CollegeLacrosseA High School

Athlete’s RecruitingGuide

Presented by:Megan Fisher &

Black Swamp LAX

www.BlackSwampLAX.com/

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!Table!of!Contents!!!!!!PG.!2! ! Part!1:!Master!the!Recruiting!Process!! !!!!PG.!4! ! Part!2:!Pitfalls!to!Avoid!!PG.!6! Part!3:!How!to!Improve!Your!Recruit!ProfileDAthletically!!

and!Academically!!!!!PG.!9! ! Part!4:!Essential!Moves!to!Make!!!!!PG.!11! ! Part!5:!Recruiting!Timeline!!!!!!PG.!17! ! Part!6:!Do’s!and!Don’ts!!!!!!PG.!18! ! Appendix!A:!Sample!Recruit!“Resume”!!PG.!19! Appendix!B:!Questions!to!Ask!College!Coaches!and!Their!Players!

!PG.!20! Appendix!C:!Recruiting!101:!NCAA!Rules!and!Regulations.!!

(Presented!by!the!Intercollegiate!Women’s!Lacrosse!!Coaches!Association)!

!PG.!23! Appendix!D:!Article!“State!of!the!Game:!Hazards!of!

Commitment”!by!Chuck!Jaffe!!PG.!28! References!

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PART%I!!!!!!!!!!!!Master'the'Recruiting'Process!

5 TIPS TO UNDERSTANDING A COLLEGE COACH !!Tip 1: A coach is always looking for top athletes A coach is always keeping his/her eye open for athletes who will help their program succeed on and off the field. Most times, coaches will spend a significant amount of time during the summer recruiting at camps, showcases, tournaments, and through recruit databases. It is important to be involved with the aforementioned in some capacity during the summer (namely playing club ball). Most college coaches do not have time to come watch a player during the high school season because they are in season themselves. Tip 2: Coaches help each other recruit Though there seems to be lacrosse teams popping up all over the country, the college lacrosse community is a very small and networked group. Many coaches are good friends, others work the same camps, and some change jobs frequently but still maintain a professional network of contacts. Many times coaches are willing to send along information about recruits who may not fit what they are looking for, but would be a strong asset to another program they work with. Coaches may send your information along for a number of reasons including but not limited to:

o Grades do not meet the school’s requirements o Athlete plays a specific position and the coach is already stacked at that position o Cannot fulfill an athlete’s intended major

Tip 3: College coaches have an “A-List” It is important to know that at the beginning of the recruiting process each year the coaching staff at any school complies a list of the top prospects they plan to recruit. These lists of prospective student athletes are composed of high school juniors to be, meaning that these athletes have been on their radar far before their junior year. With this in mind make sure you take advantage of lacrosse opportunities before your junior year. If you know that a teammate is being looked at by colleges you may be interested in take advantage of that too. There is nothing wrong with using the exposure that a teammate may be getting to show your talents as well. How do you get yourself on a coach’s “A-list”?

o Play club lacrosse (outside of high school ball) o Play indoor lacrosse to keep your skills where they need to be

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o Attend showcases/showcase camps o Personally notify the coach of your interest in his/her program o Attending camps at the colleges you are interested in

If you know you are on a coach’s “A-List” be sure to promptly fill out any questionnaire they may send you. Failure to fill out or return in a timely manner sends a strong message to a coach and you may find yourself quickly on the bottom of their list. Tip 4: Coaches work with admissions councilors to narrow down their list College coaches periodically work hand in hand with admissions councilors to talk about prospects. A coach will hand over his/her “A-List” to the admissions councilors so they can reach out and give you more information about their school and what they offer academically. Based on a recruit’s academic performance, the admissions councilors will inform the coach as to which recruits have a good chance of being admitted to the institution. During this process a coach will narrow down their list to a more realistic pool of recruits. Tip 5: Coaches do their homework! Offering a scholarship to a prospective athlete is a big financial risk for the head coach and the institution they work for. Therefore, a college coach will do extensive research on their top recruits. During this thorough process a coach will make phone calls to people like your club coach, guidance counselor, and teachers. You can expect a coach to Google your name to see what pops up. If public they will search through any open forms of social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) Questions to ask yourself:

1. Is there anything I am doing now that will negatively affect a college coach’s opinion of me?

2. Am I representing myself on social media in a way that promotes me positively?

3. Do I attend all my classes?

4. How would someone who knows me describe my work ethic, drive, and integrity?

5. Do I show good leadership qualities on and off the lacrosse field?

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!PART$II!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PITFALLS(TO(AVOID!

COMMON MISTAKES RECRUITS MAKE !

