Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
He won't be able to play most summer tournaments because most leagues and tournaments have rules that a player that has played any high school lacrosse can not play youth any more. The Crabs bigger, faster and older have this "win" with loads of asterisks.

That rule is NEVER enforced, and most clubs simply blow it off. It's a pretty dumb rule, really. Why penalize a kid for being good enough to play on a HS freshman or JV team? This isn't rec league. We should have the best players at the age or grade level playing, period. Who cares if they have played for a high school?


Actually the situation rarely comes up in Maryland as Maryland schools do not allow 8th graders to play on their high school team nor can they play for more than 4 years in any one sport in all their high schools combined. Many Maryland 8th grade players capable of playing for their high schools have not due to this rule. For Maryland you must be a full time student attending the school and eligible grade you are playing for so 8th graders can not do it. Your allegation that it is never enforced is self serving because it is not something that comes up in Maryland. Back to the original question though, he can not play this weekend or any weekend in the Hoco league as their rules are very clear on the point. If Looneys is playing Beach Lax or any Aloha or Hogan event, he is also unable to join the team. Curious to see if Crabfeast allows it or not.


This is a situation that can be remedied with US Lacrosse new age rules. Eligibility by date, classification by ability.


Play with words. This is the wording from the HOCO player eligibility guidelines:
"The Conference follows a grade based system based on the player’s current grade level and assuming normal progression of school to graduation. Players who are participating in any high-school level program such as a high school freshman, JV-B, junior varsity, varsity or club team should not be eligible for 8th grade/U15 competition in the same season".

Notice it says "players who are participating in any high school etc. "should" not be eligible for 8th grade competition.
Wouldn't it have been better/stronger to use the word "is not" rather than "should not". Given how HOCO does not follow its own rules/guidelines regarding normal progression of school to graduation, does this leave an opening/arguing point for a player who did play for their high school team/? Don't know.