Grade Specific Advice for College Recruiting

Post-Graduate Year

One path that some students decide to explore is doing a PG year at a prep-school. The New England area has many prep schools with excellent lacrosse programs that accept “fifth-year seniors”. The advantage to the student-athlete is that he gets another year to develop himself as a student and a lacrosse player. He will be involved in highly competitive lacrosse and get plenty of exposure…if he gets playing time. College coaches always consider these players because they have matured mentally and physically, arriving as freshmen more prepared to succeed at the college level both athletically, academically, and socially. There are several risks to be aware of when considering a PG year. A year at a prep school is usually very expensive, often as expensive as a year at a private college. Also, while a prep-school coach may be interested in your son, there are no guarantees for playing time, as he is competing against players who have been there for three years as well as other fifth-year seniors. The opportunity to play is more competitive than regular high schools. As lacrosse is a spring sport, played after the college application process is complete, the PG year really offers the lacrosse athlete the opportunity for more exposure during his traditional senior year at LHS, as well as the opportunity to another summer for a club team. I strongly recommend that the student speak with his guidance counselor to get further perspective.

For current juniors (rising seniors)

The time is now!

If you are playing on a club team, attend one recruiting camp, not more than two.

If you are not playing on a club team, attend two recruiting camps.

Gather a broad list of colleges that have programs and consider your chances of acceptance, chances of playing, and the likelihood that you will like it there. Then pair it down by size of school desired, type of school/curriculum, area of the country

Begin calling coaches, expressing interest. Inform them of camps and tournaments you will be at this coming summer. Games you will play in this Spring.

Plan on improving SAT scores and gradesÖopen more doors for yourself! Make it easier on the coaches to advocate on your behalf to their admission boards. No D’s, bring those C’s up to B’s, get some A’s on your report card. (Get the GPA at least above the 3.0 mark.) Take the SAT at least twice, maybe a third time. Take an SAT prep class.

Look into taking the ACT (see websites below), another standardized test that coaches can use to convince admissions departments of your potential as a student.

Gather film…highlight tape, but a full game or a half-game so the coaches can see all aspects of your abilities.

Talk to parents of players who have gone through this process. Get their take, hear their experiences!

Put me to work…whom do you want me to contact on your behalf?

For current sophomores (rising juniors)

Coaches can’t actually contact you directly until your junior year.

Go to one, maybe two recruiting camps. Go to one skills-development camp. (You need to get better first!)

Consider trying out for a club team (talk to parents about their experiences with other programs)

GRADES! Do as well as you can possibly do. Get serious about your school work. No D’s, bring those C’s up to B’s, get some A’s on your report card. (Get the GPA at least above the 3.0 mark.) Consider taking one or two upper level classes next year if possible. If you really want to play a college varsity sport, prove it through your academics first.

Improve your non-athletic extra-curricular resume: legitimate volunteer work, try to publish a piece of writing, get involved in class council, student senate, drama or improv. In other words, be able to demonstrate a more rounded experience.

Get serious about physical conditioning. Get stronger.

Develop another lacrosse skill, become an unusual player: become a face-off middie, become a long-stick who can face-off, try long-stick and being an LSM

For current freshmen (rising sophomores)

Don’t worry too much right now about college lacrosse, but…

– Go to two skills-development camps, maybe one recruiting camp. (You need to get better first!)

– Plus the other information written above for current sophomores.