US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Boys 2017 Fall 2012/Spring 2013

LI, Philly, MD & NJ 2017 here in Fla. It is awesome to see a bunch of 91, fl$, express Terps, Turtles and GC kids having a blast together in the pool!

are you aware of the selection process? is it that there are a certain number selected or is it just random and not number or position based?

I would really like some clarification on this. How can it be expected that a family must pay to travel to FL in January to hope that our sons performance is good enough to be invited to travel to MD in the summer to attend the camp?? Isnt there any other way to be able to get invited??

Sounds like another event taking advantage of the money making opportunities!!!

Definitely. Why else have a rising freshman class for this after going so long without it?

Still...what ismthe selection based on? The individual team coaches while at the camp now or??

go to there web site it is very clear. rising frosh, 2017 there are no invites. the only way to be invited was to go to this camp down in LarryMiller and earn a spot. In 2016 there are 120 invited by jake reed and 120 who play in from these camps.

Clarification as asked: http://3dlacrosse.com/3d-blue-chip

Two evaluators for that many kids? They cannot watch each game; there must be some petitioning from eavpch player's team coach, I would think.

$525.00 registration costs?

Plus player travel costs, family costs, meals, hotels, and all else - for a rising freshman camp? Have you all seriously lost your collective minds?

There is some terrific news for the economy here. The recession must be over since this discretionary spend will have absolutely zero value in the recruiting cycle. Enjoy the experience, but do not confuse this with recruiting.

This is really amazing to me. Surprised the powers that be didn't set up this event in a few different locations as to maximize their earnings.

If you carefully read the Jake Reed Nike Blue Chip website.It specifically says it is a secondary way to be invited.
So it seems the prior process still exists of coaches recommendations.
That makes sense in that not all players that show up at these pay$525 to play camps are the best of the age group from all over the country. Jake always had top tier top level talent in a small group setting that college coaches could attend and recruit from. This new process only dilutes the talent pool with those that can afford to pay to attend regardless of talent level.

You are misunderstanding that this is the first year that they are including rising freshman. Since these kids really dont have the same resume of the upper classman where they might have been seen before, this camp gives the 3D evaluators a chance to see at least those kids that had to be recommended by their individual coaches to participate. The downside is that the criteria used to evaluate them could prevent them from getting considerations for invites in the future. It's a bit of a gamble if your kid goes in and has a bad day for whatever reason and then possibly being excluded in the future.

One of the regional directors of this program told a friend of mine who coaches to recommend only quality players. It is not a "talentless who can pay to play" situation. It was intoned that recommending lesser players will diminish the future acceptance of recommendations from the coaches.

Well, let's all be afraid that some coach might not be "trusted" to refer a $525.00 per player fee? Seriously? As consumers and parents, that is what the fear is going to be in the college process? BOTC thinks you have this all wrong.

Our recommendation would be to keep your hands in your pockets on this one - bank the several thousand dollars that a rising freshman recruiting camp will cost your family and use those funds for something practical - SAT/ACT preparation courses, AP test fees (which will start for top students in sophomore year), and other college preparatory functions.

Got it

Have to say I am a bit surprised by your take on this. Jake Reed is by far the #1 recruiting camp there is in the country. In the past he has taken 120 kids that he invites through couches recommendations and performance. Last year they began to create this "play in" to give others the opportunity to prove themselves and hopefully find some of those players that have been overlooked. Is it a business? Yes. Are they playing on consumers (Parents) insecurity? yes. But if you get into Jake Reed and have a good few days and you will get recruited from the the minute the camp is over. Any and all of your advertisers that have "recruiting" camps are only trying to emulate this camp and it could be argued that money is even more of a waste. So a parents chooses to pay the money and have their kid attend. When they come back they will know one of two things, they are a very competitive player and have to keep working hard or they are non-competitive and they really need to start practicing if they want to be good. Last point, do you really think a parent who is spending this amount of money on a camp isn't doing the same thing for academics? Tudors, Prep courses, etc??? Don't know one parent who says its either camp or the Tudor, its both and many times the camps are rewards for getting good grades.

Well said. My son knows....academics 1st, 2nd and last. Anything else is extra and liable to be taken away if his grades suffer even one point. Thus far, can't argue with his 98 average. So he gets to play. And I do not mind paying. It is positive reinforcement and the results speak for themselves.

