Tips for making the recruiting process easier for coaches, parents and the athlete
Inform yourself. Make sure before you talk to a school that you have learned all you can about it–this includes the school as well as its program.
- Educate yourself, do your homework. Ask older friends, check out written publications or use the Internet to find schools that offer lacrosse and a college experience that interests you.
- Make sure lacrosse is a high priority in choosing a school, but not the only priority. Look thoroughly at the school including its academic majors, location, tuition costs, student body and other aspects that differentiate one school from another. Not all schools offer athletic scholarships and not all schools offer political science as a major.
- Most importantly, imagine yourself playing lacrosse at that school and imagine (cross your fingers) that you were hurt and could no longer play–would you still be happy there?
- When possible, visit the schools that you are interested in. You don’t need to be on an official visit to talk to the coach, take the campus tour or speak to admissions officers. If you happen to be on campus check with the coach to see if you can set up a chance to meet or to watch practice. Take that opportunity to see the athletic facilities, walk around town and meet students and athletes that go to that school.
- Put together a record of your playing history and achievements. Include in this athletic, academic and any extracurricular achievements you have reached in high school. This may be a coach’s first impression of you as an athlete and a person so make sure to highlight your accomplishments and don’t be afraid to sell yourself.
- Send coaches schedules of your high school games, summer camps you will be attending, summer leagues or showcase and recruiting events you will be attending. Give the schools you are interested in every opportunity to see you play and evaluate you as a potential member of their team. Make sure when sending this information that you do so far enough in advance so that your games can be easily worked into their busy schedule.
- If possible, create a video of yourself during your 11th grade year to send to coaches who cannot come to see you play.
- You are your best salesmen – help yourself. Write, e-mail or call coaches. Take an active role in your own recruiting process early in grade 11 by initiating contact with the schools you are interested in. Write to the coaches of programs on your list and tell them of your interest and request any forms that they may have for potential players. While you may be the best player in your league or the star of your high school, don’t expect every coach to know that already. Don’t sit back and wait for coaches to contact you or you may miss your opportunity.
- Be honest when meeting potential coaches about your interest in their school and their team. By the same token, expect that same honesty from the coaches you meet. It is to your advantage that these coaches are honest with you about where you will fit into their program as well as their college.
- When looking for the perfect college and the perfect program it is important to take many factors into consideration. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself as a player and as an asset to both the school and the team. Before you evaluate potential colleges, however, it is also important to do some self -evaluation. Division I, Division II or Division III? Does the level of the program matter to you? Remember that there are some very important differences between the three divisions.
- Do you want to play more than one sport?
- Do you want to try for a scholarship?
- Does the competitiveness of the program matter? How about the competitiveness of the league or division?
- Do you want a proven program or are you willing to help a young program grow?
- What type of player are you? Be Honest.
- Can you be happy sitting on the bench or bidding your time until you have earned a starting position?
- What type of coach and environment do you respond to and can you adapt?
- If you have to play behind one or two players who are already established at your position will you still be able to work as hard and enjoy the experience?
- Can you put in the time commitment and the effort that some programs require in season as well as out of season?
Confused? Worried? Don’t know what to do?
Here are answers to those burning questions you’ve been dying to ask:
Q: How involved should my parents be in the process?
A: Your parents can be a valuable resource for you during this process. It is perfectly acceptable for your parents to attend meetings with coaches if they are on campus with you and you feel comfortable being yourself with them in the room. As proofreaders, spellcheckers, video documenters and honest critics, your parents can offer help and perspective that you may lack. That being said, remember that you are the one going to college so it must be your decision, uninfluenced by parents even with the best of intentions. If you do choose to include your parents in meetings with potential coaches make sure that you are the one in control, make sure to talk for yourself. If your parents want to take an active role in your college recruiting process use them as sounding boards for your thoughts and for advice for your questions. It should be you, however, that writes your own letters and e-mails and it should be you that takes the initiative to speak to coaches and creates your playing resume. By taking control in this process you show responsibility for your playing future and prove to coaches that you are serious about your potential.
