US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums MID-ATLANTIC LACROSSE MARYLAND FORUM Boys 2029 Grads - Mid Atlantic Region

Lawrenceville has players who were originally 2022 grad years, now 2024s? Double holdbacks. Their entire starting lineup is at a minimum of 1 year displaced.

Hawks over Legends by a lot
TC over FCA by a little
NL over Preds by a lot
ML over 91 by a lot

Cool story bro.

This is such a sick burn. Tell us more about your middle school athletic prodigies. LMAO clown.

Sounds like a hardo but he ain’t wrong

The Northern folk, must feel that they are so much better than the MD teams that they love to hang out on this page. Nothing better to do because they are so great. SMH. Trolling at it's beast.

I don’t think he/she’s trying to burn you, it’s an opinion shared by most across the country.

just a reminder this is a 2029 thread. So for HOCO they are all under the new age requirement. Head over to the 2028's and above for some holdback sick burn action...

Meanwhile, it takes a national team full of holdbacks based in Philadelphia (Nationals LC) to compete with the town teams from Maryland like Madlax and next level.

Yeah, Northern kids are so amazing that the parents fall apart and whine when facing someone a few months older. Haha

Nobody cares about your middle school all american.

This regional laxer waving contest is amusing. Please keep it up.

“A few months older” 😂😂😂

This weeks game predictions - Not looking for team bashing or S$%^ starting conversations. Only productive conversations please. We have enough of that from our friends from the north.

ELITE - How will/have teams adjusted to the shot clock?

Annapolis Hawks Green - Legends - Hawks will win (+3) A closer game then expected depending on what Legends shows up, I chose this as the elite division POSSIBLE spoiler.

True Chesapeake Black - FCA - TC will win by (+4). HOPE FCA did some soul searching and figured out how to implement their talents. Can FCA adjust to the shot clock. A previous poster said they turned the ball over 3+ times because of it.

Next Level - Predators Red - NL will continue what hawks started last week by (+7). Welcome to the elite division Preds.

Team 91 - Madlax Capital - ML will win by (+5). Let's see what 91 did in the off season.

AAA
ProStart - Bethesda Blue - BB will pull a close one off by (-3) PS seemed to struggle with HOCO. Will PS begin gelling as a cohesive team to pull away in games or will all the game be close?

Shore Kaos - Annapolis Hawks Black - This game will be a wash. Totally up in the air based on which team lets in the most goals. Goal production is low for each of these teams. Face offs will also be a key Factor

True NOVA Black - Carroll Manor - Nova will get the win based on goal production. (+3). This game is my POSSIBLE spoiler. Which Carroll Manor will show up.

Team Maryland White - HoCo - HoCo should win this game (+4). true has let in the largest number of goals. If TMW can keep the goals down they have a chance of not.

What is the acceptable age variation?

That is Holdback mom talk, get with program.

Also to be heard, "playing against older players makes you better " while their son is one of oldest. "It is within rules" while holding their son back for sports only. "They are only a couple months older " forgetting that all on age players are not born on Sept 1. All kinds of good quotes.

The story today is that everyone has caught onto the holdback game. At one time it was a Maryland Private school thing along with a few other Preps in NE region.

Now , it is everywhere . The south has holdbacks everywhere, The Northeast region has holdbacks everywhere and MD is still MD with more holdbacks then ever.

So the truth is, hardly ant area now doesnt have them, LI , they are there with a decent amount, but on a smaller scale than other areas.

That is why we have Juniors posing as Freshman in college.

Holdback High School
Go to do PG at a Lawrenceville Type school
Red Shirt first year in college
Start as a 20/21 year old Freshman
Senior at 24/25 like many today are

I agree with all of this. Not sure what has happened to FCA since last year but they are really struggling this fall through the spring. They've had some very close losses to some really good teams and then a few head scratchers as well. They were the one team i thought did very well adjusting from AAA to Elite last year.

There is literally no bigger violator of single and double holdbac kids in the entire country than Brunswick school in Connecticut. They actually just let kids play down in age group without even actually holding them back. They use the rules of “but we’re gonna hold him back three years from now.” So you have 2027 kids playing on 2028 teams. See: 2Way. I won’t name names but we all know who they are ….

I wonder if FCA is feeling the new rules a little harder than others? Maybe the changes in leadership? It’s still early in the season but they usually come out a little more prepared.

Looks that way. It’s a great example of what holdbacks do to a team. Lack of development for most of the kids as they sat around and watched other players (who are t there anymore) do all the work in practices and games. Now tell me holdbacks don’t make a difference.

100% factually incorrect take. FCA lost exactly ONE player of significance due to age. The second player that they lost was the backup goalie who was actually replaced by the starter from the 2028 Blue Team who was playing up.

The roster did have a lot of turnover outside of the starters. Plenty of work to do for those new players to gel.

I think the original poster was asking the questions because of the drastic change in the the team, FCA has historically improved year after year..

The other major issue is injuries.

FCA is currently missing their top defender, fogo, a starting offensive mid and a couple of depth attack/mids.

The core of the team is the same as last year. That said, not all player development is linear. Some kids hit puberty earlier than others.

You have to play with what you have. All teams are missing players. Of course missing players can change the dynamics of a game but it can’t be an excuse.

So the coach doesn't develop his players and it's the kid's fault? Interesting take.

