This thread has been opened to cover the MYLA/HOCO League in Maryland. The following are some threads with additional information covering this league.

MYLA/HOCO Connected Clubs (Boys)

Howard County Club Lacrosse League

MYLA SEASON CALENDAR 2014

Schedule Development Forms Due February 11
Opening Meeting February 12
Final League Alignment February 16
League Fees and Rosters March 22
Schedules Completed March 23
First Games March 29
First Tyker Game April 6
Weekday Games Start April 14
Easter – No Games April 20
Rain Make-up Week May 13
MYLA Meeting May 15
First Round of Play-offs May 17-18
Rain Make-up for 1st Round May 19-22
Memorial Day May 26
Second Round of Play-offs May 27-30
MYLA Championships May 31

Saw a few npyll teams play this past weekend and the myla teams looked weak.

myla teams are rec/town teams, nypll are club/all-star. of course nypll teams are better. what's your point?

FCA U13 beat Annapolis Hawks, Hawks beat Crabs...FCA plays in the MYLA league, soooo, I guess FCA is not such a bad MYLA team. Let's see if Crabs ever play the FCA teams

there is a difference between the MYLA league (rec teams) and the MYLA/HOCO club league (club teams).

However, when you compare it to the NPYLL both leagues are very good club leagues. In each league certain age groups or grad years will be more competitive than the other. To make a blanket statement and say one league is better than the other is laughable.

Dbacks 2022 beat FCA 2021 team.

You are taking about 4th and 5th graders..they can barely tie their own shoes...let's focus on the kids in Middle school at the least...

4th and 5th grades in Maryland are around 11 and 12 years old so fair game to discuss!

Untrue, but keep up the lies.

9-10 year olds for 4th grade and 10-11 year olds for 5th grade in Maryland....

If the Dback 2022 really beat FCA; makes me wonder how competitive FCA really will be since the Dback 2022 is an above average team but not top tier by any means... Sounds like a bunch of talk as I have seen the 2022 Dback play and they are decent but teams at this age level will change several times over the next few years....

schedules and standings for the myla club league are online: http://www.eteamz.com/hcrpsports/index.cfm?subsite=6171250

Interesting results so far in this league. Looks like some good competition this year.

final standings and playoff brackets for the myna/hoco league....http://www.eteamz.com/hcrpsports/index.cfm?subsite=6171250

Fca beat rock in 2019 championship, looneys over roughriders in 2020 championship, crabs over koopers in 2021. Any other updates?

FCA Blue won the U15AA over The Rock. FCA White won the U15A.

here are the final results from the playoffs:

http://www.eteamz.com/hcrpsports/news/index.cfm?cat=919599&subsite=6171250

How does HoCo do their playoffs? There are multiple "champs" within some of the divisions (of which there are already quite a few). Some of the "champs" have very poor regular season records. Strange.

Good question

2021 has 5 "Champs" including an API team that won one game during the regular season.

Did they turn the league into rec and give everyone a medal?

they created 4-6 team "playoff" divisions. everyone knows who the top divisions for each grade and the winners of those can crown themselves HOCO champs for the grade. The idea is to give all the teams a competitive games/tourney at the end of the season. mission accomplished. my kids team had a game decided in OT and by 1 goal in the final minute. They didn't win anything but fun games to watch and for them to play in. That's the point of all this , right?

Doesn't this sound like rec league mentality?

Also if its just for fun, why does API have on their front page Congratulation to the U11 team for winning the HoCo league?

The league is run by Hoco Parks & Rec and MYLA - a rec league. What's your point? If API wants to congratulate their 10 year olds for winning C division tourney who cares? Should Tufts not pat themselves on the back for winning D3 NC?

Anytime Api wins a game it's like winning a superbowl they are really bad.

Api listed as AA team but playing B at beach lax.

Youth sports are for everyone, not just the exceptional kids. I have a son that is a very good AA player and sons that are average B level rec players. Different expectations, but fun for all! Winning a rec championship or a AA championship is just as gratifying for the kids and the parents.

Which API team are you talking about there is a very good API AA team in the NPYLL at U13. They came in the top six which is not bad at all.

Nobody cares about this league.

This could be a really good league. The county runs the excellent facilities (refs, turf, working scoreboards) so the clubs don't have to scramble independently to rent field time of varying quality all over the place. However, the team organization appears to be less than ideal. Teams switched divisions mid-season and the playoffs appear to be a random mess. I have nothing against competitive consolation games, but please don't call it a "championship" when you have all of the sub-500 teams playing each other. Even Rec games at a younger age groups need to be honest about their achievements.

Does anyone know of any clubs signed up for the Maryland Premier Lacrosse League?