1. I only want to compete for a Division I high-profile school.

If you only plan to apply and seek to be recruited by programs like Syracuse, Duke, John Hopkins, Northwestern and The University of Maryland you will be disappointed!! While many athletes dream of playing and attending these schools, research shows that only small percentiles of those athletes actually get that chance. Only once you are a “rising senior” (summer after your junior year) will you have a good idea if you are a DI prospect or not. “Blue chip” recruits typically are nationally ranked and:

o All-State or All County/All District award recipients o Attract many college coaches at their games o Under Armour® All American Distinguished o Solicited with calls and personal letters/emails from numerous coaches

LESSON: Do not limit yourself to the top tier schools. Expand your college search to include a wide range of schools.

2. I must be a hot recruit because coaches send me letters all the time Do not assume that the brochures and letters piling up in your mailbox mean that a coach has you on the top of their “A-List”. Every student-athlete who expressed any interest in a college team will receive some sort of mailing. If you are questioning how legitimate the mailings you are receiving are here are some questions to ask yourself:

o Do college coaches call me regularly? o Is my mailbox overflowing with letters from coaches who want me to

consider their schools? o Are college coaches specifically traveling to watch my games?

LESSON: Receiving personal and/or handwritten mailings, meeting requests, and phone calls are a good indicator! Form letters and informal questionnaires are not a good representation of how interested a college coach is in you.

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3. I’ll make the college team as a walk-on! To be quite frank, it is extremely difficult to make a college team as a non-recruited player. Try to be realistic with your actual skill level and the talent the players on the team have. Most of the time a coach already knows which athletes will make up his or her roster. However, in special cases a coach may find a “diamond in the rough”. LESSON: You many want to search harder for a school that best suits your needs as a student athlete and talent-wise so you will have a great overall experience (…and playing time).

4. Lots of college coaches will watch my high school games. If a college coach attends one of your games they are most likely representing a school in the local area. Coaches tend to recruit regionally and at summer tournaments when they are not in season. LESSON: Take your skills to the coaches/schools that most interest you. This gives you a great opportunity to build a more personal relationship with the coach and familiarize yourself with their school and lacrosse program. Also, reach out via email and send coaches your club ball schedule or ask them to view your recruit profile.

5. If I do not return the coaches phone call/email/text message they will get the hint that I am not interested in their school.

Coaches want to hear from you, plain and simply. They want to know if their school is at the top of the list or the bottom of your list. LESSON: Make sure you respond in some way to a college coach. If you are not interested in their program tell them that. If you have already committed to another school tell them that! Their feelings will not be hurt and they will be able to take you off their contact list.

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PART%III!!!!!!How$to$Improve$Your$Recruit$Profile!

Keys to Improve Your Resume Athletically and Academically !

"Basic Information to Include in a Sport Resume and/or Cover Letter: (Please see Appendix A for a Sample Resume) The information below are just IDEAS. You have to choose the information that will best represent you as a student-athlete. It is important to find a healthy balance of academic and athletic information.

(1) Academic and Athletic Goals a. Intended academic major or program of study that interest you b. Level of competition you are seeking in your sport c. If you are interested in pursuing an athletic scholarship d. If you already had some contact with a particular school e. Size of school you are looking for f. Your top colleges

(2) Personal Information

a. Name b. Phone Number (home and cell) c. Address d. Email address (your personal is best, but a parents can suffice) e. Birth date f. Year in school (graduation year) g. Name of your school h. Height i. Weight j. Parents Name(s)

(3) Sport Background and Data

a. Position b. Event(s) c. Times: 40, 100, Mile d. Years of experience e. Where you have played

i. High School ii. Club Team

f. Tournaments you are attending g. Camps you have attended or are attending

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h. Out of season leagues i. Include your club team schedule if applicable j. Let a coach know links to your film or inform them you have film to send upon their

request.

(4) Academic Information a. Current GPA b. Current SAT/ACT scores or when you plan to take them c. Type of high school curriculum (college prep, honors, GT/AP, etc.) d. What extracurricular activities you are involved in

(5) Recognition or Awards

a. Any significant honors or recognition received i. All league

ii. All-American iii. All Metro iv. All-Star teams v. Any of your team’s accomplishments

vi. Any academic awards vii. Varsity Letters

(6) References

a. Names and contact information of coaches and/or other individuals who could serve as references or sources of information about your ability on and off the lacrosse field

It may be hard to fill out a resume at first, but it is important to put as much detail as possible to really promote yourself to a college coach. Outside of this resume it is important to constantly seek to improve yourself as an athlete and as a student!

! Athletically Seek to Improve: o Strength

" Take advantage of injury preventing lifting experiences o Flexibility o Endurance o Speed

" STAY IN SHAPE YEAR ROUND! Staying in tiptop shape demonstrates dedication and commitment.

