US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2028 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

Your observation that the 2028 division is "2027 1/2" is spot on, and the same can be said for the 2027, 2026, and practically every class at the elite level. But it is not a "problem" so much as it is just a fact of lacrosse life that is not going to change. Re-classing players in 7th and 8th grade is part of the lacrosse landscape in the mid atlantic area, and it always will be, no matter what people say in surveys or on this BOTC. (or in the car after losing a game). The holdback model works way too well for all constituencies for anybody to change it - college coaches like it because get freshmen who are emotionally and physically more mature; travel programs like it because they get an extra year of revenue, and they can build great teams without having to work as hard at developing players; private secondary schools like it because they collect an extra year of tuition, and get stronger teams; and families who can afford it financially, and whose sons are already good players, like it because they are setting their sons up for success in HS and college. So if your son plays elite level lacrosse in Baltimore or DC, for your own sanity, just accept it, the same way that you accept temporarily playing with one fewer player when your son's team gets a penalty. If you can't bring yourself to do that, then move to Long Island or Syracuse there the best players are at public schools with no re-classing, or have your son play at the non-elite level, which is still good lacrosse but has few or no holdbacks, or choose another sport that goes by birth year. If it is any consolation, holdbacks are only an issue in 7th and 8th grade - by 9th grade everybody competing at this level has hit adolescence, and the good 9th graders are playing with older kids in HS anyway, and the extra year makes little or no difference. Hope this helps.

FCA dad here— Can’t imagine they’d have let him continue playing if they’d known he had a broken hand Vs “hurt.”. Kid was rock solid first half, we should have been up 10-3 but he stood on his head. Not sure how he got hurt, but he couldn’t hold the stick in the second half. We prob could have dumped another 3-4 on them but we ran out the clock last 2-3 minutes.

yep, risky and dangerous when playing against 26/27 FCA Holdbacks. Saying ML isnt elite. FCA 2028 were not elite until the big guys held back.

When do the FCA 2028's hold back for the 29/30s? Did that also happen this fall or do they hold back in the 2023-2024 school year? That is such an interesting philosophy, but successful and it clearly works for them. They [Censored] until 7th grade when they hold back kids 2 years older?

When do the FCA 2028's hold back for the 29/30s? Did that also happen this fall or do they hold back in the 2023-2024 school year? That is such an interesting philosophy, but successful and it clearly works for them. They [Censored] until 7th grade when they hold back kids 2 years older?

When do the FCA 2028's hold back for the 29/30s? Did that also happen this fall or do they hold back in the 2023-2024 school year? That is such an interesting philosophy, but successful and it clearly works for them. They [Censored] until 7th grade when they hold back kids 2 years older?

yep, risky and dangerous when playing against 26/27 FCA Holdbacks. Saying ML isnt elite. FCA 2028 were not elite until the big guys held back.

Another FCA dad - The parents were nice and the coach was fine, as well. They just got in a bad spot and had one bad loss. We had one of those against the Hawks last year. I fully expect ML to rebound and they’ll be in contention for HOCO championship in the spring.

When do the FCA 2028's hold back for the 29/30s? Did that also happen this fall or do they hold back in the 2023-2024 school year? That is such an interesting philosophy, but successful and it clearly works for them. They [Censored] until 7th grade when they hold back kids 2 years older?

ML will struggle beat anyone elite without guest players and their big holdback. (They even lose with the big holdback when the out of state kids don’t show up).

Recent few games - Lost to NXT at naptown (with out of state player). Waxed by FCA.

Expect Cab to go full recruiting with even more out of state kids. Madlax long time kids will see more of the bench.

Cab will NOT be ok with finishing third or fourth and not winning tournaments.

I think you're looking a little too deep into it. FCA 2028 has been a top tier team for a while. A few kids parents decided to go the holdback route and create a "super-team". FCA as an organization is not going to tell those families "no thanks - go elsewhere". I don't believe any other organization would have either.

Any predictions for NAL?

I have one. Madlax will not win it

FCA being the new holdback arch enemy is the best fall development in some time.

signed, Hawks dad

Any predictions for NAL?

And verily did Jesus sayeth unto them, "Thine seed shalt taketh an extra year of middle school so as to smite thine opponents and braggeth on message boards, because thus is the way of the Lord our God."

That is gold.
When the Hawks play FCA, will that be in the 27 bracket or the 28?
Asking for a friend 😀

NL dad Shut up...go figure out your offense.

3D or Mad Dog National Take it.

Don't sleep on Leading Edge!

Cabal didn't play a kick with a broken thumb. One of 11 2027 FCA reclass's playing for the 2028 FCA team broke his thumb while shooting. It's fool what a year difference combined with puberty will do for your shot. Goalie is a young 2028. It's no ones fault. it is the rules and FCA has embraced it. Can't win with on grade boys, bring an entire team down. It is dangerous and bones will be broken. Has nothing to do with the coach as everyone would like it to.

FCA beat us fair and square BUT a let the holdback talk begin. They had two reclassed 2027s head and shoulders above everyone else. It's still baffling to me that a parent would want their kid playing against kids a foot shorter than them. I'd be embarrassed.

Cabal didn't play a kick with a broken thumb. One of 11 2027 FCA reclass's playing for the 2028 FCA team broke his thumb while shooting. It's fool what a year difference combined with puberty will do for your shot. Goalie is a young 2028. It's no ones fault. it is the rules and FCA has embraced it. Can't win with on grade boys, bring an entire team down. It is dangerous and bones will be broken. Has nothing to do with the coach as everyone would like it to.

I heard the whole team is 2025 players on steroids. That's what one of the parents said so I has to be true...

Not according to their D-poles. A good attack will eat them up.