Q: Should I edit the video of myself so that it shows only my perfect play?
A: Absolutely not! While editing your friends laughing at you in the background may be a good idea, don’t edit out all of your mistakes from this video. Almost as important as how well you play is how well you react and recover from your mistakes. Remember no player is perfect.
Q: When I’m writing to coaches and filling out forms how should I list my years of playing experience?
A: It’s very helpful for coaches to know what level you have played at throughout you career. You should separate your years of playing into league/division as well as including if you were a starter or a substitute off the bench.
Q: When is the best time to contact the schools and the coaches that I am interested in?
A: Early in grade 11 you should begin thinking about the process if you have not already started. Remember, your grade 11 season may be the only time a coach can see you play so by the time your season starts you should already have sent your schedule out and created a video of your skills.
Additional Resources:
- NAIA and NCAA Lacrosse Scholarships
http://www.collegesportsscholarships.com/lacrosse.htm
- NCAA Men’s Lacrosse
http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-lacros/ncaa-m-lacros-body.html
- NCAA Women’s Lacrosse
http://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-lacros/ncaa-w-lacros-body.html
Camps and other Resources:
- Adrenaline Lacrosse
http://www.adrenalinelacrosse.com/2009/index.php
Tips for making the recruiting process easier for coaches, parents and the athlete
• Inform yourself. Make sure before you talk to a school that you have learned all you
can about it–this includes the school as well as its program.
• Educate yourself, do your homework. Ask older friends, check out written publications
or use the Internet to find schools that offer lacrosse and a college experience that
interests you.
• Make sure lacrosse is a high priority in choosing a school, but not the only priority.
Look thoroughly at the school including its academic majors, location, tuition costs,
student body and other aspects that differentiate one school from another. Not all
schools offer athletic scholarships and not all schools offer political science as a major.
• Most importantly, imagine yourself playing lacrosse at that school and imagine (cross
your fingers) that you were hurt and could no longer play–would you still be happy
there?
• When possible, visit the schools that you are interested in. You don’t need to be on an
official visit to talk to the coach, take the campus tour or speak to admissions officers.
If you happen to be on campus check with the coach to see if you can set up a chance
to meet or to watch practice. Take that opportunity to see the athletic facilities, walk
around town and meet students and athletes that go to that school.
• Put together a record of your playing history and achievements. Include in this
athletic, academic and any extracurricular achievements you have reached in high
school. This may be a coach’s first impression of you as an athlete and a person so
make sure to highlight your accomplishments and don’t be afraid to sell yourself.
• Send coaches schedules of your high school games, summer camps you will be
attending, summer leagues or showcase and recruiting events you will be attending.
Give the schools you are interested in every opportunity to see you play and evaluate
you as a potential member of their team. Make sure when sending this information
that you do so far enough in advance so that your games can be easily worked into
their busy schedule.
• If possible, create a video of yourself during your 11th grade year to send to coaches
who cannot come to see you play.
• You are your best salesmen – help yourself. Write, e-mail or call coaches. Take an
active role in your own recruiting process early in grade 11 by initiating contact with
the schools you are interested in. Write to the coaches of programs on your list and
tell them of your interest and request any forms that they may have for potential
players. While you may be the best player in your league or the star of your high
school, don’t expect every coach to know that already. Don’t sit back and wait for
coaches to contact you or you may miss your opportunity.
• Be honest when meeting potential coaches about your interest in their school and
their team. By the same token, expect that same honesty from the coaches you meet.
It is to your advantage that these coaches are honest with you about where you will
fit into their program as well as their college.
• When looking for the perfect college and the perfect program it is important to take
many factors into consideration. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself as a player and as
an asset to both the school and the team. Before you evaluate potential colleges,
however, it is also important to do some self -evaluation.
Division I, Division II or Division III? Does the level of the program matter to
you? Remember that there are some very important differences between the
three divisions.
