Recruiting Guide: Part 1 A step-by-step guide to college lacrosse While the process itself can be confusing, particularly for parents and students going through it for the first time, you can be assured that with proper planning and some marketing of the student, there is a place in college for whomever wants to play. Parents and the student athlete should be looking for the right "fit" both academically and athletically for their athlete. Through this series of articles, we hope to help you find your way to the right college and the right college program. There are approximately 215 varsity women's lacrosse programs in the country today. About 50% of them offer scholarships above and beyond financial aid. Girls in particular should be aggressive in looking for scholarships. The recruiting process today can be broken down into 4 different steps. The first of these is Early Identification and Recognition of the student athlete as a legitimate college prospect. This is by far the most important part of the recruiting process. Colleges want to identify all potential prospects as soon as possible, usually by their sophomore or certainly by their junior year. If you haven't been identified, then you can forget about the other 3 steps. It is important that as many colleges identify a prospect as possible, even those they may think they are not interested in. This is called "total exposure". Without it, your chances of getting a college scholarship are slim. Besides, it may open opportunities to you that you had not considered, so it's important to see what's out there. The second step in the recruiting process is Prospect Evaluation. You should be aware that college coaches all run their recruiting programs differently but they all share some similar characteristics. Basically, they are going to start looking at a large pool of "identified" prospects and then start a weeding out process. If you haven't been identified or only identified to a small number of schools, you could be weeded out of them and your chances of being recruited could be over and you may not even know it. This weeding out process may be based on grades, athleticism or lack thereof, not a good fit for the school, or they don't need your position this year. If a college is interested in you, they will generally send you a questionnaire beginning your junior year. This does not mean you are being recruited. It means that the college knows you are alive and wants to know more details about you. It is very important to answer every questionnaire promptly; otherwise the coach may assume that you just aren't interested in their school. If you are a good prospect, you may receive a large number of questionnaires. Colleges will also evaluate you by keeping up with your athletic and academic progress, watching a personal video tape, and sometimes visiting one of your games either your senior year or at a sports camp. After the initial weeding out phase colleges will begin the third step, which is actual "Recruiting". You are not considered a recruited student-athlete unless a college calls you at least 2 times, or you are invited for an "official" visit (the Division I school is paying your expenses) or a college recruiter in person has contacted you. None of these contacts may take place until after July 1st after the completion of your junior year. (The service academies may contact you sooner because of their lengthy admissions process.) To give you some idea of the numbers involved you may assume that the original pool of athletes may number 100 or more, 40 to 50 of which may be invited for an "official visit" for the 9 or 10 spots that the coach is looking for. It begins to look very difficult, particularly for the top schools. That's why it's important to look at a lot of schools and be realistic about your playing capabilities! The final step in the recruiting process consists of "the Offer" either with a National Letter of Intent or pressure for an early decision. Recruiting has changed a lot in the last few years and there is tremendous pressure for student athletes to commit early. The coaches want to know early who really wants to play for their school and expects a student-athlete to make up their mind. I counsel student athletes to make this decision a "family" decision and not commit while sitting in a coach's office by themselves. I also counsel them that if they have made up their mind and have been accepted by their Number 1 choice, let the other coaches know as soon as possible so they may spend their time and money on other qualified candidates. I am available through my web page at http://www.recruitingguide.com/should you have any questions. Author, Dave Prossner Recruiting Guide: Part 2 In my last article I said the most important part of the recruiting process was “early identification and recognition” by college coaches. If your daughter is not identified early (sophomore or junior year) as a legitimate college prospect, then they may never even have an opportunity to be recruited. Part of this recognition problem may be addressed by “marketing “ your son or daughter. Marketing is defined as “the act or process of selling” and those functions involved in selling. Your goal is really to get your daughter looked at and recruited by college coaches, then admitted to a school in which they will