The national team participation in HoCo does not grow the game or help kids get better. If you watch the HoCo elite games, the kids play tight and are focused on not making mistakes so they don’t get pulled. For development and growth of the game both the elite players and average players would be better off if there were more teams of more mixed ability where good players could get playing time and have the freedom to experiment with more creativity. The iron sharpens iron is a marketing tactic of clubs. But in reality it just encourages safe, uncreative, soulless lacrosse.
And before people comment something along the lines of hit the wall, my son had a secure place on a good team, but I don’t think his club team is a key part of his development. If anything it is a detriment but he has friends on the team. The Illinois people are wasting their time and money. Instead of flying here they should be spending more time playing with their friends without parents yelling at them in these notIntelligent “elite” youth games. | 
