Look, I'm not arguing with your statements, but club is certainly pay to play. Example: my son makes team, I get bill for 2k. I pay said bill. Son goes to every practice and busts his butt, he is not as good as middie A. He doesn't get same playing time. I complain to coach. What are the chances he refunds my money because my son is not playing enough? Or is he going to pro rate for playing time? Or should I expect him to be moved to B team? It's 100% pay to play gents.
Coach should tell you to pipe down, junior will get in when he deserves to. If you do not like it, then quit or get the kid on the wall so he can catch up and get a few minutes.
Yeah, that is how we should develop all 10 year olds.
There are teams where you can "develop" kids, they are called B teams and PAL teams. If they aren't good enough, no amount of $ should get them on the field and the parents need to keep the kids out of that situation by being honest about their skill level. Why screw it up for the ones who are playing to win and playing at a high level?
That's a sad perspective and you represent with your comments represent everything that is wrong with the current state of club lacrosse, in my opinion. This is a coach/club issue. If the kid isn't good enough don't take him. If you take a kid, that means they are good enough to play and should play. You don't take a kid and only concentrate on 60% of the roster.
Its called PRACTICE! More important than the games. Also your kid needs to take it upon himself to get better. We have all heard the "the wall never takes a day off" saying. The everyone gets a medal crowd is what is sad. Top level club lacrosse is not for the masses, it is for the elite.
This ignores the fact that the primary differentiator amongst kids is speed, quickness and athleticism. All the practice and wall ball in the world won't change this.
The problem with club lacrosse now (and its one of many problems, really) is that the almighty dollar dictates that they reach a certain number (usually in the low 20s) for each team. The club owners and coaches will do this no matter the abilities of the kids who are offered spots 18, 19, 20, etc. As said by others, if a kid is not good enough, he should not be on the team. The team should only include kids who are good enough to play at the level the team anticipates playing at. But the clubs don't care. They will load up the team to reach their magic number (each additional kid is pure profit) without regard to the abilities of some of the kids who are offered.