be able to succeed academically and athletically. Parents, someone has to take responsibility for this part of the process. Your daughter is a 16 or 17-year-old high school student absorbed in all those things important to that age group. The high school coach is in charge or 20 to 30 plus similar students and trying to do the best they can with their individual program. That only leaves you to oversee the management of the recruiting effort for your student athlete. Finding scholarships and financial aid takes organization and work. Let me assure you I don’t mean there isn’t any money out there to help good student athletes. There aren’t many pure athletic scholarships out there, but colleges, where the coaches have recruited your student athlete, do a better job of “finding financial aid” for good student athletes. Girls should be aggressive in looking for scholarships, particularly in view of the Title IX emphasis on women’s sports. We will get into the various types of financial aid later. What you need to be aware of early on in this whole process is, that it is important to be realistic about your student athlete’s level of play. Not everyone is a Division I player, but there are programs and good colleges available for every player. We hope to help you find that “fit” for your student athlete. One of the best ways to market your student begins with a “sports resume” or similar profile sheet. I have three examples of “sports resumes” in the appendix of my book. (http://www.recruitingguide.com/). Also available to you are services which put your student athlete’s resume on line for a fee. Check those out for # of hits and how long they have been in business. There are also more thorough services such as The National Scouting Report (http://www.nsr-inc.com/), which offer thorough marketing expertise. Check out how they do resumes. They all differ a little and you can fashion your particular resume using the best features. Remember, a sports resume is a one-page information snapshot of your student athlete. You should start putting one together immediately and use it whenever corresponding with college coaches. A small, informal picture should be attached to it, as well. Keep the resume to a single page and don’t try to overwhelm the coach with a ton of material on your athlete. People, coaches included, want information in small, quickly read packages. Be sure to include this resume in your first request for information from the coach. Also, be sure to update it periodically as your SAT scores or seasons and experience change. Do not disclose any personal financial information on this resume. The coaches will ask if you’re going to need financial aid, as will the admissions office when you visit. At some later point you will have to come up with last year’s tax return so they can give you an indication of what financial aid may be available….but do not disclose any financial information on your resume. The other important part of marketing involves the video high light tape. A five-minute video highlight tape can be a very effective marketing tool for a college coach. Coaches want to evaluate the student athlete’ s abilities, but do not have enough time to do a lot of scouting. If there is some interest, they will take five minutes to look at a tape. You do not want to just send them out randomly. You can offer to send a coach a tape if there has been some interest expressed already. Probably the best money I invested in marketing was buying a good video camera with an image stabilizer and a tripod. I filmed every game their junior year, shared the tapes with the high school coach, and then edited highlight tapes for my daughter. I start each tape with a videotaped label showing name, address, phone, position played and number worn, for about 15 seconds. I then followed it with about 45 seconds of introduction in which my daughter would take a shot, or make a save, and then jog up to the camera and introduce herself, talk about her sport experience, stress her grades and class rank and then introduce the highlights. (This gives the coach a chance to see how the student athletes handles themselves away from the sport and may give some indication of their “fit” with that coach’s program.) I then followed with 4 to 5 minutes of game highlights. Make sure you show plays developing and not just repetitious shots or saves. End the film with the same label as in the beginning. I also had the capability to do a “voice over” during which my daughter and I would discuss the action the coach was watching. This helps maintain continuity. Five minutes is plenty…you’re not making “Gone With The Wind” here! Some services today actually include your video high light tape right on their web site making it very easy for college coaches to do their evaluations. Today the professional organizations such as the National Scouting Report do an amazing job with their videos. Look at some of them on their web site. I am available through my web page at http://www.recruitingguide.com/ should you have any questions. Author, Dave Prossner Some tips and pointers while going through the process You sit among thousands of young players from across the country, and you’re all wondering the same thing: What will it take for me to make it onto that field? Lacrosse offers wonderful opportunity to high