SHOULD CLUB LACROSSE BE COMPETETIVE?
The Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) is a club lacrosse organization that is made up of over 200 teams across the nation. Schools offer these club programs to give more student-athletes the opportunity to continue to play lacrosse after graduating high school.
The days of only the very best athletes playing college lacrosse are over as there is a club team for players of any skill level. Whether it is a player who has barely any experience or an all-state superstar, there is a place for them in the MCLA.
This is where some conflict arises in the club lacrosse community. Why do some MCLA teams play at such a competitive level while some are just for fun? Should the MCLA remain as a casual league for lower-tier players, or should it continue to move in the extremely competitive and skillful direction as more high-caliber athletes gravitate to club?
The Albany University club lacrosse team is a team that allows players of any skill level to join. Nick Parathyras has played there for the past four years and says the focus for their team has never been about winning.
“Our team is all about having fun. Once a week we practice and every once in a while, we schedule a game, so it’s not much of a commitment. Just good fun and a little bit of competition.”
Liberty University club lacrosse player, Garrett Cooper, describes his team to be pretty much the opposite.
“We are a club team, but we still expect to win every game we play. There would be no point in playing a sport if the team were okay with losing.”
This drastic difference in team’s attitude is why some people believe there should not be a high level of competition in the MCLA.
Former Elon University club lacrosse player, Jonathan Shears, believes that there is no place for competitive teams like Liberty in club lacrosse.
“MCLA lacrosse exists so that lacrosse players can attend their dream schools and continue playing the game they love. So they can strike a balance between sport, school and socializing. So they can experience all that college has to offer. West Virginia embodies this. Liberty not so much.”
Shears goes on to say how club athletes should make tailgating football games a priority rather than practicing and winning games.
Others see value in the growing competitiveness in the MCLA. Massapequa high school boy’s lacrosse coach, Tim Radomski, encourages many graduating students to play club lacrosse for this reason.
“Great things are happening in club lacrosse,” Radomski said. “They’re getting some exceptional coaches and athletes which is really raising the bar. Club lacrosse is no joke.”
These opposing views are not going anywhere as there will always be club teams who are more competitive than others. Although club lacrosse is meant to be less of a commitment than NCAA, it is still a sport that involves two teams going head-to-head. In any sport, there is always going to be a level of competitiveness.
The fact that MCLA teams beat NCAA teams every year is enough to justify the competitive nature of club lacrosse. If players aren’t looking for high-level competitiveness, they should consider playing pick-up games instead.