• Do you want to play more than one sport?
• Do you want to try for a scholarship?
• Does the competitiveness of the program matter? How about the
competitiveness of the league or division?
• Do you want a proven program or are you willing to help a young
program grow?
• What type of player are you? Be Honest.
• Can you be happy sitting on the bench or bidding your time until you
have earned a starting position?
• What type of coach and environment do you respond to and can you
adapt?
• If you have to play behind one or two players who are already
established at your position will you still be able to work as hard and
enjoy the experience?
• Can you put in the time commitment and the effort that some programs
require in season as well as out of season?
Confused? Worried? Don’t know what to do?
Answers to those burning questions you’ve been dying to ask:
Q: How involved should my parents be in the process?
A: Your parents can be a valuable resource for you during this process. It is perfectly
acceptable for your parents to attend meetings with coaches if they are on campus with you
and you feel comfortable being yourself with them in the room. As proofreaders,
spellcheckers, video documenters and honest critics, your parents can offer help and
perspective that you may lack. That being said, remember that you are the one going to
college so it must be your decision, uninfluenced by parents even with the best of intentions.
If you do choose to include your parents in meetings with potential coaches make sure that
you are the one in control, make sure to talk for yourself. If your parents want to take an
active role in your college recruiting process use them as sounding boards for your thoughts
and for advice for your questions. It should be you, however, that writes your own letters
and e-mails and it should be you that takes the initiative to speak to coaches and creates
your playing resume. By taking control in this process you show responsibility for your
playing future and prove to coaches that you are serious about your potential.
Q: Should I edit the video of myself so that it shows only my perfect play?
A: Absolutely not! While editing your friends laughing at you in the background may be a
good idea, don’t edit out all of your mistakes from this video. Almost as important as how
well you play is how well you react and recover from your mistakes. Remember no player is
perfect.
Q: When I’m writing to coaches and filling out forms how should I list my years of playing
experience?
A: It’s very helpful for coaches to know what level you have played at throughout you career.
You should separate your years of playing into league/division as well as including if you
were a starter or a substitute off the bench.
Q: When is the best time to contact the schools and the coaches that I am interested in?
A: Early in grade 11 you should begin thinking about the process if you have not already
started. Remember, your grade 11 season may be the only time a coach can see you play so
by the time your season starts you should already have sent your schedule out and created a
video of your skills.
Additional Resources:
NAIA and NCAA Lacrosse Scholarships
• Inform yourself. Make sure before you talk to a school that you have learned all you
can about it–this includes the school as well as its program.
• Educate yourself, do your homework. Ask older friends, check out written publications
or use the Internet to find schools that offer lacrosse and a college experience that
interests you.
• Make sure lacrosse is a high priority in choosing a school, but not the only priority.
Look thoroughly at the school including its academic majors, location, tuition costs,
student body and other aspects that differentiate one school from another. Not all
schools offer athletic scholarships and not all schools offer political science as a major.
• Most importantly, imagine yourself playing lacrosse at that school and imagine (cross
your fingers) that you were hurt and could no longer play–would you still be happy
there?
• When possible, visit the schools that you are interested in. You don’t need to be on an
official visit to talk to the coach, take the campus tour or speak to admissions officers.
If you happen to be on campus check with the coach to see if you can set up a chance
to meet or to watch practice. Take that opportunity to see the athletic facilities, walk
around town and meet students and athletes that go to that school.
• Put together a record of your playing history and achievements. Include in this
athletic, academic and any extracurricular achievements you have reached in high
school. This may be a coach’s first impression of you as an athlete and a person so
make sure to highlight your accomplishments and don’t be afraid to sell yourself.
• Send coaches schedules of your high school games, summer camps you will be
attending, summer leagues or showcase and recruiting events you will be attending.
Give the schools you are interested in every opportunity to see you play and evaluate
you as a potential member of their team. Make sure when sending this information
that you do so far enough in advance so that your games can be easily worked into
their busy schedule.
