It's the start of the Fall 2016/Spring 2017 season. Use this thread for your posts regarding this age group

Any thoughts on which teams are/or will be well coached here? Any to avoid?

Getting good info from here can be tough. Here's is my advice based on my guy just finishing 2nd grade

1) if a club won't return your calls or gives you little info. Move on
2) make sure exactly what your getting is spelled out.
3) ask lots of questions (practice locations, coaches). If they don't return your call or have no answers. Move on
4) just because a plastic surgeon has the nicest office doesn't mean he's the best surgeon. You get my point
5) people may disagree but where practices are and where the parents are from makes a big deal if you both work. If the practice is in syosset, most of the parents live in cold spring harbor and you live in port Jefferson, your screwed
6) due to the fact that many clubs are popping competition is good. Don't settle

Tryouts playing out as everyone expected?

100 percent as expected.

what is expected?

Still don't get why a parent would pay over 2000 bucks to play on a b team

Your kid got cut from 2nd grade last year and still can't make a team.

Maybe because A team vs B team at the 2026 means absolutely nothing....zero at this age. They're still learning the game at this age. If you want to argue why spend 2000 bucks on travel at this age then maybe a point can be made there.

more importantly... this is third grade. Who has the coolest uniforms and gear?

All fair points but most of the time the A team has the better coach. At this level its all about the coaching. Not sure why you would play over 2000 bucks and not get the best coach .

Good point. Whic of the below are the best coaches:

1. Paccione/Byrnes
2. Barone/Cromwell/Waxer
3. Lavey/Zarcone/Rao
4. O'Reilly
That is all I know....

! and 2 are neck and neck.

Who's Zarcone geese coach ??

Eels

Lot of kids at Igloo tryouts... I counted 50+... Wonder what that team will look like when all said and done.

the team will look good with their fancy gear and you know they will take 25 kids.

Does anyone know any 2026 Teams with A and B Teams ?

Express has 2 teams for 2026

Ridiculous question. There is only 1-3 teams above everyone else.

igloo start making phone calls yet?

orange have an a and b team but I don't think enough kids will stick around to field a b team

Yes. We got ours.

Yay you. Now go read a book with lil Rabil

[lacrosse]

Empire: Had between 30-35 kids at each of the 2 TO's for 2026. Apparently they had another 15 or so 2027 as well. Originally we were told that they would have a straight 2026 and a blended 2026/2027 with the 2026 kids that didn't make the cut playing with the blended squad. Found out tonight that idea was scrapped and they would have a "K-3 Futures" squad for the 2026 kids that didn't make the cut and any other younger kids. all told, 24 made the roster for 2026.

Mamas Boyz: Had about 30+ or so each of the 2 TO's fro both 2025 & 2026 (no idea how many were of which, but assuming its a fairly even split). Not sure what the plan is there, but rumors were that they would keep the grades together and field an "A" and "B" squad of blended 2025/2026. Last TO was tonight (8/29) so should find out next week.

Does anyone now anything about team 24 and their coaches ?

Do you know how many players they took ?

What Year is you son ?

Any info why empire changed their minds and are they still having a 2027 team?

my son is 2026

as it was explained to me they decided the balance of the kids were not "tournament ready". No, they will not have a 2027 team, they will have a K-3 "Futures" program where the kids get a uniform and 10 fall practices + 20 spring/summer practices for half the price

What's half the price ?

$750

Who has teams at this age? I know LIE, Igloo, the EI team and the Orange team... Who else is fielding a 2026?

Blatant anyone?

At that age I would suggest a PAL team or town travel team. Let the kid be a kid before you enter him into this insane world of travel lax ruled/judged by the crazy parents.

Dire Wolves!

Will a girls head fit on a boys stick? I have tons of my sons leftover shafts but I don't want to cut down my daughters new stick. Until she grows into ithe.

Thanks

It could be. All shafts and Heads are different, best thing is to just try in out first. If you have extra I would not cut a good shaft.

no. girls shafts are thinner

Agreed. Girls shafts are thinner and it likely won't fit. But hey, you can try anything and in this case lose nothing by trying.

Just buy a cheap girls shaft, you can get them pretty cheap and it's easier for your girl to use being that it is a bit narrower.

Anyone have a good recommendation for shoulder pads? My son is on the small/slim side (60lbs). I think he's outgrown his starter pads. Looking for not cumbersome.

Check out Modells, They will have what you need..

It's kinda out of season. Went to the one in Plainview and they had very little. I was looking for more of a brand recco. Thinking ahead for a Christmas gift...

Both my kids have the Under Armor shoulder pads and like them. They're light and comfortable with good protection.

Agree UA pads

Thanks!

I had same problem. I often found sizes way too big. My son is about 60 lbs, 54 inches. UA pads fit the skinnier kids? Thanks in advance.

My son loves the k18 pads. Good protection and they are not too heavy.

Warrior "Burn" pads are also great for a kid his size.

Thanks for the recommendations!