" Typically a college athlete should have a 7-minute mile or lower. o Mental Toughness

! Seek Constructive Criticism

o It is important to identify which areas of your game and physical fitness you can work on and improve. Ask your coaches to be forthcoming about your strengths and weaknesses!

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! Take Your Game to the Coaches

o Your goal is to generate interest and exposure is the key to the recruiting process. o Attend camps and clinics hosted by the schools that interest you

! Become a Leader

o Coaches admire student athletes who take initiative and demonstrate a winning attitude. Athletes should demonstrate that they are able to take charge under pressure in a positive and enthusiastic way.

o Athletes also can lead by example. You do not have to be the most outgoing player on the team to show your desire to lead.

Academic Suggestions

# Make sure you take and re-take the SAT and/or ACT. Just meeting the minimum requirements will not stand out as much as a score that over qualifies a student to be admitted to college.

# Many times schools offer scholarships based on a student’s GPA and test scores so make sure you give yourself the opportunity to boost your scores. *Take SAT/ACT prep courses

# TAKE YOUR STANDARDIZED TESTS IN THE FALL AND SPRING OF YOUR JUNIOR YEAR AND POSSIBLY ONE TIME YOUR SENIOR YEAR!

# Set high goals for yourself and don’t settle for mediocrity. Be disciplined with your studies.

# Take the AP tests if you are in those courses.

# Develop other interests and get involved in extracurricular activities.

# Manage your time effectively: Don’t stretch yourself too thin! Make sure you prioritize academics and sports.

# Spend your summer being productive: sitting on the beach relaxing or on the couch wastes time that you could be spending practicing your skills or working at an internship.

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PART%IV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Essential)Moves)to)Make!

Key Things to Do Throughout the Recruiting Process !

• Write your player profile

You should have an electronic and hard copy of your recruit profile that you send to the coach at the schools you are interested in. All of your information will be in one place for a coach to refer back to.

• Apply to strong academic schools First and foremost you are going to college to get a degree! Use the athletic talents you have worked hard to develop to give yourself a shot at getting accepted to one of your top schools. If something were to happen and you could no longer play lacrosse realize you are still in school to further your education…so make sure the school impresses you first…and lacrosse is the added bonus!

• Telephone and E-mail Contact After you have sent out your recruit resume to the coaches on your list it is important to follow up and maintain communication with you’re chosen schools coaching staff. This will let the coach know you are seriously interested in their institution and program. Make sure you communicate with a purpose (i.e. requesting information, giving the coach your schedule, telling the coach you will be attending an event at their school, want to plan a visit, etc.). Please keep in mind there are many rules and regulations at each division level as far as contacting players. YOU should be making the phone calls…not your parents! *Please refer to Appendix C/Page 20 for the rules and guidelines at each level.

• Avoid rushing to judgment Just because a coach contacts you and you have never heard of or could never see yourself at their school do not rule them out quickly. If a coach has contacted you they have taken some time to scout you, so give them some respect and do your research on their school before telling them you are not interested. In any case, give the coach a response!

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• Write a strong admissions essay Working with a teacher at your high school to develop a strong admissions essay is really important. Admissions deans want to see that you are qualified to attend their school and not just relying on lacrosse to get you in. Choose a topic that you are passionate about and be creative. Customize the essay to the school you are applying to. Explain why you want to go to the school and why you should be admitted.

• Produce a Highlight Reel/Video Sending a coach film gives you another leg up! The coach will have the opportunity to evaluate your skills without the distraction of a busy tournament while trying to watch multiple prospects.

VIDEO TAPES GUIDELINES

o Do not send full games unless a coach requests it.

o Do not spend crazy amounts of time or money on extra “bells and whistles” coaches do not want

to sit through film with annoying music.

o Send a 15-minute (or less) videotape of HIGHLIGHTS of your play…offensive, transition, and defensive clips. You want your film to showcase you speed, athleticism, game sense, and hustle.

o Find a parent or friend who can stand still (tripods work best) and video some of your high

school games, club games, and even camp play. Go through the film and pick out your shining moments.

o At the beginning of the film clips make sure you indicate what number you are, your jersey

color, and the team you are playing for. Some of the best film has a freeze frame and circles the player before the action starts. Zoom in for close ups of your play.

o Send a small note with your videotape so the coach knows exactly who and what they are

watching.

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PART%V!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Recruiting*Timeline!

Steps to take in the recruiting process and making official and unofficial visits

Be honest in your process!

