US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE CAMPS & CLINICS Havoc Dune Dawg Tryouts - September 14th/15th, 2012

About 40 or so kids, on that stadium field, they had so much room to put the through the drills

You really have a problem with Don Gatz. You also don't know what you're talking about. There were 40+ trying out for 2020. I like you was there. There were also 75+ trying out for 2019. You shouldn't't have gone to tryout if you had such a problem last year, if it was SOOOOO awful, why were you there?

Go play for someone else!

I really cant for the life of me understand why anyone would have an issue with Don G. Talk about an un assuming guy. Taylor did 85% of the coaching , Antonio did some and then about 10% of the time it was Don. The playing time was spread out very evenly. Not to mention the asst coach was a 4 year division 1 player. This team did have many 2nd graders but you know what, they beat other travel teams. In the beggining of the year they played Express and beat them, then Express combined its teams and later in the year DD lost to them by 1 or 2 goals. How many teams that we played had 4th graders on it ? There where around 20 kids at the try out for 2021 but a bunch of kids where at football. This team will end up drawing a roster of 20 from around 30 kids. Bottom line, my kid had fun , got better and the price was very reasonable. by the way, the 2nd and third grade tryout had to have like 40 kids there. This is also an organization that states if winning is your number 1 priority your in the wrong place. If the Dune Dawgs where to go out and get three awesome players and win a bunch of games next year would it make them a better organization ? Its all about developing the players you have and making sure each kid gets to play. My kid was not even close to being one of the better kids on this team, so you know what, when the coaching staff literally stops practice to make sure he understands what he is supposed to do and can develop when they could just take my money and ignore him , well I am all in and I am thankful. Im sure we could have won more games if Don kept his kid ( a great player by the way) in more, but he didnt, instead he made sure my son got to play. Ill take character over a fancy coaching resume anyday

Of course you would want your son to be on that team. You said yourself he is not very good. He probably can't make any other travel team. Your kid is probably one of the kids who will hurt the team. Let him practice in the backyard first to get better before he ruins the team or the experience for other kids who are trying to get better. The better kids are not there to help him get better. They practice on there own And want better kids next to them not your son. And to say Taylor was there 85% of the time was an outright LIE. He wasn't at the first two tournaments. Showing up for the last game is not being there for a tournament. Green port he was not there he was away in lake placid for himself to play. Where was he for the oyster bay one? Or the maverick one not on the sideline. Where was he for bay shore? Come get real. Enjoy the DD have. Great season and I hope your son gets better but you should be realist and maybe this is not the sport for him.

I did not say he was not very good, I said he was not one of the DD better players. Its was his first year He is on his town teams A team and is one of their better kids. Sorry you think your kid is so great that others dont have a right to be on the field with him. Athletic ability and hard work can go a long way. Lets see what happens over the next few years , especially when body contact is allowed, its a whole new world. By the way. Practices is where players truly get better, did you forget to count those. By the way, allowing gifted players to help others succeed is a true gift. one that they will reap the benefits from their entire life, far more then winning a 9 year old lax tourney. By the way, he has already been offered to play on two other travel teams and when you pay my bills you can decide where he practices and who he plays for.

I guess the truth hurts oh well good luck to you and your son bringing down the DD team this year again oh and paying your bills. and I am 100% positive it wasnt the express or 91 who wants him either just saying

Go away, if you're so unhappy. You have nothing better to do? Your son's probably a B player too, which is fine. I don't know why you're being so nasty about this person's kid's abilities. As long as the kids are matched up well, having fun, and becoming better players, AND people, in the process, all's good. There are so many teams now, there should be a home for everyone, if they're interested and dedicated to getting better.

This discussion about an (or any) individual player is not the purpose of the Tryouts Forum and should not be included on this thread. Any further discussions along these lines will be deleted. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

This thread does remain open for the discussion of the tryouts held by the Havoc Dune Dawgs and for program updates related to the selection of their teams for 2012/2013.

Maybe Havoc Dune Dawgs is not the place for you! You have such venom for the coaches, owners and organization. Why are you trying out if it's so awful?