It is the Saturday Spring league in Baltimore. It sounds like it could be good for both the NPYLL and HoCo clubs to play in if they want to do two games a week (vs. just the Sunday game)

Here is the signup info for the MPLL.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...l?soid=1114608343889&aid=wGLgoNWSBvw

It looks like Kooper's is one of the driving forces behind the MPLL and since they still appear on the HoCo website, it appears they are doing both leagues.

Here is the HoCo website.

http://www.eteamz.com/hcrpsports/index.cfm?subsite=6171250

It is interesting that 4 NPYLL teams (Bethesda, Arden, API, Zingos) are listed on the HOCO site but not the Crabs which played last year

Will HoCo be the league for the B teams of these clubs or will the weaker clubs pull out of NPYLL completely

Those clubs going to hoco are not weak. Npyll is falling apart

I had heard that NPYLL is essentially doubling the number of divisions from last year, so there will be a B division at every grade.

The only teams in HoCo should be the ones that are in the Howard county area and want to avoid travel.

NPYLL not falling apart - it got stronger with Crabs fully rejoining

Only issue is the disparity between the top and bottom teams is huge - Crabs playing a team like Maryland Extreme or Zingos is a joke.

If they do have two brackets will be interesting to see who hides in the B bracket

I bet NPYLL has more teams and better talented teams this year now that the league has gone strictly grade base. Last years quasi grade/age base was not the best setup. HOCO grabbed a few strictly grade base teams that will probably switch to NPYLL year.
I can see HOCO being the weaker of the two . Not sure what to think of Sat league yet???

The clubs that did have teams in both NPYLL and HoCo last had the majority of their teams in NPYLL and only put one or two of their weaker teams in HoCo.

That may change this year if your prediction of NPYLL falling apart happens, but I really doubt it. It is more likely that clubs will continue to go against the toughest top to bottom competition in the NPYLL A leagues and move their other teams to NPYLL B. HoCo will likely be the third option for teams.

I really hope the Saturday MPLL league takes off and provides some competition between the leagues. It would be great if the HoCo champs (crabs,FCA,looneys, rough riders, zingos) could play the NPYLL champs (crabs,Bethesda,hawks,breakers) on real fields with real rules and credible refs (unlike most summer tournament meetings).

Really I wonder why people get a complex. I do not think you guys will agree that Madlax is the best but good god, You guys leave them out like they do not even play with you guys. Its fine keep on forgetting about us and then lose to us.

Thunder may do NPYLL this Spring, watch out boys, we're coming for you!! BOOM!!

Thunder??? Saw you 2021 team get beat by a 2022 team. Boom!!!

Nobody cares about Madlax or that idiot owner.

You do not have to care you just have to show up and lose to us. Good day sir.

Great news. There is a lot of talent in Bel Air. Glad to see they will now be represented in the NPYLL.

BAHAHAHAHA. Now thats funny. Thunder will get killed in NPYLL. Has to be a rumour. BOOM!

2020 Zingos 13, 2019 Thunder 5. Who are you going to roll out next from up there.....The Renegades? BAHAHAHA

What teams are leaving npyll to play HOCO

List your top teams by grade 2023-2018

For those ages - some combination of Bethesda, Madlax, Crabs, Hawks

Nobody else in the MD/DC/VA area can touch those programs' youth lacrosse

2023 hawks
2022 hawks
2021 hawks
2020 hawks
2019 hawks
2018 hawks

I guess you like the Hawks

Greene Turtle 2021's gave Bethesda a heck of a game in the GT U11A championship this Summer.

Arden Diamondbacks were the top 2022 team last year, I thought.

who cares at this point.

These teams were champs last year. They are the big dogs until the season starts and someone knocks them off. Prove it during the season...



Grad Team:

HoCo

2018 FCA

2019 FCA

2020 Looney's

2021 Crabs

2022 Rough Riders

2023 Zingos

NPYLL

2018 Crabs

2019 Crabs

2020 Annapolis Hawks

2021 Bethesda

2022 Baltimore Breakers

2023 Bethesda

2023 Bethesda
2022 Arden
2021 Bethesda
2020 Hawks
2019 Crabs
2018 FCA

Top around in each grade

Weren't Breakers a mixed 2022/2021 team?

Yes

yep - they were a U11 team that played down every chance they could

A lot of teams will change in the NPYLL due to new age / grade cut offs rules. The odd graduations years (19, 21, 23) will get there hold backs back (previously had hard cut off dates) and the even years (20, 22) will have to give up any older kids that are not officially hold backs (previously allowed 7 older kids)

The 21s on Breakers 22 team last year will have to be replaced (unless they are officially registered in a school as 2022 now).

Clubs that had teams in the A and B brackets were already typically grade/age based or had kids playing up

Its the weaker clubs that only had B bracket teams that will have to adjust

So glad my son is in HS now and I don't have to be surrounded anymore by dads bragging about which youth team is better.

