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Thursday, November 7, 2013
Player Feedback to Blue Chip225
At Blue Chip 225 we are proud of our commitment to supporting the development of motivated lacrosse players with college in their plans. We are proud to share the feedback we have received from our annual survey of players and families. They tell us that Blue Chip 225 offers outstanding coaching, balanced and challenging competition, and connections with college coaches and new friends they make at camp.
Bench marking himself against top tier competition.
Secondly, I thought it was a great learning and maturing endeavor for my 16 yr old. Conversing one on one with top DIII coaches,
We received many emails after camp...probably 10+
Bonding with teammates.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Player and Parent Feedback 2013
Meeting all the guys that were in the dorms, and getting to learn all the time from our coaches.
The level of competition and that not a single other player was cocky on the field. It was very humbling.
I was able to meet many future friends at 225, some of which I still keep in touch with
Chance to play with the best and meet the best college coaches suited for me
Bonding with teammates.
I enjoyed knowing that so many college coaches were on staff watching our games.
The amount of exposure to the college coaches I emailed that attended the camp was incredible.
High level competition in front of top tier coaches.
My son had Coach Turner from MI. He knew every players name after the first practice session, and was able to match the boys up on lines that worked well together and competed.
My son had a fantastic time!
Playing with experienced players.
Great exposure. I was able to really connect with my coach as he was from a school on my list.
First, the coaching was important. Since Blue Chip is competitive at every venue, the coaching speaks for itself.
Secondly, I thought it was a great learning and maturing endeavor for my 16 yr old. Conversing one on one with top DIII coaches,
Emails back and forth, and getting a feel for the recruiting process was fantastic. Bonding with team huge!
Learning from awesome coaches
The all-star game when we got to go into the Bryant locker and watch the inspirational video before we got to walk out on the to the turf under the lights
Being with friends and playing with them.
Coaching; games;
Staying in the dorms with new people
Playing and learning a lot through other players.
The positive feedback from the coaches as well as the team oriented attitude of the players. The coaches were enthusiastic, knowledgeable and seemed to be having fun. My son felt that he played his best lacrosse of the summer and learned a lot.
Made the all-star game and had a great experience in the locker room before the game.
As a parent, I felt the entire experience was well organized and executed. My son, although a rising freshman, entered the rising sophomore camp. He enjoyed the entire program. He thought all aspects of the camp were good, dorms, food, competition and coaching.
I really liked the amount of games we played.
My son liked the level of competition in the Elite Division. He enjoyed playing for a college coach at a program he is seriously considering.
How everything was well organized. Check in and check out were very smooth. My son loved Blue chip!
Great Coaching, I want to play for the coach I had at Camp... we won the championship! Bluechips also Opened the doors to colleges, I got a reputation at Bluechips that I could never get at my High School...
College coaches are contacting now... Thanks!
College coaches are contacting now... Thanks!
The friends player and coaches.
The exposure to college coaches while also building a team and honing my skills.
The All-Star Game was the best part of Blue Chip 225. It provided me with decent exposure and it was a great overall experience.
The whole experience was great. I met a bunch of new guys that became friends, the coaches were awesome, and the camp was something that I needed.
Venue and coaching exposure.
Being able to meet different players from around the country and competing with them made Blue Chip very worth while.
Playing against good players and having strong team that was balanced
The live streaming of the All-star game. The players being housed with others from their area.
coaches were great. my son really liked all his coaches and did learn something new from them.
Meeting new people at high levels within the lacrosse community I might not otherwise have met. My son also passed on how good you made the All Star players feel. He will never forget the locker room ambiance, the jerseys on the chairs, the motivational video on the TV, and more. A special experience that players know is worth striving for.
I really enjoyed the all star game
The players and coaches were great to be around and definitely one of the highlights to my summer. My dorm set up was with all of my friends and we had a great time together.
Interaction with college coaches
Coaching while play was going on... No yelling or screaming...just coaching...
The all star game.
The all star game was fun and had al ot of coaches. The video and locker room were cool
The competition, high level of play, and variety of athletes from around the nation.
the team atmosphere
At Blue Chip 225, I truly felt like there was something to strive for. Whether it was the championship or the Allstar game there was something to aspire towards. Blue Chip was my chance to show my skills to colleges, and it gave me every opportunity to do so. Thanks to Blue Chip, I am now on the college radar.
All the coaches were very helpful
The facility was good and the dorms were a breeze. The coaching was excellent.
amount of games was great - time to play!
