Texas HS lax

[Trojanlax28]

I was just looking at some scores on Lax Power and noticed that St. Marys Hall, a yearly private school power, dropped 2 games to public schools McNeil and Westlake.....is St Marys just having a down year, or are public schools getting better?

[benji]

I cannot comment on St. Mary's, as I know nothing about them, but all in all Texas lacrosse is quickly improving. Multiple teams have been created in the last few years and the level of talent is dramatically improving.

I know in the North Region of Texas, aside from ESDallas, private and public teams have encountered a close level of play amongst each other. Every year, teams like Plano (Senior, East, and West), Jesuit, Highland Park, etc. etc. battle it out in stiff divisions.

My contention is that yes, public schools are improving dramatically year by year. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the big dogs (ESDallas and ESHouston) to be dethroned more and more in seasons to come.

[bste_lax]

I think it's a mixture of public schools getting better and St. Mary's dropping a little. My senior year in high school (2000), they won their third or fourth straight state title. Since then, other teams have started to win it.

[Ryan Turnbow]

My contention is that yes, public schools are improving dramatically year by year. I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the big dogs (ESDallas and ESHouston) to be dethroned more and more in seasons to come.

I know in the North Region of Texas, aside from ESDallas, private and public teams have encountered a close level of play amongst each other. Every year, teams like Plano (Senior, East, and West), Jesuit, Highland Park, etc. etc. battle it out in stiff divisions.

HP is defending their state championship this year.

From what I know about SMH , once their state title streak was broken the coach retired and the way the school was ran (recruiting) changed dramatically. Still suprised if the McNeil and Westlake games were legit loses.

[uzisuicide]

from what I understand is that ST Mary's can no longer board students at their school. This real mess with their recuiting because you cannot live in some other place and send your child to live and go to school there anymore, since they don't board anymore. At least that is the word out on the street. Also they did have some coaching changes Earl Bill is not nearly as involved as he used to be. He remains more as a figure head from what I undertand. Also if Public school really want to completely dethrone the Privates the poeple involved with these public school clubs need to find a way to get the sport moved into the realm of UIL. That my friends will really change things. :D

[ACE]

St. Mary's Hall is definitely down. They've been falling for the past few years. Part of it is that Coach Bill is not as involved anymore. Mostly it is that SMH is no longer a boarding school. They were recruiting pretty heavily out of state for quite a while.

However, I'm not sure overall that the public schools are getting better. They are, but all HS lax in Texas is getting better. The top teams are still private, with a few exceptions. I can speak for McNeil and Westlake, though. McNeil has some pretty good athletes and know what's going on. Granted I coach a D2 team and we were playing without 5 starters, playing with a goalie that had never played before, they still layed a 15-5 butt whipping on us. McNeil is pretty good. They held their own at the Jesuit tournament. Westlake has always had some good athletes. They actually have a good, committed coach this season. Westlake is on the rise.

[KS14]

I agree that public school programs are competing at a higher level than in the past. I would say this is due to the growth of youth programs being put into place.

Programs like Southlake, Westlake, Highland Park, and the list goes on, have large numbers in their youth programs, and as a result these public schools are starting to compete with the Private schools. Most private school kids have gone to private grade schools as well, and many of them played on lacrosse teams at the grade school level. Only recently has this been the case in the public sector. In the past, most players were starting out their freshman year, and as a result coaches had to deal with kids starting from scratch. These public school coaches are now dealing with freshman classes of kids that have had a stick in their hands for two years before they get to high school, and instead of worrying about stick skills, can now focus more on teaching the game.

I would also say to watch out for Westlake. Dave and Henning know what they are doing, and you can expect big things from Westlake in the future.

[Gary Robinson]

I've spoken to the UIL about lacrosse becoming a UIL sport. They basically said that all that had to be done would be for someone or some group to demonstrate that there is significant interest in the sport in Texas high schools. This basically boils down to, "How many public schools have lacrosse teams and what kind of growth is anticipated?"

We currently have 64 high school teams. But, 14 of those (I think) are private schools and 2 of those are "duplicate" teams (Southlake and Austin have D1 and D2 teams, which by the way is totally wrong, but that is an argument for another day). That leaves 48 unique public school teams currently playing. According to the Laxpower the national boys' participation rate has increased and average of 13% annually since 2001 so there is evidence that the sport is growing.

I'm not sure what the UIL would deem "significant interest" but I think that 48 teams is most likely too few. Consider that there are a total of 467, 245 5A and 222 4A, schools that have football and basketball programs. I realize that we are light years from having that kind of participation, but at this point, a little over 10% of those schools participate in club lacrosse. I would think that the UIL would consider somewhere in the 20%-35% range to be "significant interest."

Also consider that some in the THSLL would prefer to stay separate from the UIL. They consider the freedoms of a private league to be more important than the ultimate growth of the sport. Plus, the privates know that if the sport were to go UIL it will mean a significant decline in the dominance of their programs eventually.