When your kids get older, you'll realize how ridiculous you sound right now.

High school's play for the love of the game - not to see who is better.

I agree with this poster. It all will change every year. Enjoy your cocktail parties talking about how great your kid is and his youth team. Extended REC. Chris

Interesting - in your son's HS they don't keep score to see which team is better

What have you done with all of your kid's participant medals that they give out in youth rec leagues?

If you are seriously think that a U11 youth team should be analyzed/compared in the same regards as a HS team, I can't help you.

His rec team won several championships and I think he got trophies. No idea what happened to them.

Little League World Series is for 11 - 13 year olds
Broadcast on National TV and is represented by players from all over the world


Hopefully you can find the time to help those parents also

What is the best 11u tournaments this summer looking for strong competition.

""yep - they were a U11 team that played down every chance they could""

They didnt play down at all. They played where they should have ....did they beat your team with ease? Its ok your team is only a U11 team and your son will get over it quick, apparently you havent and never will get over a U11 team lost, pretty sad.. You are constantly saying the same drivel over and over..Just cause you say a lie over and over doesnt mean it is true.. Isnt it time for you to go after a U9 team now??

You have a lot of issues.

Any chance this league would go aged based by year instead of grade based??? Would make a lot more sense.

I do not think so. Because the coaches of all these teams have it in there head that they will carry there same 6th grade team all the way up to 12 grade. And they feel like they will play better if they play with the same group for lots of yeras. Even though everyone that has been around knows the kids/teams change by 80% from 6th to 12th grade if not 100%.

Not a chance Sat league goes age base. It is run by a grade base club, played at a MIAA school..Better chance getting the Orioles to change their name to Sparrows.
MYLA should be proud of themselves for starting the Grade base Sunday Club league last year. It has ruined their A teams and possible the better B teams. Now with this Sat league to go along with NYPLL Sunday league, goodbye MYLA except for B-minus and below competition..HOCO/MYLA Sunday will be very weak.... ..Good thinking MYLA ..

MYLA has always been a lame organization. Why would you expect them to get this right? They will go the way of Harco, extinct.

Agree totally. For once soccer has it right, age based by year, and Photo ID cards, with copies of birth certs needed to get those done. Everyone would be on the same level then. Talent and coaching would be more important.

Completely agree. Soccer does have it right with regard to both age based teams and enforcement of the age requirements (i.e. birth certificates and id cards), and NYPLL is getting it wrong going to grade based rather than age based teams.

So far as I can gather, the shift to grade based teams is nothing more than a shameless move by the large, deep clubs to take advantage of their larger base of players at the cost of exacerbating the differential in the height and weight of the players on the field (thereby increasing the risk of player injuries). In short, this was a decision that at least over the short term benefits the big youth clubs at the expense of making the sport more dangerous for all players on the field. This strike me as completely irresponsible.

As far as I am concerned, as the sponsoring organization to which we all play substantial annual fees, the US Lacrosse organization has a lot to answer for on this issue. US Lacrosse's paramount concern should be for player safety. By sanctioning grade based teams, US Lacrosse at a minimum is ducking its responsibility and failing its mission.

USL does not sanction grade base leagues and tournament. Here is what the Steve Stenersen the President and CEO of USL had to say on subject. I do think they need to be more pro active on this subject. They should take insurance away from grade base leagues and tournaments among other items.

"""""""""""" The problem with grade-based segmentation in youth sports is, of course, that it's not in the best interests of kids. The different rates of physical and cognitive development at each age varies widely so, in contact sport like boys' lacrosse, it's simply not safe to allow kids of such varying ages and development levels to compete against each other. Nor does it reinforce the fundamental principles of fair play and fun that are essential to player retention in youth sports. Allowing the club "system" and associated recruiting events to determine what's best for your child is not only a clear conflict of interest...it's a tremendous abdication of responsibility by the primary consumers of a child's lacrosse experience - parents. As most people should know by now, sport-specialization at an early age, year-round play, and the belief that playing more games is essential to player development are all myths. Sport specialization and year-round play burn kids out, drive them out of sport at too early an age, and lead to what has become an epidemic of overuse injuries in developing bodies. And, contrary to popular belief, playing more games doesn't make a player better; too often it simply reinforces bad habits because the quality of coaching offered by club teams is so inconsistent. It's incredibly ironic that peer pressure among parents plays such a significant role in the decisions they make on behalf of their kids...as does fear of retribution against their children from club programs and their coaches. That fear, alone, should trigger a serious concern. Sadly, parental ego also plays a role at times. But none of those are justifiable excuses for parents to allow and enable the youth lacrosse "industry" to make decisions based on its own interests...not those of the children they are paid to best serve. The single biggest factor in determining a child's success on the athletic field is genetics, not how much you play or pay. The overwhelming majority of kids who play club lacrosse and attend recruiting events won't get a college scholarship or admissions preference to play lacrosse in college. Most won't even play at the high school level. Club programs and tournaments are not inherently bad, but they need to be held accountable to what's best for your child. In a free market economy, it's up to the consumer - us parents - to make that happen. Or not. """""""""""""""

Agreed, if US Lacrosse was serious about player safety at the youth level, US Lacrosse should not insure grade based leagues and tournaments

US Lacrosse does not sanction grade based teams, but it effectively does facilitate grade based teams by providing insurance to grade base leagues and tournaments.