Understood, and completely agree. Thanks CageSage!

Dear Cagesage. The purpose of these discussions boards , or at least one of them is for people to hear different opinions about clubs. I brought up my son not because he was relevant, but as an example of how this organization treats all its players. I have heard so many horror stories about parents paying money and their kids never playing even after traveling out of state and paying for hotels, all for two minutes on the field. I have a good friend whos kid plays on one of the big name so to speak travel teams, the kid is very good. When I spoke to his Dad about playing time his exact quote was " I am happy, he plays a lot but if I where some of the parents I would be livid " Lastly, this team had a coach who played Div1 lax and prior coaching experience at every game it played

Unbelievable!!! Really??? All these comments are probably from the one parent we all know to be one of those sideline parents who can't stop coaching and yelling at all the kids from the sideline. It actually was pretty appalling that Coach Taylor's wife had to yell at them at the field. No kid is too great for the team. If you were unhappy leave...same stories are told by the same kind of parents from the other big organizations as well. People complain of Express, 91, Stampede, Team Long Island...some of these parents have been asked not to return, so they move on to the next organization...have the same problems...but really the problem is not the kid, most coaches love the kids. It's the inappropriate behavior of the parent that ruins it for their son. Sooner or later they will run out of programs to bad mouth. People talk. The lacrosse world is a small place and even though these guys own different travel teams they have one common thread...they are ALL starting a NO tolerance policy for these undesirable parents despite the money made. Their poor sons.

Extremely well said and oh so true! Children don't get to pick their parents, and sadly sometimes they are saddled with one of those people the rest of us can't stand to share a sideline with.

My son played with the DD last year 2020. Had a horrible experience. Coaches were good, but found that the Directors were okay with kids just running down the field without attempting to pass. When confronted with this, a statement was mad, " I cashed your check, what do I care?" Not how I want my son to learn lacrosse. It is a passing game. Anybody with just a little skill and just run and shoot.

Those are ridiculous comments. That's not at all what the program stands for, and those guys would never say that about the check cashing...good luck wherever you bring your son.

Last year was my first year with the Dune Dawgs. I believe Mike and Phil do an outstanding job and give an amazing effort on growing this origination. My son made 91, Express and Dune Dawgs. We chose Dune Dawgs because it was a more positive teaching environment. Not a business win at all cost club. My son improved immensely this summer. We were given extra practices and the kids were always prepared to step on the field regardless of who we were playing. All coaches were extremely informative and had endless patience with the kids. If a player or players did not understand the drills the coaches took the time to explain what they wanted. Our coaches never lost their cool. And to attack Donny G who took time away from his family to help better our kids is extremely shallow. To say this team was a glorified PAL team shows your ignores towards the game. I have been coaching for awhile and it is sad how kids inherit their parents' bad work ethics and reputation. Baseball is a much bigger community go try and hide there.

We were in same boat! you will have alot more kids comng over from Express due to their $2400 tuition!!!! Discuscting how they charge a kid that much! Alot of kids are leaving the Express! i heard they were losing really good players to other programs!

This is by far the most contradicting statement. How can the "Coaches be good" but the Directors be calling the shots on the field? Are you saying the directors were at every practice and every game at every tournament? Are you also attempting to say the directors can control the lack of passing by a player? I think you're better off going someplace else to tell you lies! And IF one of the Directors REALLY said that why aren't you saying who it was. After all you're "anonymous".

WHAT? This post make absolutely no sense what so ever...Just like drinking and driving doesn't work out well, neither does drinking and bloging

I have heard many good things about HDD. My son made the 2020 yellow team and both he and I are very happy. One thing I heard about this organization is that they are not a play to win at all cost. At the 2020 age I firmly believe they need to teach the rules and “Play as a team to win”. It’s all about team spirit and not the individual. I’m sure and hope some individual do stand out so that they can to develop their game skills. I only hope my son has the same experience as my daughter has had on her travel team which took 3rd at the US La Crosse Nationals down in the ESPN Zone in Florida this past year.

Awesome, we can all hope for this regardless of organization and team!