A. From a Student Athlete’s Perspective (middle of Sophomore year or rising Junior status): a. Research the schools that interest you

" Size, location, majors available, cost, sports b. Contact Schools: phone, letter/email c. Get Video: game, skills, etc. and send out with recruit resume d. Club/Summer lacrosse schedule to the coach ASAP e. Take SAT/ACT early (Junior Year) f. Grades 9-12 count (Finish Senior Year Strong) g. Visit before senior year if possible h. Be aware of NCAA & NAIA Rules (your eligibility is at stake) i. Attend Junior Days if possible

B. Coach’s Role

a. Inform Student-Athlete and parents of process b. Help as needed c. Assist counselors getting information out on time d. Make sure student-athlete is eligible e. Abide by NCAA or NAIA Rules f. Encourage FAFSA form to be completed

C. Parents and Student Athletes Role

a. Decide if and which visits to take b. See University in junior year if possible c. FAFSA forms completed d. Take visits with son or daughter e. Make application f. Scholarship or not g. Evaluate: School, Coach, Players, and Entire Package

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D. Final Decision a. Weigh

i. Academics/University ii. Sport Program: Lacrosse

iii. Location iv. Costs v. Your needs

vi. 4 year commitment vii. Housing

E. Notify the universities and colleges involved in the process a YES or NO decision

a. Sign letter of intent where necessary In Brief…

(1) Compile a tentative list of colleges before the fall of your junior year (2) Make initial contacts with those schools and coaches (no later than the spring of your junior

year) (3) Make visits during the first semester of your junior year (4) Fulfill NCAA and NAIA Clearinghouse obligations in mid-summer to early fall of your senior

year. (5) Study and consider information about Early Decision or Early Action admission to college and

the National Letter of Intent for athletic participation and/or a scholarship in early fall of your senior year.

(6) Decide which college to apply to and when to apply. The time frame is usually early to late fall of the senior year.

(7) Send completed applications and high school transcripts to colleges, usually before winter break is a good deadline to give yourself.

(8) Decide when to verbally commit to a school/sign with a school for a scholarship. (9) Notify all the schools you have not chosen to attend.

Likely Letter On the Division I level (and offered an athletic scholarship) you must inform the school in either November or April if you are going to accept the scholarship money. Since you will not hear back from the admissions or financial aid offices until late Spring that you are officially accepted and offered a financial aid package you will receive what is call a “Likely Letter”. This letter asks whether you are likely or unlikely to be accepted to the school and receive any financial aid. The “Likely Letter” enables you to get an idea of what you are going to be offered without having to make a decision and have to void the scholarship.

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National Letter of Intent At the NCAA Division I level, there is an early signing period and a late signing period where a coach will try and get his/her top recruits who have been offered a scholarship to sign a National Letter of Intent. This letter is a binding contact and upon signing guarantees that a recruit will enroll at their school. NCAA D-I and D-II schools must wait until September 1 of your junior year before sending you promotional items like school or team publications, media guides, and playing schedules.

The NCAA & NAIA CLEARING HOUSES

NCAA Eligibility Basics from College Board Student-athletes must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center to be eligible to play NCAA Division I or Division II sports in college. Athletes playing in Division III do not have to register. What is the NCAA Eligibility Center? The NCAA Eligibility Center certifies whether prospective college athletes are eligible to play sports at NCAA Division I or II institutions. It does this by reviewing the student-athlete's academic record, SAT® or ACT scores, and amateur status to ensure conformity with NCAA rules. What are NCAA Divisions I, II, and III? The NCAA is the governing body of many intercollegiate sports. Each college regulated by the NCAA has established rules on eligibility, recruiting and financial aid and falls into one of the three membership divisions (Divisions I, II and III). Divisions are based on college size and the scope of their athletic programs and scholarships. When should students register? The NCAA recommends that student-athletes register at the beginning of their junior year in high school, but many students register after their junior year. There is no registration deadline, but students must be cleared by the Eligibility Center before they receive athletic scholarships or compete at a Division I or II institution. How do students register? Students must register online at the NCAA Eligibility Center. They will have to enter personal information, answer questions about their course work and sports participation outside of high school and pay a registration fee. Can students have the registration fee waived? Students who have received a waiver for the SAT or ACT are eligible for a waiver of the registration fee. The student's counselor must submit confirmation of the student's test fee waiver. Go to the NCAA Eligibility Center High School Portal for more information.

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What records does the Eligibility Center require? Students should arrange to have their high school transcript sent to the Eligibility Center as soon as they have completed at least six semesters of high school. The transcript must be mailed directly from their high school. They must also arrange to have their SAT or ACT test scores reported directly by the testing company to the Eligibility Center. Students can arrange this when they register for the tests. You are responsible for having your high school mail your final transcripts and proof of graduation at the end of your senior year. How often can students update their athletics participation information? Students can update the information on the athletics participation section online as often as they want (and should update it regularly), up until the time when they request a final certification of their status. At that point — usually three to four months before enrolling in college — students must finalize their information. What are the NCAA academic eligibility requirements? To play sports at an NCAA Division I or II institution, the student must: Complete a certain number of high school core courses (defined below)

• Earn a certain minimum grade point average in these core courses. • Earn a certain minimum score on the SAT or ACT. • Graduate from high school.

