First, Mellen played on Upstate Underclass team in 2013 and 2014. Second, it absolutely has $omething to do with the regional teams. Pretty sure the website says that kids that tryout for regional teams have inside track at being picked for UA AA game. That said, if you are above and beyond AA, you will get picked. If it is a close call, they will take the kid who's parents have been forking over $200 for you to tryout for a rigged team. 75% of the spots are taken before the tryouts take place. If you are on twitter, check out @laxvigilante for more info on the dollars and process. Corrigan Sports Enterprise is raking in the cash on the UA lacrosse gig.
I would say a safe estimate is 200 kids per region, probably a low number. So let's do some math. $200 per kid x 200 kids x 16 teams = $640k (minus facility rental, hospitality for coaches and pinnies).
It's absolutely insane and I do believe that at least 50% or more are selected before they even get there. Talked to a friend of mine who went to see the Southern Region tryouts this past weekend. There were over 350 Kids at the tryouts . He said that he talked to several parents who intimated that their kid was already on the team they just had to show up. Partly because the most of the evaluators were high school coaches from the south (Obviously pushing their kids).
My recollection from last years Upstate underclass tryout was that there was somewhere in the neighborhood of 175-200 for both teams.Crazy money being made. Had I known then what I know now
I envision it like an old Empire tryout with a million kids. But costs must keep the numbers lower.
I wonder how many younger 8th and 9th grade goalies show up for the underclass team. I would guess based on the percentages goalie might be the best chance to make a team, unless the two they keep are already penciled in. Can’t imagine more than 10/15 goalies show up though. Get your stick on a couple of shots and who knows.
