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If Dukes is such a bad program why are their teams top ranked every year?

I love checking in on BM’s middle school HHH teams during the spring league. I see he is still putting his teams in the AA bracket just to get totally crushed every game. Except the Birddog, who crush everyone.

I really wish people would read this board and gain some info. Don’t waste your time with HHH in middle school (unless you play with BM’s son on the Birddogs. HHH will turn over that 2029 roster this summer at try outs when they enter high school.

HHH middle school teams are the original club Ponzi Scheme. Tell me I’m wrong.

So are all of their HS teams good?

So are all of their HS teams good? Moved here recently and trying to find a good HS club for my son. He’s a 29 and has been on his current club for one year and it’s a complete dud, I don’t think their high school teams are any beater either.

If all that matters to you is winning in middle school, then sure—go join Dukes. Even if you don’t win on the field, you’ll still get your name on the back of your jersey and a slick promo video to win on social.

High school teams were once dominated by, but are now falling back to average. Much better than their middle school program though and probably worth it if your kid makes the team

I’m confused at the Ponzi scheme part. Other than Dukes who has good middle school teams?

HHH was built for HS lax; they only play in NLF tournaments, with the assumption HS lax takes up lots of time. In middle school, you should be playing as much as possible, HHH simply doesn’t do that. They are trying now but too little, too late.
Dukes were way ahead of the game w youth lax and continue to recruit the best local players, it’s not even close. Now, let’s see what happens when those Duke boys get to HS and there’s no recruiting help…then we shall see

This did not age well.

As a former Division I player who grew up in a very different era of the sport, I’ve grown increasingly concerned about the direction youth lacrosse is heading—especially when it comes to the overwhelming number of tournaments young players are now expected to compete in.

I can’t speak to Dukes Elite but my concern is at the younger levels, tournament-heavy schedules do more harm than good. They prioritize volume and short-term wins over development and long-term growth. With back-to-back games packed into a single weekend, there’s no real time to coach. Bad habits form quickly, and without meaningful practice time between games, there’s no opportunity to correct them.

Even worse, the pressure to win changes the way teams are coached. Why take the time to teach team offense or fundamental defense when a coach can just give the ball to the best athlete and hope they carry the team? It rewards shortcuts and masks weaknesses rather than fixing them.

Outside of HHH bashing....

Per US Club lacrosse records, (spring league info for OT lax and NXT pending on things)

Team Ten 2028s (0-9), 2029s (2-4), 2030s (0-6) in the fall
Mesa 2028s (3-3), 2029s, (2-7), 2030s, (2-4)
BL 2028s (3-3), 2029s (4-5), 2030s ( 3-3)
Fusion 2028s (6-3), Fusion futures 2029s (11-1), Fusion Philly 2029 (2-7), Fusion 2030s (7-2-1)
Delco 2028 (8-4-1), 2029s (1-5), 2030s, (2-2-2)
NXT 2028s (3-3) 2029s (6-3-1), 2030s (2-8)
Freedom 2028s (12-2) 2029s (9-3-1) 2030s (4-0) and (5-5)
DAWGS 2029s (4-5), 2030s (9-1)
Dukes 2028s (7-2), 2029s (3-2-1), 2030s (10-1-1)
Not one club is "Dominating" across the board for all ages.
Congrats to dukes, freedom, and fusion!
Kids will move teams, kids will stop playing, and some new kids will join.
I'm glad the ACC, IVY, and Big 10 are dishing out scholarships to the middle schoolers now.
Philly is a great area for lacrosse- just enjoy the games and let your son enjoy it as well.

The wheels are off the bus at Malvern. Radner is still top dog in the PIAA. Rustin is holdings its own, I wouldn’t be surprised if they win the Chesmont. Spring Ford looks like the top dog in the PAC. Twin Valley is for real. Devon will run away with AA in the PCL. Lasalle may be challenged by SJP. What happened to Upper Dublin? I thought they were going to challenge Marple for the AA title. Shanahan is hanging around. Episcopal is the favorite to win the inter AC.

JF debut at Lasalle is a train weak. Bring back Rob!

Malvern is definitely under performing on this year, however the wheels aren’t completely off the bus. They just beat Brunswick. Their issues don’t appear to the skill issues, their issues are rooted in a lack of defensive fundamentals (poor pick play, chasing stick instead of playing body position, etc) and a bad offensive scheme considering all the offensive talent on that team. With the right set and right offensive scheme, their offense should be practically automatic.