school athletes. On top of the exhilaration that NCAA competition provides, lacrosse can help with college admissions and, in some cases, it can help with tuition. Finding the right school is one of the most important projects facing any high school player, and proper preparation is essential to a successful search. The athletic recruiting process is one of many ways to get a feel for what’s out there, and while it can be overwhelming at times, recruiting is worth handling right. Following are some tips on recruiting, and also a look at the process as experienced by Jude Collins, who excelled on the college lacrosse field and currently holds recruiting seminars for Advantage Lacrosse, in Virginia. STAGES OF THE GAME: Jude Collins didn’t start playing lacrosse until he was a freshman in high school. A gifted soccer player and exceptional athlete, he realized shortly after his introduction to the game that lacrosse was the sport he wanted to play in college. Collins knew that he had started playing later than some of his teammates, so he committed himself to improving and maturing as a player. 1. Visibility. You don’t have to go to West Genesee or Ward Melville to be recruited to play lacrosse. Talent is spreading, and coaches know it. Camps are a great way to meet college coaches and players. There are a million camps out there, and each one has a specific focus. Some will stress development of fundamentals, while others will focus on playing games, with little formal instruction. There are even camps, which specifically cater to athletes, looking for exposure; many coaches show up to watch sessions, and some even have recruiting round tables in the evening. Use camp as an opportunity to grow. Show enthusiasm, and ask questions. Try to learn from your coaches what aspects of your game need improvement. Jude Collins went to high school in Northern Virginia and was worried about the exposure he would receive playing lacrosse outside of the traditional “hot beds.” Early on, he began to write letters to the schools that he thought might suit him. Some responded, and to his disappointment, others did not. Collins had an interest in the military, so he went to West Point lacrosse camp during the summer of his junior year. He treated the camp like it was a weeklong try-out, and was very serious about his play. Collins met players from the University of North Carolina, and at their suggestion he wrote a letter to the UNC coach. 2. Register with Clearinghouse. If you’re on the fence academically, waste no time getting things in order with the NCAA. 3. Becoming a Recruit. The time will come when letters start showing up in your mailbox and phone calls begin to interrupt your evenings. The coaches who are interested in you will begin to feel you out, trying to learn about your grades and your interests. At this stage in the game, everyone involved is usually trying to keep her options as open as possible (coaches start by contacting a lot of players, and most players are noncommittal, early on). Some of these coaches will have a genuine interest in you, while others may have just seen your name on an all-star roster or All-County listing. Don’t be afraid to inquire as to where they saw you play and what they know about you. How much they know about you can be a gauge as to how serious they are about you coming to their school. Interested coaches will try to set up a time to come and visit at your school or even at your home. Eventually, they will propose that you come to visit them at their school. 4. The Official Trip. The NCAA allows you to take five official paid visits. If the offers are made and your schedule can handle it, try to take all five. Sometimes coaches can be very persistent about the visit, offering you a free plane ticket and football seats on the fifty-yard line. Do not let yourself get corralled into visiting a school that you know you aren’t interested in. While sometimes coaches will barrage you with offers, other times none of this will happen. If a school that you’re particularly fond of hasn’t contacted you, don’t be afraid to take the initiative to call or write the coach. There are plenty of explanations why certain players are overlooked. Schools often concentrate their recruiting on a certain geographic area of the country. Or depending on the year, coaches may only be looking to fill specific positions. At this stage in the game, Collins narrowed his choices to Army, Navy, UNC, and Duke. From November to February of his senior year, Collins visited all four of these schools. 