I'm curious as to whether or not someone from another state(s) where lacrosse is up and coming can chime in on the following: 1) When did or will your state athletics regulatory organization recognize the sport and 2) What did it take for them to do so?

[Tarzan]

Of that 64, five are from Louisiana.

[green tea]

Good points, Gary.

There are some downsides to going UIL that go along with all of the obvious benefits.

For example, I think that in order to be a coach under UIL rules, you must be a paid employee of the school district. Most of our HS coaches today are there on a volunteer basis while they have careers from 9-5. This would eliminate a large percentage of our coaching pool.

That being said, there is no faster way to get widespread growth than to become a UIL sport. Soccer and wrestling, after some initial growing pains, both saw phenomenal gains in participation once the UIL hurdle was finally crossed.

IMHO, we'll need to see close to 30-40% participation of schools across the state and 50% or more in the large metro areas before lacrosse can be considered for UIL.

[Rice University Coach]

Gary,
Speaking as a former Arlington resident, I was glad to see that Arlington finally got a H.S. Lax program going. You are in prime turf for other schools like Martin, Lamar, Bowie to develop programs. Can you update whether UTA is involved with the team and are any of the other H.S. mentioned above set to go with Lax? What's the status of schools in Ft. Worth kicking in with programs? We at UH have a relationship with Clear Lake H.S. in Houston namely because I had coached there and am still involved with the program. It's a good symbionic relationship to have with a H.S. team.

[Gary Robinson]

The Arlington High School Lacrosse "project" is still in development. I'm kind of embarrassed that it has taken so long to get off the ground, but there is only so much time in each day...

FYI, McKinney will be starting a lacrosse program next year. It will be a combined team between McKinney and McKinney North.

[tamu33]

As a ref for Houston area, I see alot of different teams and how they are managed. The private schools right now basically have more organization. This draws the better athletes. Take the woodlands, arguably the best team in the houston area, they have a well managed program that attracts the best athletes out of their school. If more teams would take the time to create an infrastructure, their programs would compete every year for a state title.

I think that before we hit our long term goal of making lax a UIL sport, we must think short term. First I believe that teams need to work on having their school recognize them as a program. Working with the school, like having a faculty sponsor will appeal to the UIL. Involve the HS athletic director, tell them the benefits of lacrosse as an offseason program. Invite them to a practice or a game. These first hand experiences will then give the AD a chance to appeal on the behalf of the team when the time comes. When talking to the school administrators, tell them that lacrosse has growth rates similar to soccer in the 70's. Then remind him how big soccer is now. Getting in on the ground floor will provide the infrastructure for a healthy winning program.

[uzisuicide]

That is a very good point about that rule about coaches under UIL, I knew of that, and it is a big down side. I doubt some former lax players from up east that has moved down to TX for some type of high paying job would want to give it up to teach so he can still keep coaching, because of a stupid UIL rule. So initially there would be a large drop off in good coaching around the league. Also there is the other fact holding back Lax in this state is the fact that TX, is a quote unquote 'football' state. & most of these hillbilly football coaches look down on lacrosse because either they don't understand, or they don't want their kids missing out on spring training. I know that the head honchos of many parts of the state of football do everything in their power to make sure that lacrosse stays where they think it belongs. What these idiots don't realize is that for one they can keep all their linemen and perhaps even QB's if their that scared for spring training. What teams want are those running back, recievers, and D-backs. & they don't realize how much conditioning, and hand eye development can take place playing the sport in the spring instead of just hacking it out at spring training. & I'm sure they could still make it to their weight training on the side. TX has some of the best atheletes in the entire country, because climate is warmer, and people can be out doors year round play sports. Just imagine if these football coaches could use their brains and get hip to how to make lacrosse work for them. Imagine if back in the day you had had the opportunity to put sticks in hands like Adrian Peterson, Taurean Henderson, or Vince Young. & those are just the standout players, there guys on those football benches aren't shabby atheletes either, and yes those guys would stil go and chose football over lax, but think about all the other guys that wouldn't because they would realize that having a lax career in college is much more plausible that playing even third string football for UT, TTU, or A&M. Imagine the atheletic talent pool a school the size of the likes of Plano would have to choose from. Which is why the privates don't want it to happen, because despite the stupid rule about coaches, causing an initial drop off in publics, eventually the privates would not even be able to compete. Sure they would try to recruit away so public talent, but they could get everyone and that would only delay the inevitable. UIL is light years away, & has it's down and upsides, but man it would change the face lax here, and possibly other places as well. & someday I'll post a short rant I promise. :lol:

[ACE]

I believe several years ago the magic number was 100 teams. By my count there are 63 "unique" teams, meaning not counting schools that have multiple teams. Of those 17 are private, so 46 public schools minus the 5 from LA and you only have 41 Texas public schools. I think this is only about halfway there. I think the bigger problem for the THSLL is that 11 of the 19 SPC schools are now playing lacrosse. I think long before there is a UIL, the SPC will break off and play their own schedule.