Coaching is the most important variable that people overlook when making a choice for their daughters for travel, especially when they are young. Some coaches play to win at all costs at 8 or 9 years old to keep their club name elite, which is great if your daughter is a top player. In my opinion, girls this age need to play, and play every position so they learn the game. Some elite programs have mostly great teams at some age groups, and some not so great at others. Some new programs one or two great teams, and cannot field teams at other years. Some girls play PAL since 3rd grade, and have a sense of the game in 5th grade. Other athletes are just learning the game in 5th grade, but can still develop by high school.
If your daughter is in 6th grade, she will most likely be playing travel lacrosse for six years - if she plays travel through the recruiting years in high school Coaching varies a great deal from organization to organization, and from team to team within an organization. If it's a parent coach, they will move up with their daughter each year. As long as their daughter plays, they will coach - and as long as the team stays competitive. If it's a college lacrosse player coach - which most are, she will stay with the team year after year until that coach might settle into her profession after they graduate and can no longer travel in the summer. You can't predict what a college graduate will do with their lives or where it might take them. Many high school coaches are affiliated with certain teams, so there is some stability there if they coach. As the girls get older, and are of recruiting age, the directors will become more involved with those age groups, because they will be a reliable source to guide these girls through the recruiting process.