5. What to accomplish on the visit. The purpose of the recruiting trip is to give you an opportunity to get a “feel” for the school and for the team, before making your final decision. While these visits can make for some of the most exciting weekends of your high school years, don’t go in with the objective of seeing how late you can stay out or how much you can party. People usually learn the most about their surroundings by sitting back and passively taking it all in. Additionally, don’t head off on your recruiting trip with the intentions of impressing anybody. You’ve been invited to visit for a reason. There is little that you can do to better your standing with a coach or his players while on the trip, and more times than not only damage can be done. More than one recruit has hurt his chances when people at the school realize that he won’t be much good on the lacrosse field, when he can’t even fit his head into the helmet. Oftentimes a coach will bring his top recruits to visit on the same weekend, so it can be a great opportunity to meet the other guys with whom you will likely be sharing the communal rigors of your freshman season. These people often become your closest friends, and the recruiting trip is a good time to feel out your peers. Learn more about the coach. Ask him about how he sees you fitting into the program. Ask him about your weaknesses as a player, and what aspect of your game will need to be improved for success at the next level. This will indicate your commitment to growing as a player, as well as your interest in his program. If a coach wants to know what other schools you’re considering, level with him. The coaching world is small in lacrosse, and there’s a good chance that he already knows. “Everybody told me how much fun recruiting trips were, and looking back, I went on my first couple visits with nothing but expectations of having a good time,” said Collins. “They were all a lot of fun, but I should have been paying closer attention to all of the aspects of college life, not just the social life.” At the end of his weekend at UNC, Collins met the lacrosse coach for lunch, and they discussed his visit. “He was real open with me, and he told me just where I fit into the scheme of things. And he also was straight forward about asking how serious I was about Carolina.” 6. After the visit. Sometimes things simply fall into place. You may just know where you want to be, or there may only be one coach who is after you. Other times the most difficult part of recruiting can be turning down a coach, especially one who has brought you to his school for a visit. Just remember that all coaches have much more experience at this than you, and every year even the top coaches get turned down. They understand your dilemmas better than you may think. As long as you are honest with a coach about your decision, there will be no hard feelings. Nine times out of ten you will continue to run into these people down the line, so it’s always best not to play games with them. 7. Laying it on the line. There is no way for your brain to process all of the factors that will impact your final decision. For some it helps to put everything down on paper. Do you want to constantly push yourself as an athlete, or are you turned off by the idea of a full-time commitment? Do you want a shot at a ring? Do you want to be able to play another sport? Are you looking for disciplined coaching and a structured program, or do you want to be let loose to run and gun? Keep in mind that head and assistant coaches change schools all the time. You are choosing a college, not a coach. As far as criteria for the decision, the athletic factors are just the tip of the iceberg. Academically, there are even more considerations. Not to mention cost, social atmosphere, and location. Sometimes the paper and the lists seem to get in the way. Abandoning the logical arguments and using your insight to make the final decision is a perfectly reasonable method, as long as it isn’t done out of laziness. Always at least make an attempt at figuring things out methodically, with every possible factor under consideration. Take your time, make your decision, and once the decision is made, HAVE NO REGRETS. Worrying about whether or not you made the right decision will just going to take away energy that could be spent gearing up for next year. When it became time for Collins to make a decision, he laid out all of his thoughts on the table. He made lists. He tried to picture himself walking around each campus, and he imagined how happy he’d be at each school if he weren’t playing lacrosse. Out of the four schools, Collins finally realized he didn’t want the military lifestyle, which ruled out Army and Navy. Duke lost interest, and North Carolina was still very appealing. He had a great visit; he could picture himself there, as a student and an athlete, and he felt good with his decision. “It wasn’t easy telling the two military academies that I wasn’t coming, because I had showed such a strong interest in them early on,” said Collins. “I could tell that they were disappointed, but they were also understanding.” Collins went on to a career at North Carolina, where he was a three time All-American, earning First Team honors as a senior. The recruiting process can be overwhelming, and deciding upon a college can be the most important decision that a high school senior has had yet to make. Just look at athletic recruiting as an aid in making that decision. Look at it as an opportunity. It is OK to be confused and anxious. You are going to be constantly drilled from peers, parents, teachers, and coaches with the question: “So, what’re you thinking?” Don’t feel like you must have an answer for everybody. If at any point you feel like you’re being pressured, and events begin to become a burden, take a step back and figure out why-- and then factor that into your decision, because the bottom line is that the whole recruiting process is an exciting opportunity and, above all else should always be fun. Author, Dave Prossner Recruiting and Application Timeline · Individual player and his parents