I am not worried about their safety so much as the safety in general. I have two kids in the youth ages, and about the last thing I want to see more of is teams loaded with older kids playing down. The other things I really don't care for are the chippy games and retribution mentality of the game from the coaching level on downwards. How about spin the ball fast and score first. Hit first and hit hard...I don't think I lost the inference on that comment. Sorry, I just see too much of a vested interest in the game now being controlled by the thugs on one sideline loading up 16 year olds against 14 year olds, and thugs on the other sideline coaching kids to do something about it other than play straight up good lacrosse. In my estimation these kids want to play and have some fun, and also compete. Everything wrong with lacrosse is over the age of 40 dressed like a 14 year old making it worse for the real 14 year olds.
As a coach, my first priority would be the safety of my players. If you have poles who can send the message, there's nothing wrong with that. I've never seen the Edge teams play, I did however take a look at a team photo and those are some big kids. Trying to run and hide may not be enough. Do they play super aggressive? Do they play cheap and dirty? I never played hockey but it feels like we are being forced to change the way our game is played by cheating programs and to me that's not acceptable. Play in your age appropriate division.