Radnor just jumped Lasalle in rankings. Looks like RF left just in time

Springfield will see Radnor again (probably 2 more times) and I think they finally beat them when it counts this year. Spring-Ford definitely looks like the tallest @ChillLaxin in the PAC. Lasalle is not going to be challenged by SJP after seeing them get pummeled at Springfield this weekend.

GA top 10. LFG!

Gotta hand it to BM huge turnaround for GA this year, but let’s be honest they have a long way to go

New rankings are out and as expected Dukes Elite 30s are sitting at number 3!

29s and 31s are struggling but the 32s might be the best yet

Lasalle will beat Springfield, can’t on it. They are to Springfield, what Radnor is to them.
I thought PREP had it this year but got exposed…
That said, Princehorn isnt far off from finally
Taking down Lasalle

Are you really talking about 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders?

Anybody go to the Malvern and Haverford game this past Tuesday? I was in shock never been to that game it was one of the best games I have ever seen period. Still cannot believe they are high school kids. If you have young kids and want them to get into lacrosse take them to those games.

Yes. That’s where kids play before they go to high school and college and yes I’m talking about them. Let me guess your kid got cut from Dukes

Congrats bishop shanahan on being ranked 7th in 2A!!!
Dominating those public school kids!!!

Are you really talking about 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th graders?

I remember both years when you talked about your 8th grader who still sits the bench

Your kid will be playing for another club soon,
I guarantee it. Duke’s 30, 32s are great club teams if you want the same dad playing his sons that aren’t good. I know parents love that! Recruit and drop kids that started with the program but make sure your cruddy kid
gets to play. Embarrassing!
Find a club that has real coaches and builds teams and find it fast

Whether it’s dad ball or not Dukes 30s are 3 in country and 32s will be right up there. Why does everyone detest a winner?

What does a 7th grade ranking get you? Can anyone tell me what their favorite lax players team ranking was in middle school? Smoke and mirrors hombre
If coach never played the game and is coaching your son (and his), I’d be worried.

The reason no one cares about 7th grade lax is the boys have not physically developed. It means nothing as things will change rapidly in the next few years. In fact, some of the best future players have barely picked up a stick by that age. This comes across as very odd (borderline creepy) when someone keeps posting about 6th and 7 graders.

I don’t think anyone detests the teams themselves, just the parents and loudmouths on this forum. But honestly when is the last time Dukes had a high school age team of any significance? These teams are at the age when they are ripe for breaking up and leaving to go to the clubs that get them recruited. The fact that they still have a dad coach and some of the most obnoxious parents I’ve ever seen on the sidelines is a recipe for trouble. It’s like clockwork with Philly teams going into 8/9th grade.

Dukes is a joke! 30s are only decent because of the 5-6 kids born in late 2010 or early 2011. Those kids can’t even play in the WS. What’s the point. Add in dad coaches and things will go the wrong way fast. Enjoy the parent ego trip now ends in HS.

Anyone bashing a 7th grade club team is flat out bizarre. And pretty ignorant as well…you do realize there are more than one coach on the staff, and they are not parents. That team is getting very good coaching.

Hearing Freedom sold to True

Either of those teams would beat the best D3 team in the country.

So the best players make the best coaches? Dukes coaching staff is as elite as their players. Just look at our spring league records. There is no club that even comes close to putting the talent on the field that Dukes does. Maybe another local club gets lucky one year like Futures 29 or HHH 31, but Dukes has elite level teams at all levels.

“Our spring league record”, you play?
Duke’s parents are the worst, let’s hold our kids back and pound our chest about how big and bad we are. Not only are the Moms and Dads obnoxious on the sidelines, I heard they’re even weirder off the field. Let’s just say lots of drinking, lots of spouse swapping. Good news is you added another over age player only this kid is actually
In 8th grade! I’m sure the team loves that.

Thanks Dukes mom! Are you one of the couples doing some spouse swapping? How does that work anyways? Do you throw all of the kids stick in a pile and that’s how you determine who goes with who?

Hahahahaha not even close. Go watch Tufts or Salisbury play. Depending on the year the top D3 team is a borderline top 20 D1 team. Tufts and Salisbury, the top 2 teams in D3 this year, would blow out every high school team.

You had me at spouse swapping!!!

I haven’t had the pleasure of wife swapping but drinking is accurate.

Best 2027 Goalie in the Country is in our backyard boys!!! Let’s go.