Topic: Long Island talent

 I want to congradulate all the Long Island teams that represented our region at the state championships. Well done everyone. The results are proof positive, that Long Island boy's and girl's lacrosse is a force to be reckoned with. I mean that sincerely. Great job.

According to Newsday's college commitments at least 4 Long Island girls are committed there. Brianne LoManto, Rocky Point, Northwestern   Jessica Russo, St. Anthony's, Northwestern   Shannon Smith, West Babylon, Northwestern   Lacey Vigmostad, Northport, Northwestern. We will have to wait until next year to see if they actually play and if they do how much and how well.

I hope your little princess is really as good as YOU think she is!

Pay to Play. It is all about the money. If they don't pick the kids that play on their money making teams then they lose the ability to sell those teams as your ticket to a better college.

This does not give them the right to favor or give the edge to their players. If you're volunteering, that's your prerogative, but at least be fair.  

Yes, because no one else from the coaches steps up to do anything in both Nassau and Suffolk!  It IS always the same people because they are willing to volunteer their time unlike the 100 or so other coaches that just sit back and let everyone else do the dirty work!

The problem seems to be that the same few people run everything.

Unnecessary... But I have to agree that a lot of this sport is politics. I know many people who tried out for that team who should have made it compared to other players. (And I'm not being biased at all.) I think in order to resolve this issue they need to have different coaches running the tryouts because honestly they all know who the players are and where they are from regardless if they say to not wear town-identifiable clothing.  

Because it is not really a farce, just a slightly biased opinion.  However, it is a bias that is based on a somewhat bigger picture, as these evaluators have seen many girls play over their years. 

What you also are forgetting is that even though your daughter may have had a "stellar" tryout, it is difficult to see where she fits in with the others for that position.  A parent's eyes are focused on their daughter...whereas the evaluators have a broader "field of vision".

The reality is that unless you are picking numbers out of a hat, any selection process will have influences. 

There are politics wherever you go.  The old adage "it is not what you know, it is who you know" holds true in many situations, not just high school sports. 

 On the other side of the coin, it is very difficult for any evaluator to be totally impartial, no matter how hard they try.  Lets face it, these people are coaches that are very dedicated to this sport, and naturally know the players who are considered to be "more talented".  They have seen many of these girls on the field in game situations, and have a better picture of some of these players...often much more than can be determined during a small "snapshot" of time at a tryout.