Getting On the Board

Every college coach keeps a record of prospective student athletes who may become recruits and possibly even move on to become contributors to his team's success.  This list comes from many sources: friends, other coaches, alumni, current and past players, web sites such as Inside Lacrosse and other online publications, newspapers, resumes and videos mailed in, and players he may see in camps and tournaments as he and his assistants scout for talent. Remember: a coach will have hundreds if not thousands of prospects to choose from.  However successful you are in the sport there is likely to be someone as good who may win out based on the intangibles a coach views.

Most often the coach is seeking players to fill current or anticipated vacancies in his program.  A team with three goalies all sophomores may not be looking to recruit another goalie in the next class coming in.  Coaches may have certain sets of traits they value particularly - size, speed, agility, aggressiveness, leadership, coachability, height, weight (or the lack thereof).  They may be particularly responsive to players with outstanding grades (and a low chance of academic failure), active community involvement, and a dozen and one other traits, skills, and talents.

Some things we know that EVERY coach is looking for:

1. Coachability - do you take directions well, do you modify your play based on coaching, are you able to take criticism, can you handle frustration without negative reaction. In other words, are you easy to work with; do you do what you're instructed to do with enthusiasm and commitment.  Do you keep your cool under criticism.

2. Family Support - Here's a secret you won't hear in many areas, but coaches are people too, and if they feel badgered by parents, if they are frequent recipients of second guessing calls from family; if they are emailed from parents about the playing time their son is receiving a college coach might find another player of equal ability minus the intrusive parents.  Conversely, coaches may value parents who are supportive, cheer games, support the team, appreciate his work.

3. Respect - A prospective student athlete who is surly on the phone, has wild facebook pages (and don't think coaches don't check),  shows a history of being in trouble, shows up for formal or informal visits poorly groomed and slovenly dressed is not going to enhance his chances to receive favorable evaluation in the competition to stay on the recruiting board.

4. Maturity - Coaches will admit that they want to hear form prospects directly.  Having all the communication come from mom and dad is a warning flag to a coach.  They are more likely impressed by a prospect who calls or emails directly, respectfully, and intelligently.  That doesn't mean what mom and dad shouldn't take part, but as the prospect you should be in the lead.

5.Best Foot - Wearing a tie to an interview will not by itself get you a scholarship to a top D1 school, but dressing down could well reduce your changes.  Dress as you would for an important event, demonstrate that meeting a coach is an important event.  Sullen silence will not work in your favor.  A firm handshake with eye contact and a polite thank you for the coach meeting with you will create a good first impression.  Answer questions fully, (you may not get a second chance), bring out your successes without bragging ,.  Don't ramble on with irrelevant information.  Be prepared to tell the coach why you are interested in his school - be specific.  If being at his school is not important to you, you are less likely to commit the effort to stay and that is not a good thing for the coach so this point matters.  At the conclusion of the meeting, thank the coach for his time.  Ask him if you might keep him apprised of your schedule, and if there is any further information you can provide.  The point here is: look good, be respectful, be informed, be engaging, and seek a way to stay in touch.
These points matter whether you are meeting a coach at camp, at a clinic, in an informal campus visit or an official visit.

6. Line up Your References -You can be sure that coach will be talking to your high school and club coach.  He will ask about your attitudes, your coachability, your work ethic, your sportsmanship, your ability to handle losing, take criticism.. Lots of find players miss opportunities for bad relationships with school and club coaches. 

7. Back to the Board- Lots of outstanding athletes do everything right, captain of the team, great work ethic, strong skills, very coachable and more but yet are see by a college coach.  Here is the bottom line lesson:  there are a lot more players for coaches to find than there are teams in colleges that meet your goals.  Over my years in coaching I have seen hundreds of outstanding players not reach their school and team goals because they waited to be discovered.   Simply: unless you are in the top 1 or 2% of your national class of lacrosse players you will have to sell yourself - not the other way round.  Lesson Number 2 - If you wait it's going to be too late.  If you are a rising senior the best trains have left the station. If you're a rising sophomore, that's right - a 9th grader- it is not too early to begin to map your college search and plan to get on the board.

8. What price will you pay?  - Every day there are thousands of lacrosse players aiming at the same slots you are. They are up early working out, lifting weights, keeping their grades strong, working at learning new moves and perfecting old ones, working on their stick skills so it's second nature. They are evaluating colleges, looking for teams likely to need their skills.  They are prepared when the time comes to meet the coaches they want to reach - at camp, at a tournament, on campus.   These guys are the big time winners - the rest of the pack is wondering why no one discovered them.  Which are you?