If this is the preferred recruiting method that the community sees as cost-efficient, so be it. Effectively, this camp is acting one step short of being a "national agent" for these 120 student-athletes. With the NCAA Recruiting deregulation, how much further with this reach extend?

Was the system previously defective? For what need is this expansion into the eighth graders? We can call these youngsters "rising freshmen" if you wish, but we have literally just passed midterms for most students in the New [lacrosse] area.

See, here is the problem for us at BOTC. We are shining the light on camps, clinics, tournaments, showcases, and programs in order to allow consumers (parents, players) to comparison shop. Allowing fear to drive decision making is not a academic strategy for an eighth grader.

There is a difference here. Our BOTC sponsors are by and large local to the New [lacrosse] metropolitan area which immediately helps control costs. Further, none of our programs are exclusively focused on just being a recruitment camp.

Show me a single parent that has already spent $2000.00 this year for academic assistance for an eighth grader's standardized testing or math/science tutors. All evidence is to the contrary that too many parents expect a big athletic payday at the end of the recruitment chase. Often times, parents will expect their student-athletes to be able to "slide" on Board Score results by being a highly sought-after recruit. BOTC believes that the equation is backwards.

We will have to take your word for that.

Show me a single parent that has already spent $2000.00 this year for academic assistance for an eighth grader's standardized testing or math/science tutors.

I am that parent, and know no less than a dozen others in the same grade that would say the same. As a matter of fact $2000 is light.

Spoken like a wealthy parent...Very happy for you that you can afford both the tutor & the camp but, not everyone is in that position (& I can name a dozen others not in the position) Not every child is wealthy, a genius & a Lax prodigy. therefore, people come on this site looking for guidance to navigate their childs lacrosse path. I, myself, am confused as to what is necessary & what is not. It does seem as if these camps & clinics are playing on parents insecurities & parents are "buying" in to it. I appreciate BOTC's honest view on this. I do not discredit your decision to (or not to) send your son but, I am in a postion where I do have to "pick & choose". Thanks again BOTC for your honesty.

Thank you for your thoughts. Having placed student-athletes into NCAA Division I athletic programs, our view is that an eighth-grade recruiting camp just does not pass the "if it were my money" test.

Glad to hear that- as a parent of more than one kid- all with high aspirations... money has to be spent where it will go the farthest and means the most. I have found this sight to be quiet helpful so far in giving us some direction in areas we were unsure about.

As for tutoring- a tutor can charge 100-130 an hour in the HS academic areas- so reaching 2000 might not be such a challenge if you have a kid that needs tutoring in more than one subject for the year- then add an SAT course... it adds up.

At least with the Brine camp there were tryouts..anyone can fill out an application and have their "coach" recommend them. Rising freshman......please........8th graders getting looks.......I seriously doubt it..

8th grade "looks" we were talking about these boys playing u13 a few posts ago.

Its seems obvious with 120 or so kids from 2017 there is a demand for this type of camp. The most important year at the jake reed camp is still rising sophomores but it wasn't long ago it was rising juniors. This summer the 2017 will just be another high quality camp not a real recruiting camp. when you talk about value, there are plenty of sponsors on this site charging REAL money to teach kindergartners, have travel 2nd grade teams, and all sorts of overpriced position camps that is the real waste of money. So we are clear the payoff in the end IS NOT MONEY!! It is entrance into a better school than you could have gotten into without lacrosse, period!

+1

And again, the results speak for themselves. (I love a kid who starts his homework before he takes off his coat!!).

My sentiments exactly. We are not looking for scholarships. Please; they are few and far between. But the additional aspect of being a possible D1 level lacrosse player might bring a greater acceptance into an institution that regularly turns away 2000 valedictorians a year. Great academics combined with a great lacrosse pedigree can possibly add up to a small higher chance at acceptance to a great school. This has been seen again and again.

We would easily turn down a full scholarship to a lesser school for acceptance to a greater academic school.

Sorry about the different perspective.

