Originally Posted by Anonymous
The NLF is perhaps the strongest group of clubs collectively grouped together in a tournament format. It does not however, represent the other top 50 club programs from around the USA. I am guessing programs like 3D New England, BBL, FCA, Hawks, Next Level, 2Way, Team 10, Mesa, Mad Dog, Red Hots, True would welcome the NLF going age based so they can start their own reclass alliance. NLF would be foolish to introduce age based verified tournaments. Do you think clubs like Crabs will want to remain playing in the age verified NLF if a competing high level reclass tournament is played on the same weekend(s) as NLF? How many original and affiliate NLF clubs are going to lose their reclass players to other programs? All of them! Team rankings and player ratings mean everything to these kids and their parents as they move into the high school years. If you want an age verified tournament for your '28, go play in The Circuit.

Then how do you explain NLF and now Crabfeast Young Guns making age-based announcements? There must be pressure coming from somewhere to upset the status quo . . . maybe the insurance companies? Whatever pressure is being applied to NLF will also target 3Step and the other tourney companies.

Ultimately NLF is focused on the HS age groups and being the best place to get seen by college coaches. These age restrictions will only apply to youth age groups. Maybe NLF/Crabfeast are playing it safe at the youth ages knowing that they will still get holdbacks in highschool?

I don't have the answers, but clearly something is changing. Likely too late to impact 2028's, but something is changing.