should meet with Coaches and discuss appropriate schools and level of college lacrosse for player · As much lacrosse exposure as possible, you must get in front of college coaches · Edit "Interest List" (e.g., add, delete schools), should now have 6-10 schools · Player to write letters to all "Interest List" coaches again expressing interest in program and asking about their recruiting process · Normally, college coaches call players during this time and may invite players to campus for an official visit · Receive all applications · Submit early decision applications by dead line dtaes · Formally apply to "Interest List" schools and mail applications · Early applicants receive notice in early January The rules and tips from: Recruiting 101: NCAA Rules and Regulations Contact with a prospect: Generally, a coach cannot have an in-person recruiting encounter with a high-school prospect until July 1 (June 15th for Division II) following the completion of the prospect’s junior year (Div. III it is until the end of their Junior year, no specific date). Exceptions: A coach may have recruiting contact with a prospect on their institution’s campus (Same at Div.III). Telephone calls: Generally, a coach may make telephone contact with a prospect once per week after July 1 (June 15th for Division II) following the completion of the prospect’s junior year. A coach may receive telephone calls from a prospect at any time. Exceptions: A coach may make unlimited phone calls to a prospect in the five days preceding the prospect’s official visit to campus; a coach may make unlimited calls to a prospect on the initial date for the signing of an NLI and the two days immediately following the initial signing date; a coach may make unlimited calls to a prospect on the day a permissible in-person, off-campus contact occurs; a coach may make unlimited phone calls to a prospect subsequent to that prospect signing an NLI; Div. III coaches can call anytime and any number of times without calling restrictions. Generally, we do not call until senior year, but it is permissible to call during the junior year. Number of Contacts and Evaluations: Each institution is limited to a total of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per prospect (unlimited evaluations and three contacts in Division II). Not more than three of the seven recruiting opportunities may be off-campus contacts. An evaluation at a contest counts as an evaluation for all prospects in that sport at that institution. Exceptions: Evaluations made during the summer do not count against the seven recruiting opportunities. All contacts and evaluations are subject to the restrictions of the recruiting calendar. Subsequent to a prospect signing an NLI, there is no limit on the number of contacts and evaluations for that prospect. Div. III does not have regulations regarding contacts and evaluations. National Letter of Intent: A prospect may sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) during the early signing period (a one week period in November), or the regular signing period (second Wednesday in April through the first day of classes in September). An NLI is a binding agreement between the prospect and the institution, and must be accompanied by an athletics scholarship offer. If the terms of the NLI are not fulfilled, a prospect can lose up to two years of eligibility. Div. III does not have a letter of intent for athletics. Official Visits (applies to Division I and II): A prospect can make up to five official (paid) visits, but not more than one to a particular institution. The visit is limited to 48 hours in length, and all meals and entertainment must be comparable to that of normal student life. The earliest opportunity to take an official visit is after the opening day of classes of the prospect’s senior year in HS. Div. III: Unlimited official visits to Division III schools, but only 1 official visit per school. You do not have to count Div. III official visits as part of your five visits to Division I and II schools. Unofficial Visits (applies to all Divisions): A prospect can make any number of unofficial visits (at the prospect’s own expense), and may visit a particular institution unofficially as often as they like. They may receive up to three complimentary admissions to a home contest during the unofficial visit. Recruiting Timeline: What you should be doing and when you should do it! · Create a profile sheet that you can send to colleges you are considering. Make sure your parent or a coach proofreads your profile before you send it. · Begin narrowing your list of potential colleges. Some factors to consider: Academic profile, level of lacrosse, type of school, distance from home, and cost of attendance. Be realistic when focusing your list — include “sure things,” “reaches,” and a “long shot” on your list. · Contact the coach at the top five to ten schools you are considering — let them know they are one of your top choices. Include your summer lacrosse schedule so they can see you play. · Prepare videotapes to have available for coaches that request them. Videos should include at least 30 minutes of unedited game footage. · Have copies of your transcript, SAT/ACT scores, and senior class schedule available to send to coaches, particularly those you intend to visit. · Tentatively plan “unofficial