Here is my perspective, being an ex-college player, youth coach, high school coach, parent and not living in a community with a strong lacrosse tradition. "Elite" travel teams have merit. They bring together kids from different communities that are serious about playing lacrosse. These are the kids that attend camps, clinics and are most likely to play wall ball on their own. Do the high school elite "A" teams get extra exposure and looks by colleges? They do. Especially if these kids would have played in a town with a mediocre coach and program with kids that pick up their sticks once every spring. Having said that is the "elite" travel thing a major money maker? Absolutely! Are there multiple teams in an age bracket that will never compete on a high level nor get looks from colleges? Absolutely. The Three Villages and West Islips don't see the merit in travel teams. They don't have to. They have enough talent and enough parents with knowledge of the game to mandate loyalty to the local program. Some will balk at that. Especially if their child does not get adequate playing time. Those that stay with their town team and get playing time are thrilled they don't have to pay thousands of dollars per year to pad the retirement of some director from a team named after their jersey number. If you live in, for example, West Islip, 3V, Manhasset, Smithtown, SWR (with Rotanz), etc be grateful you have lacrosse people in your community (including parents). If you in a community more known for baseball, then you are most likely going to have to go the outside travel team route and deal with all the politics there, and pay $5k (with travel expenses) on top of it. There is no one answer to this craziness. The days of just playing in season and trying out for the Empire State team is over. We, as parents created this because we think our children should be offered more than they are. If my father was asked for thousands of dollars to play travel lacrosse, he would have told me, you need therapy, now go outside and play.
great - great post, thank you.....
The above is one persons perspective, its their point of view. Maybe their perspective will change when presented with factual information. Maybe your perspective will change as well. Sometimes the facts do not lend themselves to helping push a particular agenda or ideology.
Lets look at the facts.
“is the "elite" travel thing a major money maker? Absolutely!”
- fact: Many of the HS/Town Programs are now money makers.
“Are there multiple teams in an age bracket that will never compete on a high level nor get looks from colleges? Absolutely.”
- Fact: Some HS/Town Programs have multiple teams per grade. Some HS/Town Teams have 30 players per team.
“The Three Villages and West Islips don't see the merit in travel teams.”
- Fact: Many in 3V do see the merit. 3V kids have been playing on travel teams for years. They played for Ward Melville as well as for a travel team. Yes, they played for both.
“Those that stay with their town team and get playing time are thrilled they don't have to pay thousands of dollars per year to pad the retirement of some director from a team named after their jersey number.”
- Fact: As stated earlier, some Town/HS summer programs are now “for profit” businesses. - At the youth level the cost difference between a Town Team and a Club team is not that great if the Town Team does all that a typical Club Team does. Especially if the Town hires a paid coach. - Either way you will spend thousands of dollars. - Town Teams are not free. - Not all club teams charge the same amount of money to play for their team.
“If you in a community more known for baseball, then you are most likely going to have to go the outside travel team route and deal with all the politics there, and pay $5k (with travel expenses) on top of it.”
Fact: There are politics involved with Town Programs as well. Some people argue that the politics with town programs are worse than the politics associated with travel programs. (travel expenses are the same for both Town and Travel Team
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