US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Long Island Top Guns Lacrosse

We played for TG last year. We were not on the black team, which for many is an OK experience. Our experience on the B Team was excruciating. The facts:

1. If you are paying for travel, to me the number 1 thing you want is great coaching, so they can progress. Whether its the A team or the E team. Our team had some very capable players and TG blew an opportunity to develop them.
2. College kids may be great players but that does not make them great coaches. Our coach was cute and nice, but abysmal as a coach. My kid got zero encouragement and the coach did not even know how to use her on the field.
3. The "family" means the smith family, not yours.
4. There is no respect for league play. The girls who play for Top Guns all play league and games are on sundays. You are expected to make TG your priority and not only is missing practice (also, conincidentally, on Sundays) frowned upon but they punish the kids by ignoring them and not playing them. Travel season is the summer. Not the spring. How dare you put these kids and families in the position of having to choose you over an organization they have played with for years and will continue to play for until they graduate! It's disgustingly selfish and SCGL should send you a warning.
5. I am a customer, and I deserve decent service. If my kid isn't learning because you are not investing resources in her team when I am paying you good money to do so, I will go elsewhere.

And we did. We are now at YJ, and we love our coach, and the fact that the program actually supports putting our league first during league season - and even states that if your league is at a tournament you should play for THEM. My daughter made a great team and they value her and its obvious. It may not be the top top team, but I don't care. Our team does extra practices (not just the 10 they have to do). They work the girls hard, but are flexible with us, and we even have a team mom, who is wonderful. We are treated with respect not like cattle, or a number, or a cash cow.

We are not the only ones who feel this way.

Lack of respect
Lack of customer service.
Lack of coaching.

Bye bye TG. We don't miss you. Not even a little. And the thing is, as pissed off as I am - my poor kid had to endure that horrible year in a program that she should enjoy, that she should be proud of. Hall of shame, only place for you, TG.

We played for TG last year. We were not on the black team, which for many is an OK experience. Our experience on the B Team was excruciating. The facts:

1. If you are paying for travel, to me the number 1 thing you want is great coaching, so they can progress. Whether its the A team or the E team. Our team had some very capable players and TG blew an opportunity to develop them.
2. College kids may be great players but that does not make them great coaches. Our coach was cute and nice, but abysmal as a coach. My kid got zero encouragement and the coach did not even know how to use her on the field.
3. The "family" means the smith family, not yours.
4. There is no respect for league play. The girls who play for Top Guns all play league and games are on sundays. You are expected to make TG your priority and not only is missing practice (also, conincidentally, on Sundays) frowned upon but they punish the kids by ignoring them and not playing them. Travel season is the summer. Not the spring. How dare you put these kids and families in the position of having to choose you over an organization they have played with for years and will continue to play for until they graduate! It's disgustingly selfish and SCGL should send you a warning.
5. I am a customer, and I deserve decent service. If my kid isn't learning because you are not investing resources in her team when I am paying you good money to do so, I will go elsewhere.

And we did. We are now at YJ, and we love our coach, and the fact that the program actually supports putting our league first during league season - and even states that if your league is at a tournament you should play for THEM. My daughter made a great team and they value her and its obvious. It may not be the top top team, but I don't care. Our team does extra practices (not just the 10 they have to do). They work the girls hard, but are flexible with us, and we even have a team mom, who is wonderful. We are treated with respect not like cattle, or a number, or a cash cow.

We are not the only ones who feel this way.

Lack of respect
Lack of customer service.
Lack of coaching.

Bye bye TG. We don't miss you. Not even a little. And the thing is, as pissed off as I am - my poor kid had to endure that horrible year in a program that she should enjoy, that she should be proud of. Hall of shame, only place for you, TG.

Maybe, but as of now my daughter is loving it. I'll post back after the season. The great thing is that as Long Islanders we do have tons of options.

Maybe, but as of now my daughter is loving it. I'll post back after the season. The great thing is that as Long Islanders we do have tons of options.

Say what you want but YJ coaching for the most part and especially with their top teams is much better. My daughter is also a transfer and there is no comparison the coaching at her age on YJ is fantastic. That being said I actually think the talent on the top TG team in the age group is better so if the saying holds about playing with better kids holds true it's a toss up between which team would help her improve more. I coach a younger level town team and have to say I now watch every minute of her YJ practices ,I have learned more from these 3 practices coaching wise than I did all of last year. YJ practices have a lot of team drills and team concepts while the TG practices almost seemed to be a try-out with 1 on 1 etc and individual concepts.Just my experience so far.

I can appreciate that, but it also brings forth the following question.. Am I letting my daughter play travel lacrosse so that the “Team” can get better or for “her” to get better? I don’t have the answer but I’m curious about other opinions

Say what you want but YJ coaching for the most part and especially with their top teams is much better. My daughter is also a transfer and there is no comparison the coaching at her age on YJ is fantastic. That being said I actually think the talent on the top TG team in the age group is better so if the saying holds about playing with better kids holds true it's a toss up between which team would help her improve more. I coach a younger level town team and have to say I now watch every minute of her YJ practices ,I have learned more from these 3 practices coaching wise than I did all of last year. YJ practices have a lot of team drills and team concepts while the TG practices almost seemed to be a try-out with 1 on 1 etc and individual concepts.Just my experience so far.