For more information, see the NCAA's Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, in the Publications section of the NCAA website. What are core courses? This is the name that the NCAA gives to high school courses that meet certain academic criteria specified by the association. Students must complete a certain number of core courses for NCAA Division I and II eligibility. How are high school courses classified as core courses? All participating high schools submit lists of the courses that they offer that meet NCAA core-course criteria. If approved, the courses are added to a database that the NCAA Eligibility Center maintains. You can check this database or view a list of approved core courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center High School Portal to see whether your student-athletes are enrolled in courses that will count toward NCAA eligibility. It is often the counselor who provides the NCAA with the list of your school's core courses and updates it annually. The NCAA may ask for more information before approving a core course.

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What are the NCAA amateurism eligibility requirements? To play sports at an NCAA Division I or II institution, the student athlete must follow NCAA amateurism rules about receiving salary or prize money for athletic participation, playing with a professional team and other areas. For more information, see the Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete. Keep in mind The best way for students to prepare for a future in college athletics is to complete the approved core courses and earn appropriate grades in them. Indeed, more students fail to qualify to play NCAA sports because of lack of appropriate course work than for low-test scores. Make sure your athletes are enrolled in the courses on your high school's core-course list, and also know the eligibility requirements of the NCAA Eligibility Center. Then make sure your athletes are taking the necessary courses, earning the necessary grades and doing anything else they must to stay on track for NCAA eligibility. NAIA Standards…(from College Sports Scholarships) Before a player is considered eligible to play at any NAIA institution, that player must first go to the NAIA clearinghouse website and submit certain information such as high school grades and test scores to be cleared to play NAIA sports. If you have seriously considered playing sports at the NCAA level, then you will find the NAIA Clearinghouse to be very similar to the NCAA Clearinghouse. The NAIA requires athletes to fill out a form on its website which includes questions about your personal background, athletic involvement and, of course, your academic records. To achieve eligibility in the NAIA, all athletes are required to: maintain a GPA of 2.00, record a composite score of 860 on the SAT or 18 on the ACT, and finish in the top half of your graduating class. If any two of these requirements are met, then the athlete will be declared eligible to participate in NAIA sports. There are some key differences between the NCAA and NAIA clearinghouse as well. The NCAA has allowed athletes to combine various scores from various standardized tests into the best composite score. This is not the case with the NAIA. The NAIA requires athletes to submit the best composite score from just one test. NAIA athletes are also able to avoid the hassle of the NCAA’s new rule requiring athletes to be placed on an institutional request list before being cleared to play. Whereas a coach must express real interest in an athlete before the athlete can be cleared by the NCAA, the NAIA requires only that you pay the $60 fee ($85 for international students) and meet two of the previously mentioned academic requirements. One of the biggest similarities between both clearinghouses is that the NAIA also can take up to six months to clear an athlete through eligibility. There have been circumstances where an athlete has been promised playing time and financial aid, but is unable to attend his/her other chosen university because they waited too long to register with the clearinghouse

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The Official and Non-Official Visit

Official Visit Coaches will extend the invitation to their top recruits to make an official visit to best promote their program. Only a limited number of athletes receive this kind of invitation. NCAA:

• Allows you one-expense paid visit to five different schools. This restriction applies even if you are being recruited to by two different sports

• Each visit may only last a maximum of 48 hours. • You must provide college authorities with your official transcript and entrance scores. • You may return to one of the school’s you have already visited, but you must pay all your

expenses. • You MUST register with the NCAA Clearinghouse for official visits to NCAA

institutions. NAIA:

• Allows you as many visits as you want to a school. Typically, a coach will pay for a portion of the recruits trip, not their parents (i.e. hotel stay or flight)

• Each visit may only last a maximum of 48 hours • You can participate in a practice if invited to do so • You do not have to register for the NAIA Eligibility Center to go on a visit

Pre-Plan Your Schedule For unofficial visits, contact the admissions office at least two weeks in advance to schedule an appointment. At the same time it is smart to contact the coach and inform him or her you are coming to campus so they can plan out a portion of time to meet with you. An admissions counselor can tell you the dates and times for information sessions, campus tours, and open houses. The counselor can also recommend classes to observe and schedule individual appointments with faculty in your intended major. What to Do On Campus

o Begin your visit with an information session and a campus tour o Sit in on a class o Practice with the team (NAIA only) o Check out the dorms & athletic facilities o Eat in the cafeteria o Read the bulletin boards and pick up a copy of the school’s newspaper o Meet a faculty member and the coach

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!PART%VI!

