USL-MDIA vs. NCLL

[LAXFAN]

Hey I was just wondering because I have no idea, how is the level of the NCLL (the club teams of such schools as Duke, Syracuse etc.) compare to the USL-MDIA? I have never seen a NCLL team play nor have heard much about that league. Is there a reason NCLL teams never (as far as I know) play cross league games against D3 and D2 teams? Do the NCLL teams ever have players that get cut from the D1 team? Just a few questions

[CATLAX MAN]

I believe that there is a gentlemen's agreement between the MDIA coaches & varsity coaches that MDIA teams will not play club teams that have varsity programs. John Paul can explain why a lot better than I can.

[John Paul]

Our agreement is that the MDIA will not accept as members club programs from campuses where varsity teams exist. There are no guidelines about playing them.

The level between the NCLL and the MDIA is hard to quantify. Certainly there is a lot of talent on many of the NCLL teams, based on their locations. I'd be surprised if there weren't a fair number of guys playing club ball on NCLL teams who were cut or quit playing varsity. There are crossover scrimmages and maybe a couple of games between MDIA and NCLL teams every once in awhile. None of the traditional top 5 in either league have played each other in at least five years, and club lacrosse in general has come a long way since then.

Generally, MDIA teams operate at a more serious organizational level, but even that is not always the case. The MDIA has more stringent eligibility and playing rules than the NCLL, and the administrative structure and support services (polls, media, championships, etc.) are much more comprehensive.

You probably don't see very many (if any?) NCLL vs. varsity games and scrimmages because most varsity coaches don't want to play a club team that they perceive as disorganized and not serious about what they do. I'm not saying that all NCLL teams fit that bill, but it's the perception among most varsity and MDIA coaches. By the same token, most varsity teams would not schedule just any MDIA team. If they are going to do it, they would usually want to play someone who is conditioned, well-coached, etc.

[LAXFAN]

Awesome thanks I never really knew anything about the NCLL.

[Gregg Pathiakis]

On a related note, I am in the process of creating an NCLL-type lacrosse league up here in New England. Only difference will be that the new league (NECLL - North East Collegiate Lacrosse League) will be more organized, similar, but more scaled down, to the MDIA. This season we are just having a tournament instead of a full season. So far the teams include Tufts University, Western New England College, Assumption College, University of Vermont, UMass Amherst, and Westfield (MA) State College.

[eto'o]

What about the NJCAA? Anyone know anything about that? The number 1 and 2 teams have Laxpower computer ratings similar to the MDIA's top teams, but from 3 down it drops significantly.

[LaxDude]

I saw this article on www.lax.com and I was wondering, is it true?

http://www.lax.com/reply/405/3354

[Gregg Pathiakis]

I saw this article on www.lax.com and I was wondering, is it true?

http://www.lax.com/reply/405/3354

If you're referring to the last comment about 6 NCLL teams going varsity to 0 for the MDIA, I do believe it is true.

[Danny Hogan]

no NCLL 'teams' that i know of have actually gone full NCAA. I know that universities that had NCLL teams now have NCAA teams, but the two are unrelated (perhaps a few players crossed over)

[Gregg Pathiakis]

no NCLL 'teams' that i know of have actually gone full NCAA. I know that universities that had NCLL teams now have NCAA teams, but the two are unrelated (perhaps a few players crossed over)

Good point