US Lacrosse cannot have it both ways: it cannot insist that it discourages grade based leagues and tournaments on the basis of player safety and then support those same leagues and tournaments by providing insurance. Are the premiums the same for both grade based and aged base leagues and tournaments to reflect the additional risk? If not, the age based leagues and tournaments are likely subsidizing the grade based leagues and tournaments.

Stenersen's quote is self serving. He seems to be suggesting that it is up to the parents. How does that work if the league your son plays in goes grade based? If I read the quote correctly my choice is simply to let my son play lacrosse or not and US Lacrosse is absolved from any responsibility for not providing any leadership on a core concern relating to player safety at the youth level.

US Lacrosse was advocating a two year system based on age. Now the leagues are trending towards a single year system based on grade. While this will occasionally include a couple kids 1 year older that are held back, it is in general a safer system than the two year system. Kids (and smart parents) will play up to challenge themselves until they get to high school anyway.

I agree, the grade based is better then the 2-year span of US lacrosse.

I have never seen USL advocating two year leagues vs one year grade. Thats a nice straw man argument.The two year was done to accommodate the low number of players in Lacrosse in most areas of country. Now that many areas have players to accommodate single year , USL advocates single age based year. Just like every other sport in the country does. Somehow lacrosse in Maryland seems to think it is ok to ruin youth lacrosse. Pretty easy to follow single year age base. Single year grade base is for the Maryland holdbacks and the clubs that get them. It is how adults turn youth lacrosse into a joke.

Ny, philly, and nj were all doing grade based tourneys well before md. Fact. Md changed most tourneys to align with the other states. There are also a lot of age based tourneys still in md unlike other states.

Talking about youth lacrosse...High School teams have always been by grade as they should..Now we have 9 and 10,etc year old teams based on grade not age..

Fact..Maryland changed to Grade base teams at youth level to accommodate the many many children held back in private schools.
Fact. Maryland schools age requirements to enter school align perfectly with USL age guidelines. Fact. Been easier to go by U9,U10,U11,U12,etc.. like every other youth sport does.

Quotes from USL website:

"Teams organized by single birth year or single grade are suggested, but if a league needs to group two years/grades together it should strive to limit the maximum age difference between players in a youth game to no more than twenty-four (24) months."


"2015 Age Grouping Quick Reference Table

Birthdate Age Bracket
Born on or after 9/1/1999 U15
Born on or after 9/1/2001 U13
Born on or after 9/1/2003 U11
Born on or after 9/1/2005 U9"

Looks like USL is ok with 2year, single year, or grade. Insurance coverage seems to be secure for whatever the sanctioned league or tournament implements. Address all complaints to USL for their vagueness. Just because you do something differently does not make it cheating.

I keep forgetting we are talking youth sports here as do most posters. This is youth sports for children. I guess you missed USL response to grade based teams. Specifically he was referencing Maryland where holdbacks are the norm in private schools at a young age. Have a grade base league in Long Island and my understanding is you have very few holdback children. So grade base in one area is vastly different from another area.

Nothing like teaching our children early how to get a edge.

"" Nor does it reinforce the fundamental principles of fair play and fun that are essential to player retention in youth sports.""
To most posters here it is fair play. They want the a benefit others don't receive and the edge its gets their son or team. And since the USL is vague on this subject. Its fair.

Any new teams in this league this year?

It looks like a lot of the HoCo (Myla) league teams are also doing the Saturday Koopers MPLL league at St. Pauls. Breakers & Diamondbacks are representing NPYLL. Looks like a good league to bridge some of the teams from NPYLL and Hoco.

Here is who has signed up so far for the Saturday MPLL (Kooper's League)

RoughRiders (2020, 2021,2022, 2023)
Diamondbacks (2022)
Bitmore (2021)
Greene Turtle (2021)
Rock (2021)
Motley Crew (2021)
Breakers (2020)
Big Dogs (2020)
Looneys (2020)
FCS (2019)
Koopers (2019)

Is Koopers only putting 1 team in their own league? Where are their 2023 through 2020 teams?

I believe big dogs is coopers. they'll likely have 2019 to at least 2022