Common%Do’s%and%Don’ts!!DO!NOT!!

$ Have!your!parents!be!overly!involved!in!the!recruiting!process!(i.e.!constantly!calling!!or!emailing!coaches/programs!that!interest!you)!…coaches!want!to!hear!from!YOU!!

$ Think!a!school!is!not!interested!because!they!do!not!contact!you!every!week!$ Bad!mouth!another!school,!program,!or!coach!$ Represent!yourself!on!social!media!in!an!inappropriate!manner!$ Limit!yourself!to!the!top!division!one!schools!in!the!country!$ Commit!to/verbally!commit!too!early!(See!Appendix!D)!

!

!DO!!

$ Pursue!the!schools!you!are!interested!in!aggressively!$ Set!out!and!write!down!your!athletic!and!academic!goals!(and!articulate!them!to!!

your!top!schools)!$ Behave!in!an!upfront!and!honest!way!$ Tell!a!coach!if!you!are!not!interested!in!their!school!so!they!can!move!on!$ Register!for!the!NCCA!and!NAIA!Clearinghouse!!$ MAKE!VISITS!(official!and!unofficial)!$ Send!official!copies!of!your!high!school!transcripts!

!!!!!

THE/REALITY:/!

IF!YOU!HAVE!BEEN!VERY!PROACTIVE!IN!PURSUING!THE!COLLEGE!!PROGRAMS!THAT!INTEREST!YOU!AND!THE!COLLEGE!COACH!!

HAS!NEVER!RESPONDED...MOVE!ON!!!!

REMEMBER—THERE!IS!A!SCHOOL!AND!SPORTS!PROGRAM!FOR!EVERYONE!!!/

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Sample/Recruit/“Resume”/!

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!! Personal Information !!!! Email Address: janedoe@gmail.com

Home Phone Number: (555)-555-5555 Cell Phone Number: (444)-444-4444

Address: 1234 Lacrosse Rules Way Maumee, OH 43560 Parents: John and Jill Doe

!Academic Information High School: GPA: PSAT: SAT/ACT: Taken Oct 5th, 2012 (SAT Math 600, Critical Reading 510, Writing 480) or to be taken December, 2012 Class Rank: 60/390 as of September 2012 Achievements: President’s List, Honor Roll all four semesters (straight A’s), Leadership Forum, St. Mary’s Scholar School Clubs/Activities: Writer for the Talon Newspaper, Student Government Association, and Varsity Club Volunteer Work: The Toledo Labre Project, Feed the Starving Children Project Lacrosse Information HS Experience: Varsity Starter Sophomore & Freshman Year, Position: Attack, Jersey # 10 HS Coaches: Include emails/cells HS Achievements: Lead team in points Sophomore Year, County Champions 2011, 1st Team All-County, All Star Team Maryland Exposure Camp Club Experience: Liberty Lions Club 2009-Present Club Coaches: Include emails/cells Other Information Other Sports: Soccer- Varsity starter Junior/Sophomore Year, Position: Sweeper, Jersey #10 First Team All Country, Basketball- V Starter Sophomore/Junior Year, Position: Point Guard Jersey #2 Sports Awards and Recognition: 1st Team All District, Midwest Ohio Chapter US Lacrosse National Team, State Semi Finalist (2014) Links to highlight reel and club website: http://www.blackswamplax.comwww.youtube.com College Goals Academic: To pursue a degree in Early Childhood Education Size of School: Smaller school with around 2,000 students Athletics: To play attack/midfield for a competitive lacrosse program

Jane!Doe!! ! ! ! !!#00!Class!of!2015!! ! !!!!!!!!Position:!Attack/Midfield!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Height:!5’7!!!!!Weight:!140!!

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Questions)to)Ask!!(Adapted from Janine Tucker, John’s Hopkins University)

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For the Coach:

$ Can I get into your school on my grades alone? If not, what assistance can you give me? $ What are the bare minimum requirements to get accepted to your school? $ What am I ranked on your recruiting list? Can you tell me where I rank among my position?

(attackers, midfielders, defenders, goalies) $ How many other prospects are you currently trying to recruit? $ Do classes and practices conflict? What happens if they do? $ What kind of academic support is available for student athletes? Does your team have certain

requirements as far as study hours or study hall sessions? $ What is your teams cumulative GPA? $ Why do you think your lacrosse program is a good fit for me? $ What are my chances of getting a scholarship? $ What equipment do I get as a member of the team? $ What conference are you in? What schools do you compete against? $ What is your regular season and off-season practice schedule look like? $ What kind of strength and conditioning program does your team do?

