<p>I was just wondering if anyone heard anything about not having a JV lacrosse team this year. I heard that at tryouts yesterday recruited varsity players were cut from the team and that there is no JV team this year. There was one person that my son knows who says he went to NAPS, played lacrosse there, and was actively recruited to play Varsity at USNA and he was cut.</p>
<p>Also heard that some Club sports are being cut....</p>
<p>Also heard that Club Field Hockey was dropped. Last year they reached out and found an Officer to be coach. The women used their own money to buy or provide the equipment last year with donated jerseys and played some scrimages against local colleges. They played against Club Teams that had men on the teams (Club rules not NCAA rules apply). They went to a tournament and did pretty well. They were asked to scrimage this year against more schools than they could accomodate on their schedule. Too bad that, as of yet, they are denied club status since it didn't cost the Academy anything last year and they are willing to pay their own way again this year if they have to. The players from last year will be relegated to intermural sports if their "Club" is not recognised.</p>
<p>Lacrosse- where to start.</p>
<p>USNA definately over-recruits for lax. Far too many recruits get cut before they even start. No way you can bring on 18-20 kids a year and have them all absorbed into a varsity program to fill the attrition of firsties- </p>
<p>The lax program has taken a definate hit. Varsity roster has been trimmed, JV...status unknown, club has been "cut" and intramurals- who knows-lots of rumors, but no definative answer yet. Sad story for a team that made it to the NCAA finals - and came within one point of winning it all- just a few short years ago. Not a doubt in my mind that result put USNA on the radar screen for many up and coming lacrosse players who might not have otherwise considerd the program. One can argue the merits of chosing a school for lax- don't really want to get into that discussion, will leave it that whatever brings a kid to look at the USNA is OK with me- if lax gets them through the gate to take a look, so be it- I have faith that once on the yard, USNA sells itself.</p>
<p>In contrast, West Point has a very robust JV program that is a definate feeder into varsity. Only a matter of time when they start outpacing USNA. </p>
<p>Like many other activities, lax outside varsity is going by the way of "secondary, optional and conditional." Personally, having a coach recruit an athlete only to cut them a few months later- no way a coach does not know that up front when the recruiting is taking place- know it gets done all the time, but one would hope the academies would be a cut above the mirky and questionable ethics of it all. Lets just hope they are not recruiting them so they "don't have to face them on the field"........</p>
<p>"In contrast, West Point has a very robust JV program that is a definate feeder into varsity. Only a matter of time when they start outpacing USNA."</p>
<p>"Army handed sixth-ranked Navy a 9-6 loss in Michie Stadium on Apr. 12 before a crowd of 4,800 people. " </p>
<p>According to this article, the time you speak of is here.</p>
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<p>The 'mirky'ness (sic) of many is that they were not really recruited athletes to begin with. A candidate sends video, talks to the coach, and ultimately gets an appointment. He might assume that he is a recruited athlete, when in reality, he is not. He actually was accepted on his overall merit. He then becomes disillusioned when he does not make the team? Doesn't make sense to me.</p>
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<p>One lucky freak accident does not a dynasty make.</p>
<p>There are alot of players that do well in their local surroundings, but when you put them on the field with all the other players who might be bigger, faster and more skilled, some one is going to get cut, and it might be them. Fortunately, they have the merits to succeed in other endeavors at USNA. Please do not attend USNA only to play a DIV I sport. Attend USNA for the right reasons.</p>
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One lucky freak accident does not a dynasty make.
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Ahem - looks like there were at least 4 lucky freak accidents in that game - ;)</p>
<p>Grad/dad is right - getting cut happens at other D-1 schools as well. Being recruited is not a guarantee of making the team.
Also remember Lax is a spring sports - many kids are looked at after the sophomore year. A very talented sophomore may not be so big, fast and strong as a college freshman. One "benefit" of being recruited to a service academy is that you are not "tied" to your sport to stay in school - (i.e. keep your scholarship)</p>
<p>Roster wise - Army lists 28 athletes on the men's roster while Navy lists over 60 players. 60 players for two teams does seem a little heavy.</p>
<p>It would be a shame if Navy de-emphasized their lacrosse program - they have great competition in the Maryland area. It is becoming sort of like football in the spring.
BTW - am looking forward to Army/Navy lacrosse at in Baltimore this spring.</p>
<p>"The 'mirky'ness (sic) of many is that they were not really recruited athletes to begin with. A candidate sends video, talks to the coach, and ultimately gets an appointment. He might assume that he is a recruited athlete, when in reality, he is not. He actually was accepted on his overall merit. He then becomes disillusioned when he does not make the team? Doesn't make sense to me."</p>
<p>Re: USNA 69</p>
<p>I think I understand what "active" recruitment is. This guy was "actively pursued" by Navy and played at NAPS. I realize some kids think that if they have any contact that "they" initiated to the coach they are recruited. IDK, maybe he just isn't as good as they thought or maybe he has an attitude or is not a teachable type. I do not know the specifics of his situation. The point is that there have been a large number of varsity players cut with more to come and those players won't even have an alternative to be able to play the sport they love. I know that in the Navy you are not paid to think differently than what you are being told but Navy Lacrosse has become pretty big. Personally, I think playing sports at the academy is great for the mids. Of course, it goes without saying, that ultimately you are at USNA to be an Officer in the Navy but sports, in my mind, help the mids to enhance their fitness, enhance working as a team and having something fun to do (morale). In the active duty world many bases have club teams for the personnel for that reason.</p>
<p>Anyone know how long Navy has had JV and club lacrosse teams?</p>
<p>The rules defining a recruited athlete are clear cut and are defined in the NCAA regs. There are several criteria used to differentiate a recruited athlete from a non-recruit. It is no secret in the lacrosse commuity which programs over-recruit, and which do not. </p>
<p>Danowski (Duke) and Emmers (former USMA) as well as the former coach from Cornell wrote an article a few years back addressing this very issue. Where the recruiting was once very above board, it is becoming increasingly clear that further NCAA regulations are right around the corner, and will no doubt mimic the stricter regulations applied to football and basketball in the near term. </p>
<p>It is my very recent understanding that club lacrosse will remain intact for this year- </p>
<p>momfor3- unfortunatly it is my further understanding many of the NAPS recruits have been cut. A few remain on the list, however one final cut remains. Please note, at USNA, and at just about every D-1 program I know, lacrosse is a year-round sport. Fall ball, spring season, and weight training in the winter and summer. Clearly fall lacrosse is not as heavily scheduled, but it is just as important and the season is used to test one's readiness against the competetion- UVA is one such component Navy faces in the fall.</p>
<p>I do not know how long USNA has had JV and club lacrosse- but I would think it has been quite awhile, and certainly as long as I have been following Navy Lax. The rosters, however, were trimmed last year, that much I know- my guess would be budgetary issues.</p>
<p>For anyone considering play ANY sport at USNA-
consider it "secondary, optional and conditional."
I have posted this many, many times now- you are one injury away from not playing at all, and one grade away from having to give it up voluntarily. Make sure USNA is what you want without the sport- if it is, then your sport is the cherry on the top!</p>