The fact that this discussion has turned to what 8th and 9th graders will play significant roles on varsity teams speaks volumes to the fact that High School lacrosse on the Island is not very competitive (outside of the top 2 or three teams per league). Make a Power League already. As far as who cares about 9th grade lacrosse? I would say just about every major college coach in the country cares. 2018 and 2019 saw by far the most college coaches on their sidelines of any age groups this past fall and summer. The Top Club Teams draw an incredible amount of attention. Very few if any of the 2018's or 19" s would be able to compete with the top 2016 teams yet they are able to play major roles on varsity teams. An earlier post made reference to middle school lacrosse being a joke, well, most varsity programs are not much better. Same teams at the top year in and year out beating up on teams that have very few strong players and very limited depth. Even the top HS teams feel the need (for whateverreason) to bring up 9th graders. I think towns like Garden City, Syosset, Massapequa and Smithtown East could do just fine with out bringing up any 9th graders. Maybe the strong small schools do not have the depth.
Time for a Power League or smaller conferences so the teams can play more Non-League games against competitive teams. I bet that just about anyone who follows HS Lacrosse on the Island can predict the top 2 or three teams in each conference.
Agree with what you say for the most part. Only when I talk about nobody caring about MS, 9th grade, and JV Lacrosse, you do realize I'm talking about school ball, not club, which is a completely different animal. In the publics the really good kids get brought up to varsity where many so care to watch and follow the sport. In the privates where they do not bring up kids, I maintain my position that nobody cares! And yes, I know many of these kids the been recruited through their club teams where there is much more interest to follow teams and kids. This is not just true of Lacrosse, but all varsity sports.