Any tournaments being played in winter at this age? What is lined up for spring?

Has anyone seen the 2026 Igloo B Team ?

yes..they are at Chucky Cheese

Yes. They are quite good. Definitely A caliber.

Igloo 2026 both not quite good . 9dwon won over Xpress at Igloo host tournament. OT win

I was there as well. I wouldn't say "they were both not good". First off they are 9year olds. To tell a 9 year old they are not good is just cruel. The skill level between 9one, Igloo A and Xpress A was above the rest of the teams. Both teams looked good. It amazes me some times the skill these kids have. I could hardly cradle at this age. LOL Igloo, Dire Wolves (A team) I think the name was had a huge kid. He was a beast. Good stick skills and would barrel down the middle when my sons team played them. But all around it was a well run tournament. Wish the weather was a little nicer. My son LOVED the skills competition. That was a great touch

Skills were cool. nice job Igloo. games were close for the most part

This was my sons 2nd year and boy did he have a blast again . Very well organized and the skills competition was get love watching the goalies battle it out . Great day inspire of light rain . Hope they expand and do it for next years 2026 group

What event was this?

Got it. Could town travel teams participate?

meco I'd Ask Igloo

Yes, New Hyde Park played in the 2027 group.

Anyone know what teams are doing the May 20 Blatant tournament for this age?

Eels igloo csh roar and 91 I think made up the bracket last year

A: Igloo, 91, Legacy, Express
B: Mooselax, Express B, Hitmen, Igloo B, RVC, and one more I can't think of...

Schedule is posted on TM

Igloo Dire Wolves get it done! Great games all around.

Are you sure you don't want to rethink the team name? It is an extinct animal.

"The dire wolf (Canis dirus, "fearsome dog") is an extinct carnivorous mammal of the genus Canis, roughly the size of the extant gray wolf, but with a heavier build"

Which A team has the best coaching in this age division?

....depends which position your son plays.

Danny Paccione , Tim Byrnes and Jay Lavey are some of the best coaches at any age.

Which organization do they coach for? My son plays middie. Thank you for the info.

Are they 9Dwon? Are there other strong middies on that team? Any idea how many kids are currently on the roster and where they practice? Do they give more than 12 practices, etc??

All good coaches. And good people. Igloo coaching staff very good as well.

My son did some speed lax sessions with Tim. Great guy, knows how to coach young kids.

With

Tim Byrnes is awesome, the other 2 coaches are average at best.

Lavey wins Laxfest beating a Texas team that was rolling through everyone with kids a year or 2 older than most and Orange in the finals. Pretty impressive job.

h

Lacey wins?? More like the kids who played won, Lacey just happened to be the coach. That guy is only concerned about coaching his own children

Who is Lavey??

Who is Lavey? He's the coach that left his team after their first game and wasn't there for the playoff or championship games. Lavey DID NOT win....that group of boys WON! Congrats to them and the asst. coaches who stepped up and coached two great games.

Just happy the cheating Texans went home empty handed. Legacy boys played their hearts out and and got a well deserved win.

All the teams looked good. Lots of talent in that age group.

anyone idea which 2026 LI express team is going to Devens, MA this coming weekend?

Not ORielly

Express North

are they good for that level?

My son played them this past weekend. I thought for the age they were decent. They had a few that were clearly above the rest. But I think at this age that's a given.

Any ideas for north shore of Nassau for boys 2026 team ?

What are some good mid Level teams?

I think going into 4th grade you have many options. Im sure you'll hear bad things about every team out there. I tend not to listen to advice on here as everyone is out to get someone. A good coach is a MUST at this age. Skills will come as they grow. In my opinion Legacy, Empire and Express have great programs at this age

Sharks have good coaches and nice families. Good b level team where kids get better

Shore to shore is adding younger teams, may be worth looking at for Nassau based club.

91 has best program at this age they win all the shirts!!

Anyone know anything about Tenacious Turtles? Looking for something in eastern Suffolk?

Look for a team that allows your son to grow as an athlete from year to year. Wins and losses in club ball are meaningless that's why the prize is a shirt. Make sure the Coaching staff is good and age appropriate some great coaches can't coach kids. If your not happy with a program leave that one and go to another there are tons just look at the amount of tryouts. Make sure the parents on the sidelines are good people because you will be spending a ton of time with them. If your kid is a middle of the road kid he may be replaced and that is ok every kid progresses and grows at a different rate it's not the end of the world.

The 2023 shore 2shore team is excellent. They compete with all the AA teams. They had 5/6 kids on The Long Island Brine team that just won in Richmond. I have to imagine they will be trying to develop competitive teams for the other age groups as well. Def a legit option for Nassau kids.

Stop. Shore2shore is b-level at best

They played in the AA bracket bracket at NLF. My older son played against them. They are a very good team.

I watch them play in the AA bracket at NLF. They are a very solid team.

The Express coach they use for the younger kids is great at developing kids. May be spread too thin but excellent at developing at a young age.

Tomahwaks