We hear every year that BLC is one season away from winning some big games. We will see.
But let’s be clear. If they are better, it is absolutely not because they developed their players. It is because they have poached from other teams. It is ok. Other teams do it. But this is not player development from the club. Same with many NL teams though the 28s are largely home grown
This is all true, but conflates several separate issues.
We're talking about whether a BLC team who tied with Predators 4 months ago, has improved on par with FCA Blue. Sit with that for a second, as Predators have never even beaten FCA White.
BLC arguably does a great job of developing talent at the younger ages. But this is true for the upper 50% of clubs, including the better rec clubs.
I would argue that at the middle school ages, very few clubs are "developing" players past the current season's needs/system/plays unless the coach is extremely invested in the roster. You can see it when kids change clubs and look completely lost. I'm talking about last year's Crabs, Kelly Post, etc players who were supposed to "dominate" on new rosters this year but mostly look confused because they learned a specific system/set/look at their old club. They were not really "developed."
And finally, if you think the "what are those new names on the roster - in March - ???" phenomenon is problematic now, you need to make peace with it for the HS years unless your sons are playing very low level lacrosse in HS. For every kid added to the roster in tryouts, another one shows up at practice in February and is suddenly on the teamsnap roster. And hey, if the kid showed up for just one practice, then a tournament, then the coach can claim "we have no fly-in players! All these kids work out with the team!" As if the kid in a FL or MA boarding school is flying down for Wednesday night practices.