• If possible, create a video of yourself during your 11th grade year to send to coaches
who cannot come to see you play.
• You are your best salesmen – help yourself. Write, e-mail or call coaches. Take an
active role in your own recruiting process early in grade 11 by initiating contact with
the schools you are interested in. Write to the coaches of programs on your list and
tell them of your interest and request any forms that they may have for potential
players. While you may be the best player in your league or the star of your high
school, don’t expect every coach to know that already. Don’t sit back and wait for
coaches to contact you or you may miss your opportunity.
• Be honest when meeting potential coaches about your interest in their school and
their team. By the same token, expect that same honesty from the coaches you meet.
It is to your advantage that these coaches are honest with you about where you will
fit into their program as well as their college.
• When looking for the perfect college and the perfect program it is important to take
many factors into consideration. Don’t be afraid to promote yourself as a player and as
an asset to both the school and the team. Before you evaluate potential colleges,
however, it is also important to do some self -evaluation.
Division I, Division II or Division III? Does the level of the program matter to
you? Remember that there are some very important differences between the
three divisions.
• Do you want to play more than one sport?
• Do you want to try for a scholarship?
• Does the competitiveness of the program matter? How about the
competitiveness of the league or division?
• Do you want a proven program or are you willing to help a young
program grow?
• What type of player are you? Be Honest.
• Can you be happy sitting on the bench or bidding your time until you
have earned a starting position?
• What type of coach and environment do you respond to and can you
adapt?
• If you have to play behind one or two players who are already
established at your position will you still be able to work as hard and
enjoy the experience?
• Can you put in the time commitment and the effort that some programs
require in season as well as out of season?
Confused? Worried? Don’t know what to do?
Answers to those burning questions you’ve been dying to ask:
Q: How involved should my parents be in the process?
A: Your parents can be a valuable resource for you during this process. It is perfectly
acceptable for your parents to attend meetings with coaches if they are on campus with you
and you feel comfortable being yourself with them in the room. As proofreaders,
spellcheckers, video documenters and honest critics, your parents can offer help and
perspective that you may lack. That being said, remember that you are the one going to
college so it must be your decision, uninfluenced by parents even with the best of intentions.
If you do choose to include your parents in meetings with potential coaches make sure that
you are the one in control, make sure to talk for yourself. If your parents want to take an
active role in your college recruiting process use them as sounding boards for your thoughts
and for advice for your questions. It should be you, however, that writes your own letters
and e-mails and it should be you that takes the initiative to speak to coaches and creates
your playing resume. By taking control in this process you show responsibility for your
playing future and prove to coaches that you are serious about your potential.
Q: Should I edit the video of myself so that it shows only my perfect play?
A: Absolutely not! While editing your friends laughing at you in the background may be a
good idea, don’t edit out all of your mistakes from this video. Almost as important as how
well you play is how well you react and recover from your mistakes. Remember no player is
perfect.
Q: When I’m writing to coaches and filling out forms how should I list my years of playing
experience?
A: It’s very helpful for coaches to know what level you have played at throughout you career.
You should separate your years of playing into league/division as well as including if you
were a starter or a substitute off the bench.
Q: When is the best time to contact the schools and the coaches that I am interested in?
A: Early in grade 11 you should begin thinking about the process if you have not already
started. Remember, your grade 11 season may be the only time a coach can see you play so
by the time your season starts you should already have sent your schedule out and created a
video of your skills.
Additional Resources:
NAIA and NCAA Lacrosse Scholarships
http://www.collegesportsscholarships.com/lacrosse.htm
NCAA Men’s Lacrosse
http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-lacros/ncaa-m-lacros-body.html
NCAA Women’s Lacrosse
http://www.ncaa.com/sports/w-lacros/ncaa-w-lacros-body.html
Camps and other Resources
Adrenaline Lacrosse
http://www.adrenalinelacrosse.com/2009/index.php
Tagged in: recruiting, scholarship
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