We made the switch to TG this year and so far we are not impressed. My daughter and a few others were not on what our former club considered to be the best team and after a bit of coaxing decided to give it a try. Dunce cap parent of the year for me, girls are not welcoming and parents are worse. Watching grown men flock to the club owner at practice was amusing. Too late for us at this point and it was a stupid move before HS, warning to others-the grass is not always greener. JMHO.

We made the switch to TG this year and so far we are not impressed. My daughter and a few others were not on what our former club considered to be the best team and after a bit of coaxing decided to give it a try. Dunce cap parent of the year for me, girls are not welcoming and parents are worse. Watching grown men flock to the club owner at practice was amusing. Too late for us at this point and it was a stupid move before HS, warning to others-the grass is not always greener. JMHO.

Its only been 1 practice right? What exactly did you expect. There are no secrets or magic involved. The kids practice and the parents watch. How much time was there for the girls to be welcoming, there were a couple of teams practicing at the same time, I certainly didn't know who to welcome

Here is something I am sure of, a very good coach can take a less talented team, get em coached up and easily beat a much more indkividually talented team with bad coaching.

I can appreciate that, but it also brings forth the following question.. Am I letting my daughter play travel lacrosse so that the “Team” can get better or for “her” to get better? I don’t have the answer but I’m curious about other opinions

Learning how to play a team concept game does in my opinion make one a better individual player, ie taking the ball to the goal with your head up so you can see the double and make the correct pass etc. Honestly I am not sure what college coaches look for be it individual athletic ability , high lacrosse IQ,my guess is all the above and more.

Unfortunately, most parents don’t feel the same way you do. From my experience with town, HS and travel ball, the focus seems to be on the individual level. It’s sad, but that’s the way it is. I was at a HS girl’s game on Monday and during the second half I overheard a conversation between two of the parents from the winning team. They were complaining that their daughter (who I think was in 8th grade) was not getting the ball enough and that the two superstars of the team were ball hogs and only pass to each other. One of the girls they complained about is a top rated player. I don’t think it mattered that their team was winning or that their daughter is fortunate enough to play with such a talented player. They were just upset that their kid didn’t get the ball enough.

Unfortunately, most parents don’t feel the same way you do. From my experience with town, HS and travel ball, the focus seems to be on the individual level. It’s sad, but that’s the way it is. I was at a HS girl’s game on Monday and during the second half I overheard a conversation between two of the parents from the winning team. They were complaining that their daughter (who I think was in 8th grade) was not getting the ball enough and that the two superstars of the team were ball hogs and only pass to each other. One of the girls they complained about is a top rated player. I don’t think it mattered that their team was winning or that their daughter is fortunate enough to play with such a talented player. They were just upset that their kid didn’t get the ball enough.

mr maryland got thrown out of 2 tournaments, I was there. and as a town team coach , he should know better.

Unfortunately, most parents don’t feel the same way you do. From my experience with town, HS and travel ball, the focus seems to be on the individual level. It’s sad, but that’s the way it is. I was at a HS girl’s game on Monday and during the second half I overheard a conversation between two of the parents from the winning team. They were complaining that their daughter (who I think was in 8th grade) was not getting the ball enough and that the two superstars of the team were ball hogs and only pass to each other. One of the girls they complained about is a top rated player. I don’t think it mattered that their team was winning or that their daughter is fortunate enough to play with such a talented player. They were just upset that their kid didn’t get the ball enough.

Elaboration required, when you speak in code it is difficult for us to follow you.

Its simple, when you get the ball you have to make things happen with it. If you don't then why is it someone else's fault.

This is officially the best post ever

When your daughter gets the ball it is time for parents to take action. Get up and start screaming as loud as you can to "go to goal". It doesn't matter if she way outside the fan, it doesn't matter that there are 4 defenders on her, it doesn't matter that 2 of her teamates are wide open, it doesn't matter that she has limited dodging ability and is going to try to bull her way through. Heck if she does this every time she gets the ball and ends up with 4 or 5 goals at the end of the game, its says she's a great player, except she tried to do 15 times, got stripped, put up weak shots etc........ don't put your daughter up to this, its bad lacrosse. Two girls can each score 5 goals in a game, one can look elegant and efficient with a few assist to go along, and the other "go to goal" girl looks ridiculus to everyone.

Too funny the neon hair ribbons that just scream look at me. I can say I have never seen a kid wearing all those neon ribbons and said to myself that they are the best player on the field.

They’re talking about the lunatic who left TG for YJ and is bashing the TG program. I give him one season with YJ before he is considered Persona non grata by them as well.

What age group?

Uniform
•Each Player Receives a Team Uniform
•First Year Player Receives -> BAG
•Second Year Player Receives -> Sweat Shirt
•Third Year Player Receives -> Sweat Pants
•Fourth Year Player Receives -> Long Sleeve Shirt


The TG website clearly states each player receives a new uniform which is included in the $1300, with perks being given the longer you are part of the organization. Bill Smith usually hands them out the practice before first tourney.

Uniform
•Each Player Receives a Team Uniform
•First Year Player Receives -> BAG
•Second Year Player Receives -> Sweat Shirt
•Third Year Player Receives -> Sweat Pants
•Fourth Year Player Receives -> Long Sleeve Shirt


The TG website clearly states each player receives a new uniform which is included in the $1300, with perks being given the longer you are part of the organization. Bill Smith usually hands them out the practice before first tourney.