For the Players:

o What are practices like? o What do you love about the coaches? What would you change about the coaches? o Are the coaches helpful if school gets stressful? o What is the social life like? What is there to do on campus outside of class and practice? o How do upperclassmen treat underclassmen? o What is your major? Do you like your classes? o What do you do as far as team bonding? o What do you like most about the lacrosse team?

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!Recruiting!101:!Quick!Look!at!!NCAA!Rules!and!Regulations!

Presented by the IWLCA (Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association

*PSA – Prospective Student-Athlete

Communication

Division I - A coach cannot initiate any phone calls, emails, text messages, Facebook messages, or Twitter direct messages with a prospect or their parents prior to September 1st of the prospective student-athlete’s JUNIOR YEAR. As of September 1st all forms of electronic communication is unlimited; and all Facebook or Twitter messages must be private and direct to the individual. Prior to this time, and after it, a coach may receive phone calls from a prospect or their parent at any time. (New legislation 8/1/14) Division II – A coach cannot initiate any phone calls, emails, text messages, Facebook messages, or Twitter direct messages with a prospect or their parents prior to June 15th following the completion of the prospective student- athlete’s JUNIOR YEAR. As of June 15th all forms of electronic communication is unlimited; and all Facebook or Twitter messages must be private and direct to the individual. Prior to this time, and after it, a coach may receive phone calls from a prospect or their parent at any time. Division III – A coach may initiate phone calls, emails, text messages, Facebook messages, and Twitter direct messages with a prospective student-athlete at any time.

Contacts & Evaluations Division I - A coach cannot have an in-person, off campus, recruiting contact with a PSA until July 1st following the completion of the prospective student-athlete’s JUNIOR YEAR. Division II - A coach cannot have an in-person, off campus, recruiting contact with a PSA until June 15th of their JUNIOR YEAR. Division III - A coach cannot have an in-person, off campus, recruiting contact with a PSA until the prospect’s junior year – no date specified. NESCAC Schools – Currently in discussion for amendments, please ask coaches.

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Division I – An Institution is limited to a total of seven recruiting opportunities (contacts and evaluations combined) per prospect during the PSA’s school year. 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. Subsequent to a prospect signing an NLI, there is no limit on the number of contacts and evaluations for that prospective student athlete. Division II – An Institution has unlimited contacts and evaluations of a prospect. In addition, institutions in DII may conduct an on-campus tryout as of June 15th preceding the PSA’s JUNIOR YEAR provided they have been medically cleared and the workout must be outside of the prospect’s playing season (defined as either prior to their first practice or following their final game – championship included). Division III – An Institution has unlimited contacts and evaluations of a prospective student-athlete. * January 2 – Thursday before the Division I National Championship - Division I Institutions may evaluate prospects in lacrosse activities. * The Friday before the Division I National Championship through Sunday of the Championship – DEAD PERIOD * Exception – One event conducted on a day when no championship competition occurs (Saturday) and within a 100-mile radius of the site of the championship. * Monday following the Division I National Championship – July 31 - Division I Institutions may evaluate prospects in lacrosse activities. * August 1 – August 31 – QUIET PERIOD (no evaluations and up to 7 contacts) * September 1 - Tuesday before Thanksgiving - Evaluations of prospective student-athletes participating in lacrosse activities are limited to the three weekends (Saturday-Sunday) prior to Thanksgiving. * Wednesday before Thanksgiving – January 1 – QUIET PERIOD (no evaluations) * The two days leading up to the signing of the prospective student athletes National Letter of Intent – in both the November and the April signings. 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.

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Official Visits

Division I & 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 to a Division I institution is after the opening day of classes of the prospect’s SENIOR YEAR in HS. For Division II you may make an official visit after June 15th preceding the PSA’s JUNIOR YEAR. Division 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.

NLI - National Letter of Intent Division I - A PSA may sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) during the early signing period (a one week period in November) or during 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. Division II - A prospect may sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI) during the early signing period (a one week period in November) or during 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 one year of eligibility (has to serve one year in residence and loss of one season of competition). Once a PSA has signed their NLI, all forms of contact are permissible at recruiting tournaments. Division III - Does not have a National Letter of Intent for athletics.

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State of the Game: Hazards of Commitment Written by: Chuck Jaffe

Twice during my time running a youth lacrosse program, I coached the best sixth-grader in Massachusetts.

Yes, every coach thinks they have special players, but these were can’t-miss kids, one boy and one girl. Each was the top midfielder on undefeated youth teams, leading their squad in goals, assists, heart and hustle. Each made the Mass Bay league’s 13-and-Under all-star team and then led that team in scoring at the National Lacrosse Festival.

