I’m learning an awful lot from my current adventures on the recruiting trail. I have compiled some solid advice for teams and players. I spent a lot of time as a select team coordinator and coach and I want to share some observations and mistakes as I see teams make; some of which I also made in the past.
COACHES: Remember this is a showcase event for your players. As a college coach I honestly try to give every player and every team a fair look. This may mean I will watch between 20 to 30 minutes of a particular game (sometimes less). In order to give your kids the best opportunity to be seen, I would suggest limiting your roster size. Having 15 subs means that I won’t be able to see everyone in action.
TEAM ORGANIZERS: Providing uniforms that are highly visible at long distances, ensures that college coaches can quickly and accurately know what team he is watching and what number a kid is wearing. Having large numbers on the back and front of jerseys also helps. When designing uniforms, opt for clarity and information as opposed to bold, flashy and confusing style. So many times this fall, I kept asking: “what team is this?” and… “is that #36 or #30.” I would also suggest submitting accurate rosters so there is no further confusion.
PARENTS AND PLAYERS: Set up a designated “recruiting-only” email address for the player. Try your absolute hardest to put together a short highlight video which is current. This is an absolute must! Also, be sure you focus most of your attention on grades. There is a LOT more scholarship money in grades than sports! Without good a good GPA, test scores and academic track record, you will struggle getting into your favorite lacrosse school. Despite what you think, most kids who are being “recruited” will not receive sports scholarship money. There just isn’t enough to go around. Research what colleges will be at a particular event. Some schools you’ve “never heard of,” actually have outstanding academics, atmospheres, coaches and lacrosse programs. Learn as much as you can about every school that is in attendance. Lacrosse is not a free ticket into college, so don’t think that you can just sit back and wait for offers to come rolling in. Be sure to email and call coaches from schools that peak your interest. If you aren’t a junior or senior, do not be discouraged if you don’t hear back. NCAA rules dictate who we can communicate with and what time of year. If you really want a coach to watch you, email him the following: NAME, POSITION. ACCOMPLISHMENTS (STATS), HIGH SCHOOL TEAM, CLUB TEAM, SCHEDULE FOR TOURNAMENT, JERSEY NUMBER, HIGHLIGHT VIDEO, CURRENT GPA AND WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY IN COLLEGE.
With so many tournaments going on every weekend, it is difficult to see every kid play. With limited coaching staffs and budgets, it’s not always easy to keep up with who wants to be seen and at what field, etc… If you believe you are good enough, that highlight video will do WONDERS! Invest the money and time to make several. A lot of kids catch a coach’s attention through the film they provide. Take care of your grades, attitude and skills and we will find you!
If you have any questions or comments, please follow me on Twitter @lisislaxn
See you next week!