visits” to your top schools during the late spring and summer. · Be proactive — if you are very interested in a particular school, make sure they know it. Rising Juniors · Begin researching colleges that have women’s lacrosse. Make a list of all the schools that meet your criteria (for example: Division III private schools in New York that offer physical education teacher certification as a major). The list should include 10 - 25 schools. · Work on the profile sheet that you will be sending to the colleges on your list. Make sure your parent or a coach proofreads your profile before you send it. · Write a letter of interest you can send to the schools on your list. Ask a coach, parent, or teacher to help you write the letter. This letter can be sent via US Mail or e-mail, along with your profile and summer lacrosse schedule. Make sure you verify the coach’s name and mailing address on-line or with a phone call before you send the letter. Spell-check everything before you send it. · Return all questionnaires and requested info to the schools you might consider. If you know you are definitely not considering a particular school, let that coach know. Honesty is important. · Remember that college coaches are restricted by NCAA rules regarding phone calls and contacts off their institution’s campus. E-mail is the most efficient way to correspond until you have finished your junior year. Rising Sophomores/Freshmen · Stay focused academically. NCAA eligibility standards keep getting tougher. The grades you earn now will determine admission to college, initial NCAA eligibility, and your future success. · Play lacrosse, but don’t burn yourself out. Attend lacrosse camps and play club lacrosse, but not to the exclusion of everything else. Coaches and Admissions counselors look for well-rounded student-athletes. · Start researching colleges. Consider what each level of college lacrosse entails (Division I, II, and III). Begin thinking about academics — what are your career goals, and what types of things might you study to achieve them? Talk to your parents, guidance counselors, teachers, coaches, siblings, and older teammates to get information. · Request academic and admissions information from college admissions offices. NCAA lacrosse programs cannot provide athletic recruiting information other than a questionnaire and camp information until September 1 of your junior year in high school. Sample Student/athlete Profile: Susie Lacrosse, Senior 2007 1010 Main Street Any town, USA 00000 Home: (555) 555-5555 Cell: (555) 555-5555 slacrosse@hotmail.com Cedar High School, 3535 Town Lane, Any town, USA 11794, (212) 321-8765 GPA: 3.78/4.0 SAT: 640 V, 670 M ACT 32 Class Rank: if used Currently on-schedule to receive a Regents Diploma in June 2005. Have taken AP Classes in Biology, Chemistry, and English. Will take AP Calculus and American History during senior year. Honor Roll student for the past five semesters. Intended College Major: French/Secondary Education Cedar High School Varsity Lacrosse, 2003, 2004, and 2005 Section XI Champion, 2005 All-Suffolk County, 2005 All-Suffolk County Honorable Mention, 2004 Most Valuable Defender, 2005 Tournaments: National Draw, All-Star Express, LI Elite Showcase Elite 300, Loyola University, 2006 East End Premier Camp, 2006 Maryland Elite Camp, 2005 Duke Elite Camp, 2005 Stony Brook Summer Clinic Series, 2004 Varsity Soccer, 2001 – 2003, All-County 2005 Varsity Basketball, 2001 – 2003, All-League 2005, 2006 Cedar HS Student Government, Vice-President, 2004-06 National Honor Society Inductee, 2005 Member, French Club, 2004 – present Member, Marching Band (Flute), 2004 – present Students Against Drunk Driving (SAAD), Treasurer, 2004-05 Volunteer, Local Hospital Pediatric Care Unit, 2003 – present Official, Three Village Youth Lacrosse, 2003 – present Jane Smith, Varsity Coach, Cedar HS, (555) 675-9867, e-mail: janesmith7@lax.com Sally Miller, Co-Director, Team Lacrosse, (555) 632-4089, e-mail: coach@lax.com Anne Jones, Guidance Counselor, Cedar HS, (555) 456-9812, e-mail: jonesa@school.edu Classifieds My name is Monica Potter and I have recently been hired as the Head Coach at As the first Head Coach of this program I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be part of history with the expansion of lacrosse in the I look forward to establishing great relationships with all Sincerely, Monica PotterCollege Plans
Today we are going to begin to explore the "recruiting process" as it pertains to high school boys and girls who want to go on and play lacrosse in college.
Its a beautiful Memorial Day weekend, and the moment you have been waiting for has arrived: you are surrounded by thirty thousand lacrosse fans waiting for the opening face-off of the Final Four. January-March of Junior Year
April-May of Junior Year
May-June (End of season - Last day of school) of Junior Year
Summer prior to Senior Year
August prior to Senior Year
September 1 of Senior Year
September-October of Senior Year
October 1 of Senior Year
November-December of Senior Year
January 1 of Senior Year
Rising Seniors
Academic Information
Athletic Information
Position: Defense Mile Time: 6:41
Team Lacrosse Club, 2006 Team, Summer 2006
Summer Camps
Other Sports
Extra Curricular Activities
References
Head Coach - Women's Lacrosse
Adrian College
(517) 265-5161 X 4000
mpotter@adrian.edu