Like the Boston Cannons’ Max Quinzani (whose Duxbury, Mass. teams I coached against when Max was still in elementary school) these kids were at a different level in grade school. They were the best players on the field in every game they played — clearly better than kids who would go on to be high school All-Americans — so far ahead of their age that everyone who saw them agreed they would someday be college stars.

The girl’s offense couldn’t earn her time at Northwestern, so she moved to defensive midfield. She earned a starting job as a freshman, claimed her share of the national championship in May and will be a junior there next season.

The boy ultimately graduated from the third college he attended over five years. He started at a top Division 3 School, but that quickly went sour. He transferred close to home and starred for a bad team, before taking his game to a Div. 2 school, where he barely cracked the lineup. Over his last two seasons, he played in maybe half of the squad’s games and totaled five goals.

The moral of the story is that few things turn out as you expect when young athletes mature. That’s important to remember, because the lacrosse-recruiting calendar keeps speeding up.

While no one is being recruited as they enter seventh grade — only in basketball is a kid that young a “prospective recruit” according to the NCAA (no, I’m not kidding). Plenty of players are ‘courted’ by colleges before turning 16. What coaches can’t pick up from a star youth player — who may never even have started on varsity for a good program — is a player’s party habits, ability to bounce back from setbacks and more. Those were the things that kept the boy in my program from being a college star.

The hottest prospects are now committing as sophomores, and a majority of the “top players” make their college choice as juniors. Many Division 1 coaches have closed out their freshman class of 2012, meaning that if a current high school senior didn’t commit before classes started this month, his or her chances of going D-1 are dwindling. The Div. 2 programs come next, trying to lock down their recruits by the time players can sign a National Letter of Intent, though some extend out to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Div. 3 coaches want top recruits in place early, but most will actively recruit seniors throughout the school year, right up to the point where students make a deposit and choose a college.

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Think about this: Kids who commit as sophomores and juniors typically have never spent a weekend hanging with the team, haven’t sat in on a college class (if they even know what they want to study and that the school offers it as a major), haven’t sampled dorm food and don’t have the precise terms of scholarship offer because the coach can’t make one yet. Even if they went to a camp, they visited campus when school was out, not a great representation of student life when the academics kick in.

In short, they go to school to be “student-athletes,” but make their decision based almost entirely on the second, less-important part of that description.

At a bare minimum, children should not be allowed to commit to a college program before they are old enough to drive.

I said that recently to a coach who responded that the NCAA would never go for that.

This isn’t about NCAA rules; it’s about good parenting and smart decision-making. It’s common sense.

Coach’s hate that the process is speeding up but keep pace for fear of being left behind. Many deal with the problem by bringing in more players, which translates to more recruiting busts.

That’s why a majority of D-1 and D-2 rosters have eight to 12 freshmen, but just three or four seniors. Half of the recruits don’t play out their college career.

That happens in every division, and for many reasons. Kids get homesick, are injured, can’t hack the academics — or decide to focus on them — or grow tired of riding the pine and putting in the effort without seeing the field. It’s not the worst thing in the world to stop playing lacrosse.

But “top high school players” who commit early — and their parents — don’t see their college careers playing out that way. They’re watching a child progress from youth star to top high schooler to impact player on a select club; they’re jumping at what they think is a great opportunity to make the next step, without considering the failure/disappointment rate. My late brother Rob ran the California State Summer School for the Arts, and said often that parents think children are prodigies because they love displaying their talents at an early age.

“If the kid is still serious about it when they are 16 or 17,” he said, “when their bodies change and mature, when they have found boyfriends or girlfriends, when they have tasted disappointment along with success, when they have to prepare and compete to be the best rather than just show up and have it handed to them, only then do you start to figure out if they really have a chance to be a star.”

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It applies to lacrosse players every bit as much as actors, dancers and other performers.

Yes, you can spot a youngster with the tools to be great; no one who saw Quinzani play in elementary school had a doubt. But I’ve seen countless other “can’t-miss kids” — even at the high school and club levels — whose names I’ve forgotten because, well, they missed. There’s no shame in that; the shame is if those kids picked a college too quickly and for the wrong reasons, and missed out on the time of their lives they would have had if common sense applied to the recruiting process.

This story originally appeared in the September-October 2011 issue of New England Lacrosse Journal.

Chuck Jaffe is the editor of New England Lacrosse Journal.

He is a longtime youth & high school coach and official, and currently runs BullsEye Lacrosse.

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References!!

o The Premier Lacrosse Recruiting Guide by www.LacrosseRecruits.com

o The New England Lacrosse Journal www.collegeboard.com

o National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) www.naia.org

o National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) www.ncaa.com

o The College Athletic Recruiting Process Presented by Janine Tucker, Johns Hopkins University

o College Sports Scholarships www.collegesportsscholarships.com