Remember when IL listed the top 5 star recruits in the class of '23 and their birthdays. Holdbacks dominated. In MD, anyone born prior to Sept 1st, 2004 is technically a holdback.

1. McCabe Millon, A, McDonogh (Md.) | Team 91 MD | March 2004 D.O.B.
2. Benn Johnston, M, Avon Old Farms (Conn.) | True IL | September 2004 D.O.B.
3. Leo Hoffman, M, Brunswick (Conn.) | Team 91 LI Bandits | June 2004 D.O.B.
4. Mac Christmas, LSM, Georgetown Prep (Md.) | Madlax DC Dogs | April 2004 D.O.B.
5. Owen Duffy, A, St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | Team 91 LI Bandits | February 2005 D.O.B.
6. Tomas Delgado, M, Brunswick (Conn.) | Prime Time | January 2005 D.O.B.
7. Ty Banks, LSM/D, Western Reserve (Ohio) | West Coast Starz | August 2004 D.O.B.
8. Kyle Lehman, A/M, Wissahickon (Pa.) | Freedom | June 2004 D.O.B.
9. Nate Kabiri, A, Georgetown Prep (Md.) | Madlax DC Dogs | July 2004 D.O.B.
10. Anderson Moore, G, Briarwood Christian (Ala.) | Thunder | December 2004 D.O.B.
11. Tucker Wade, M, Bullis (Md.) | DC Express — PRINCETON | September 2003 D.O.B.
12. Ben Beacham, M, La Costa Canyon (Calif.) | Mad Dog, West Coast Starz | March 2005 DOB
13. AJ Marsh, D, McDonogh (Md.) | Crabs | March 2004 D.O.B.
14. Caleb Fyock, G, St. John’s (D.C.) | Annapolis Hawks, Crabs | June 2004 D.O.B.
15. AJ Nikolic, M, Malvern Prep (Pa.) | Mesa | September 2004 D.O.B.
16. Colin Burns, A, Georgetown Prep (Md.) | Madlax DC Dogs | July 2004 D.O.B. | Highlights

No. Who would take the time to stress over this.

There is nothing magical about Sept 1st. It's an arbitrary date. The idea that age is the sole determinant of skill is incredibly lazy. Nothing is that black and white, including the reasons kids are "held back" in school.

Maybe you should track down their height and weight, and the age they hit puberty. What was their diet and exercise routine? How many hours of private lessons? So many data points are missing.

Well what kind of player would they be if they player in the correct year against older kids? We will never know.

It's what the coach is interested in. If the coach sees that the "stars" are going to carry the team and focusses on them well... If a coach developes all players with a "next player up" mentality then it will benefit the whole team. Coaching is more than winning games it's about preparing a TEAM for what ever situation confronts them. e.g. Injuries. losing players.

No, just helps the ones they believe will help win. Now you have what you have. Injuries are part of sports and life. Again, tell me holdbacks don’t make a difference.

Skilled players make a difference. Whether they are born a few months earlier than another kid is irrelevant. None of the scary holdbacks at this age group are "years" older. Sure there are some kids who hit puberty sooner, or have giants somewhere in their lineage. Are you also suggesting we separate by weight classes?

As the poster above alluded, there are those coaches (and parents) who only care about optics and winning at all costs, and then there are those who recognize the benefit of teamwork and training. Obviously you are in the former group, unable to see past the forest for the trees.

The fca tree hugging moms are funny. Fca stunk for years, added a couple older “skilled” kids and suddenly improved. Lost a couple kids and [Censored] again. All teams have injuries, next man up. Again, tell me holdbacks don’t make a difference.FCA is a prime example. Football has age/weight classes to protect kids, travel soccer is age/card verified before every game, and lacrosse is finally seeing past the forest into fca demise. You need to recruit harder then the other surrounding clubs, because development isn’t going to happen

This ain’t rec level sports, Coach Cliche!

A next man up philosophy is great but when a team has a quarter of its roster out due to injury including 30% of its starters, you’re going to see a decline in performance.

Or born 23 months earlier, you clown

This is a very insightful addition to the discourse. It sounds like you have it all figured out. Thanks for your contribution.

Thanks Holdback apologist , Point is clear, Holdback works and if you want to play D1 , you are foolish to not hold your son back. Frankly, I wouldnt blame anyone that did as that seems to be the main way to compete at this time. It is also pretty sad that only 3 players on that list are on age. It says a lot about lacrosse.

While we everyone has gone back to talking HOLDBACKS (shocker!)............What will most 2029 players who were impacted by age verification do next year? I know once they get into 9th grade they can just play 2029. They will also unfortunately not be eligible to play in HOCO next year and will miss playing as an 8th grader.

Will these guys go ahead and play for a 2029 team, not play in HOCO, and then just focus on tournaments that don't have age verification. Do they just play up with high schoolers for the entire year, and then drop back the following season. Really curious to see as this is the first group to walk through it. I'm certain there will also probably be something current 8th graders that holdback regardless......and just don't care about missing an 8th grade HOCO season.

Any thoughts?

They have to stick with their 2028 team and miss Hoco.

This year, the birthdate cutoff for the 2028 group in Hoco is June 1, 2008. The birthdate cutoff for 2029 is June 1, 2010. Next year, the cutoff for the 2029 division for Hoco will be June 1, 2009. So, most of the holdbacks will come back to 2029 next year.