I think you are all missing the point. I brought my son down there and for us it was a opportunity to spend time together in Florida in January and expose him to a competetive tryout environment. Unless your insane or psychotic you realize that this camp isnt about getting your son recruited. The talent down there was top notch, the camp was very well run and the lacrosse was a pleasure to watch. Like every other competetive travel sport, camps and clinics cost money. Its up to the individual parent and player to decide if its worth the time and money. For me this camp was worth it for the experience alone, I think its something my son got a lot out of, and I wouldnt hesitate to do it again next year.

Its great to hear you and your son had such a positive experience. Although I am neither insane nor psychotic you would have to be ignorant if you didn't think playing well and getting an invite to the summer camp is not one of the first steps to being recruited. Do you really think the coaches/ evaluators won't go back to their buddies who coach college lacrosse and give them color on who the best kids were?

Latest results from the January 26th games at the Long Island Sports Hub.

North Shore Black Knights edge North Shore Midshipmen, 8-7
Daler Nation triples Rough Riders, 15-5
Long Island Tomahawks double Long Island Storm, 12-6

Current Standings

GP W L T GF GA PTS GD
Long Island Tomahawks 3 3 0 0 34 15 9 19
DalerNation 3 1 1 1 33 25 4 8
North Shore Black Knights 2 1 0 1 13 12 4 1
North Shore Midshipmen 2 0 1 1 17 18 1 -1
Long Island Storm 2 0 1 1 11 17 1 -6
Rough Riders 2 0 2 0 6 27 0 -21

I agree with everything you said in your post. Except that I realized it IS the beginning of a recruiting process for a 2017. My son & I had a great time together and a lot of his friends were there also. Great competition from all over eastern shores of MD, NJ, PA, LI, NC and my son took it serious and did well. A handful of kids DIDNT belong there and those were the ones (kids & parents) that looked at this as a vacation.

I've been called insane more than not and pretty sure I've successfully cultivated a strong psychotic side; thus I can see with my mind altered vision the validity of the above response. These national evaluators aren't there for a vacation, I am sure. There is the distinct possibility that the 3d JR people see the writing on the wall and realize the value in getting a look at younger kids who may have higher talents and reporting it to their college connection.
Then of course, there is the great financial gain they make. As it was stated before, there are no shortage of people looking to become separated from their money.

My son played really well and I think he has a good shot at getting invited to the summer camp. However I dont think college coaches really care about 8th graders right now. It may be a way to get on the "radar" but nothing more.

These showcases may not be recruiting camps but they are undenieably a major step in confirming the top 2017 players. Let's face it, were there really any kids that came out of nowhere and were "discovered" last weekend or at Brine in the Fall? If you were paying attention to the sidelines, I think it is quite apparent that the directors of the club programs know all of the standouts (and their parents!) in every position throughout Nassau & Suffolk. I'm pretty certain that the Jake Reed roster will have very few (if any) unknown players from the island. Club and Showcase directors will start comparing notes with college coaches as early as this summer and the buzz begins. It's the Circle of Lax.

So the question again becomes...Is it necessary to go down to Florida to a showcase in the 8th grade? If what you are saying is true "Jake Reed roster will have very few (if any) unknown players from the island", then why would you go? I am seriously asking this question. This is my first "Lax Kid" & we are trying to figure out what is & is not necessary.

When is the summer camp?

they went as this is the first year that rising freshman are being included and it is the only way they are screening this relativel unseen lax population for inclusion into the final 120 in the summer.

So, if your son did not go to Florida he will not be invited to JR summer camp?

correct, as far as 2017's go. there is no limitation to which region you apply from...there is another (last one this weekend)...not sure if it is too late to apply and the recommendation had to have come from your son's coach.

I have heard that there are several LI kids going down from the NE region this weekend instead of haveing been in the mid-atlantic region this past weekend so as to minimize the competition they would be facing...(kind of a back door sneak in IMO)...why not go up against the kids from your own region?

Wrong. They did this last year for 2016 kids who wanted to attend the 2016 version of Blue Chip last summer. Get your facts straight.

"fact boy"....read the website..we are talking about rising freshman...and knock off your attitude..enough of that around here..(oh..I forgot..you must be one of the "mad parents" who hates everything about club lax and the coaches and the money and camps....) blah blah blah...

so how is your boy doing in lax anyway? not living up to your expectations and thus the attitude? you can confess here...