. It’s not a bad thing. It’s refreshing. holdbacks are great in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades where they make a huge difference. Now that puberty is hitting this group, it levels out the playing field just enough for teams like Hawks, and any team who has been unstoppable for years, to have to start really playing the game and not just rely on their older players to get the job done. Not a knock on any program, not a knock on holdbacks, not a knock players, just personal experience having gone through club lacrosse with two older boys. Not one coach, DI, DII, or DIII cares where your kid played in 6th, 7th and 8th grade. And a lot of the times, some of the best players come from the worst teams, you know that whole big fish, little pond thing. Just go watch your kid play lacrosse, because it all works out.

VLC Black Ops had on-age boys from VLC, BLC, NL, FCA, and Sidewinders.

VLC is a Crabs club team.

BLC 2026 team is becoming DCE, VLC and NL have their own business models.

Club lacrosse is going back to business as usual which means some teams will again be playing with holdbacks, To compete a VLC Black Ops team would have to add the same making them just another club team.

Will parents continue to pay for their sons to be on two club teams? Juggle two teams practices and tournaments? WSYL was an experience kids may only have once or twice in a lifetime. It's over, lacrosse life will return to normal.

Completely agree. This forum lights up when the holdback topic is brought up but it’s a simple fact that this is an advantage early on. Instead of denying it, embrace the fact that this provides your team with a physical advantage. Either way, that physical advantage evens out as others reach puberty and the best players are the ones that have the best skills, lacrosse IQ and athleticism combined. It’s not rocket science.

[quote=Anonymous]VLC Black Ops had on-age boys from VLC, BLC, NL, FCA, and Sidewinders.

VLC is a Crabs club team.

BLC 2026 team is becoming DCE, VLC and NL have their own business models.

Club lacrosse is going back to business as usual which means some teams will again be playing with holdbacks, To compete a VLC Black Ops team would have to add the same making them just another club team.

Will parents continue to pay for their sons to be on two club teams? Juggle two teams practices and tournaments? WSYL was an experience kids may only have once or twice in a lifetime. It's over, lacrosse life will return to normal.[/quote

Wrong!

Sidewinders?

Can someone list all of the tryout dates for 2026? I know someone here most likely has a spreadsheet on them by now.

Hawks parents in hiding until they win their next game.
Going to be some hawkward conversations at the water cooler at work this week. Do they wear their official team lanyards to work as well?

Lol, gotta love when the word is used properly. It really is funny.

Predators ??

So true. They can't beat good competition without their "four" holdbacks. As Hawks Dads like to say, hit the wall.

What player from Sidewinders was on Black Ops? This post is fan fiction (like age integrity, consistent rosters or a classy graceful Hawks parent). .

Hawks beat Tigers at the qualifier without their holdbacks.

Neutral party here, but didn't they go undefeated and beat the Tigers to win the east qualifier with that team??

Correct

Do the Hawks have anymore tournaments or is their season over? Hawks didn’t show up at last National Lacrosse Federation tournament in 2019 at Umass when Laxachusetts beat Madlax in final. Laxachusetts beat Tommyknockers and Madlax beat Sweetlax in semis. Crabs didnt show up either So much has changed since that NLF. Which MD teams will play in it?

Very hawkward seeing the same poster asking questions and answering his own questions.

I think the parity within the top 10 of 2026 division should really celebrated. its been proven, especially this season, that anyone can beat anyone on any given day. These teams dont avoid eachother, they battle it out and the games are awesome to watch.

Hawks are going

Guess you forgot the Black Ops loss to Hawks at the qualifier.

Saw the Hawks play at both Naptown and WSYL; this team is definitely regressing and will need an influx of talent during their upcoming tryouts to remain relevant during the HS years. Still extremely talented but they have peaked and without new talent will continue to struggle against the better competition.

3 OT losses.

Sidewinders coach rescheduled HoCo game for 3/28 because his only FOGO was at East Qualifier with VLC Black Ops.

False

Goalie

False

And how many 1 goal games that could have gone either way.........they need help as the talent is catching up.

True

You are only as good as your last game,,,,,Hawks ranked 4 now on USCL

What is the next tournament for Black Ops?