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

Not how what works? It is how the game of lacrosse works.

So yes, best post of the year. Someone who actually understands the sport and recognizes what makes a player stand out. Nowhere did they say that scoring wasn't important. The end result of everything they stated is to win the game by scoring more goals than the other team:

"contributors to team play, ball movement, player movement, redefends, defensive slides, mids getting back, setting up plays, assisting, transition. It is much more than bulling in and taking a shot."

We all know girls who's parents stand on the sidelines and yell constantly "GO TO GOAL, GO TO GOAL!"

What a disservice to the girl and the team.

So again ... best post of year ... props!

It is refreshing to hear it's not all about ball hogs. Powder - you went through the recruiting process already right? You obviously agree with the poster above, but based on your experience, is this how the college coaches see it, or are they enamored with the athletic ball hogs, who consistently go to goal? I hope all these other attributes mentioned above are seen as more important...

Yes all true. BUT. Look at all pro sports. The person that scores the most on any team is the superstar. You can't fight it. It is what it is. Even at such a young age , that's what coaches look for. Aggressive to the goal. You can't teach that. You have it or you don't. That's why the parents who's kids can't do it are so against putting it down. Your message has truth put so does the girl that takes charge and puts the ball in the net.

The best player in college lacrosse and one of the most touted high schoolers ever to play, Taylor Cummings, is the epitome of what the original poster outlined. So my answer is an unqualified yes as to what not only makes a great lax player, but also what recruiters prize most.

Taking charge isn't just about putting the ball in the net. Maybe at the critical moment it is, but it is much more than that throughout a game. The analogy is Lebron vs. Carmelo ... they both score the most, but who is by far the better player? The best players make the players around them better. So do they score a lot? Usually. But they are much more than that. The girl that runs into the defense over and over again and on the third try gets to goal, might score a lot at this level, but she is by far not the best player on the field.

Don't the best come from LI?

. Who gets the ball when the game is on the line. Not the facilitater. The one who can score.

You are completely missing the point. The big problem I was talking about is travel parents ( not just yj), who think their daughter is such a dominate scorer how could they possibly not move her up. Yes all the best players can score almost at will, but the best players see the big picture. Ain't it funny how some players can and do score only against weak teams. Parents see this happen and assume they have the next Shannon Smith. I preach to my kids not to be the girl who goes to goal every time she touches the ball. Yes it is okay to bury a few but all the teammates and coaches and parents hate when kids put their head down and go. Teach your kids to charge hard and always have their head up and eyes open. It makes me cringe to watch someone dodge a defender or two, score a goal all the while they had a wide open teammate. If thats your kid, sorry but its not good lacrosse. The good players and good teammates will make that pass 100% of the time.

Lots of kids that can fill it up in HS and Club can't get it done in a major college program. No more relatively slow, unathletic kids or disorganized defenses to attack. Combination of speed, size, athleticism and attitude separates kids at this level....better have atleast 3....the kid you're trying to take the rack does.

Missing the point again ... Lebron gets the ball, Taylor Cummings gets the ball. You don't seem to understand that neither the pure facilitator nor the pure scorer is the best player on the field. It is the one that can do it all, which is way more than just scoring. Sorry Mr go to goal. The best players are more well-rounded. And if you can't do the other things besides scoring before you get to college, chances are you will be a less than stellar college player.

The one who can score but also has enough sense to pass to an open player rather than forcing through. You are the "go to goal" parent!

Wayne Gretzky never played defense or facilitated in his career. I'm not disagreeing with you that if you are more rounded that you are a better player.
But , the coaches look for a player that has the confidence and gusto to go to goal , first over anything else. Who gets the glory ? The assist or the goal scorer. At any game.

Not the go to gaol parent. But I appreciate the player who has the confidence to play to win and score when their team isn't. Parents put that player down cause most kids don't have that ( I'll do it ) confidence.

Wayne Gretzky was the greatest playmaker of all time. Did you actually watch him? I was a hockey player in his era. To call him a non facilitator is the all-time most nonsensical statement in history. He was way more than just a goal scorer. He was the greatest passer ever. Go watch the 1987 Canada Cup where he assisted Mario L on great goal after great goal. Or any of his Edmonton Oiler games. He created the curl back move and pass to the late cutter down the middle. A play that is a staple in many sports now. Come on man!!

Wayne Gretzky career points ... Goals 894 assists 1963 ... Goodness gracious!

Gretzky hung at center ice his whole career. Never played D.

Ok. But when they show his highlights what do they show. His assists or his goals

Wayne could never play travel lacrosse with the current me first attitude. He was a great leader and teammate. His winger was usually a goon out there to protect him and when wayne sucked the entire defense over to him he slid the puck across to the wide open teammate with cinder block hands to score. In lacrosse its go to goal reset, go to goal reset, go to go reset, go to goal SCORE and never a pass.

