Complaint Review: 3D Lacrosse - California Gold Invitational Showcase Blue Chip - Denver Colorado

3D Lacrosse runs a national lacrosse (LAX) league for youth, similar to Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football.  Their league teams and tournaments are valuable for the development of youth LAX skills.

However their recruiting "Showcase" camps are a rip off.  Advertised as a "full day of training," followed by a day of games, to allow rising high school LAX players to showcase their skills - it is hardly that.  They also advertised a bounty of players swag (players gear) to be given away.

From 2011 - 2013 the California Gold Invitaional Showcase Camp was held in Danville, CA.  It was a stellar event, with premium players gear and training.  Prior years give aways included Nike cleats, duffel bags, LAX heads, etc.

In 2015, the 3D Lacrosse - California Gold Invitational Camp moved to Oceanside, CA from Danville, CA.  The cost had also risen from $325 to $475.

We expected another great event, quality players gear package, 6-7 hours of premier training on day #1.  Our youngest grandson was excited to try the camp for himself.

Instead of 600+ kids, college level coaches and a great gear package, there were maybe 200 kids.  The gear package consisted of socks, shorts and a t-shirt. 

A major part of Day #1 was spent doing "registration."  Training first session did not even start until 11 AM.  The training was only 4 hours on the first day - (2) 2 hour sessions.  The second day consisted of two games, grouped by High School graduating year.

Our grandson does not play for a 3D Lacrosse team.  He found himself standing on the sidelines, watching the 3D Team players showing off.  Instead of exhibiting their team skills, the 3D players would shoot every chance they got - bad angles, congested lanes, circus shots, what ever - it was all about showing off.  Many players refused to leave the field, some played for the entire game without rotating off the field - for BOTH GAMES.  Purely unacceptable for a "showcase" program.

In Danville, the coaches who managed the showcase teams, made sure that the players routinely rotated off of the fields - giving everyone a fair and equitable chance to illustrate their skills. Players that were "ball hogs" were called on it or removed from play. Not under the new management.  

At the end of the second day, there were no college representatives left watching the games of the 2018 students - only parents.

3D Lacrosse over promoted this camp, over described and hyped it up. In the end, it way under delivered. Overall, this program was a major disappointment.

Save your $500 (not to mention your $1500 for hotel, food, rental car, travel expenses, and parents time off of work).  Use that $2,000+ to buy some new gear and take some private lessons from a nationally ranked coach !

If you want exposure to the college recruiters, get good grades and SAT scores, excell in high school lacrosse, be a teamplayer, stay involved in community activities (be a well rounded citizen).  If you are good, you will get noticed.

You do not need a fancy camp to "showcase" your skills.