Agreed that that confidence is rare and critical. The really good ones though know when to take over and when not to. The criticism is rightly placed on the players that do it all the time. They are making their team worse not better. And the really good players know that instinctively. They get other players involved. They give them passes where they can handle it. They get the ball back for their teams so they have more offensive chances. And, if the situation dictates, they take over the scoring at critical points. Those are the best players.

This must be another YJ benefit

I agree with you 200%. But most of those great players probably had during their young careers , parents on their team calling them ball hogs , puck hogs , or any hog. It was nice having good banter with you without any name calling. I hope your daughter and everyone else's that puts the time and money we do into this travel lacrosse scene gets to play at the level that are comfortable with during college along with a great education. Enjoy your holidays

You misunderstand me. I'm not contesting that those are the attributes that make up a great player. I know they are. We all do. And if the YJ coaches and evaluators picked their teams that way the world would be filled with rainbows and butterflies. Unfortunately, they don't. The strong aggressive girl who scores goals is the one they take. Can you think of a time when the girl with 60 assists and 5 goals gets brought up over the girl with 60 goals and 5 assists? No. It goes the other way. Consistently. So, while I disagree with the process, I'll restate; that's not the way it works.

No, since there has never, in the history of girls lacrosse, been a 5 goal 60 assist kid. Unless you have absolutely no idea how to score an assist, even the best feeders on the most unselfish teams will, at best, have double her goal count in assists...and that's a stretch. Atleast be realistic when trying to make a point.

That's why there are whiners. The best most aggressive girls score all the goals even in the really young age groups and travel and PAL coaches love it because those goals win them games which is the objective right?. Then the middle and bottom kids whine get moved down or quit.

Yeah, who gets it to her? The facilitator!

It's called hyperbole. And you're still wrong.

Clearly you're upset that you're wrong. It's understandable. I would probably post a weak response as well had I been in your situation. I forgive you.

I watched a YJ player at a showcase go to goal just about every time she had the ball. Sometimes she scored but she also lost the ball a lot, got called for charges and forced things that did not need to be forced. All of the parents who were on her team were complaining that she went to goal every time. Guess what - college coaches see that too. That is a lack of lacrosse IQ. It shows you are not a complete player.

The poor kid has it ingrained in her head that she must go to goal every time or her parents will scream at her. And the truth is, her parents were crazy when she did not score.

Give me the complete player every time - you can have your ball hog.

Obviously you're missing the point. I don't want the ball hog shooter. But thats who every yellow jacket coach is looking for.

That's why there are whiners. The best most aggressive girls score all the goals even in the really young age groups and the travel and PAL coaches love it because those goals win them games which is the objective right?. Then the middle and bottom kids whine get moved down or quit.

Nobody in lacrosse wants to carry those bottom kids.

Does anybody know when the rosters for the 2022 age group get posted?

I watched a YJ player at a showcase go to goal just about every time she had the ball. Sometimes she scored but she also lost the ball a lot, got called for charges and forced things that did not need to be forced. All of the parents who were on her team were complaining that she went to goal every time. Guess what - college coaches see that too. That is a lack of lacrosse IQ. It shows you are not a complete player.

The poor kid has it ingrained in her head that she must go to goal every time or her parents will scream at her. And the truth is, her parents were crazy when she did not score.

Give me the complete player every time - you can have your ball hog. [/quote]

Obviously you're missing the point. I don't want the ball hog shooter. But thats who every yellow jacket coach is looking for.[/quote]

I can't believe that is true. I'm not a YJ parent but have watched them many times. Just saw the top 2017s at President's Cup last month. They move the ball extremely well and many different girls scored. I don't see how they can be as good as they are as a team and not have the attributes listed earlier in this thread. They seem to defend, transition and move the ball all very well. The coaches can't only want the ball hogs or the teams wouldn't play like that. I don't think you are giving the girls enough credit.

Obviously you're missing the point. I don't want the ball hog shooter. But thats who every yellow jacket coach is looking for.[/quote]

I can't believe that is true. I'm not a YJ parent but have watched them many times. Just saw the top 2017s at President's Cup last month. They move the ball extremely well and many different girls scored. I don't see how they can be as good as they are as a team and not have the attributes listed earlier in this thread. They seem to defend, transition and move the ball all very well. The coaches can't only want the ball hogs or the teams wouldn't play like that. I don't think you are giving the girls enough credit. [/quote]
It was an All Star Showcase - not a team event.

This weekend

How many girls were at tryouts?

I didn't count, but at least 65-70.. surely enough for three teams..

Elevate is having another tryout this weekend. Smart on their part have a tryout after YJ posts rosters and get any disgruntled to jump ship.

Do many of the 2023 try out for the 2022 teams at YJ?

Elevate is still having tryouts for any of those kids who feel squeezed ...

No. 2022 teams will be all 2022 players. 2023 teams will be a mix of 2023 and 2024 players for summer of 2015.