Lots of games. Excellent scheduling.
It was fun and gave plenty of games to be played.
Although I have yet to see it, my wife said the live online all Star game was fantastic.
The all star game and all the exposure
Bench marking himself against top tier competition.
My exposure to colleges
As a parent I was impressed by the high level of organization, the flow of information and the ease of the business transactions. I was especially grateful when staff quickly responded to a transportation snafu. Thank you!
Solid competition. Good to get my son playing against mostly "northern" compettion and out of his area
amount of games played and level of difficulty
My son had an absolute blast. He enjoyed the coaching and is looking forward to returning next year. My son has been invited to attend an invitational only showcase at a D1 school as a result of Bluechips!
Meeting the various coaches and players from all around the counrty.
The competiton and learning from the college coaches.
I thought it was really cool to be playing with a bunch of different players from around the country and meet so many new people. I also liked having the opportunity to play in front of so many college coaches.
Great Coaching
How the coaches helped me improve my skills on the field
As a parent, the safe environment, coaching, training and daily regiment. This is an excellent lacrosse camp that both our sons enjoy and look forward to each year.
I enjoyed meeting people as well as being exposed to so many coaches. It was a rewarding experience and I enjoyed the high competition level.
My chance to be coached and seen by college coaches while playing at a high of lacrosse.
Solid competition, well run and organized.
Met new friends
The skill level was very high and the coaching helped improve my game a little from a mental standpoint.
experience that introduced me to college recruiting
The enthusiasm of the coaches. My son has been to several very good camps. He described the coaches as enthusiastic, clear and focused. I witnessed the same from the sidelines. I was very impressed.
interaction with so many coaches; our only other experience with camps like this is ********...no comparison...besides Bryant is SO much better than **********!
received many emails after camp...probably 10+
Our son's play and Lax IQ improved significantly as a result of his Blue Chip 225 experience.
I enjoyed playing the Elite division with such a high level of competition and the chemistry that developed
The amount of college coaches that were there was amazing it got me extremely excited to play to my best
The level of competition
All the playing and the coaches.
It was nice to play with good talent from different states across the country. I enjoyed playing different teams and performing in front of college coaches.
Thank you to the coaches for all of their positive coaching and comments. What a great opportunity to receive feedback from various coaches, each coming from a different perspective.
Probably the coaching and overall experience. My son had an amazing time and really liked his coach.
I loved the competition and the college exposure.
The coaching staff were knowledgable and they cared for the players.
Most well organized camp, from check-in to check-out.
Mrs. Spencer was terrific with payment(s), she was understanding and very helpful.
Lots of playing time and good competition.
My favorite part of blue chip was meeting kids from all over and making connections.
There was a lot of play time which was great.
The competitiveness of each game Ted spencer made It very competitive
How each player is assigned to a coach that picked them
The exposure I got that I normally wouldn't get from my high school or club team
I loved meeting new people as well as new things about the game.
The coaching,length of the camp and the scheduling of practices sessions and games allowed for a in season experience instead of a brief showcase. Having three college coaches work with my son was positive.
Doing the camp and learning a lot and meeting some awesome people.
Best tournament my rising senior EVER entered. Best decision we ever made. Bluechip is a perfectly organized showcase.
My son has recieved approximately 40 emails,calls,and letters from college coaches since attending and has committed to a school of his dreams. We highly recommend this tournament! Great exposure!
Coach to player ratio
Playing in front of college coaches that I have an interest.
The competition was outstanding. My son was in the elite division and all the players were awesome. The coaching staff was very knowledgeable and treated all players very well. My son has been playing lacrosse for 10 years and he said this was the best camp he ever attended.
Great coaches, good competition, productive exposure to a lot of colleges!
Drafting process
Good quality of play in the elite divison
Registration process was easy, transportation was great, my son had a great time and learned a lot. Online All Star Games were great!
The competition and the all star game.
I got the chance to showcase my skills while playing against some great players from around the country.
How you get put on a team and you just play games... Its how you act on a team.
Playing in front of college coaches
There was great competition and the coaches were very nice.
Games, coaching & instruction.
The fact that the coach of my team for the camp was a university coach
I also liked how the all star game was a live broadcast
The college like environment staying the dorms
The abundance availability of trainers and ice and the camp store had a great selection of items
I enjoyed the all-star game the most. the atmosphere was great
I coach 5 boys who went to the camp. They all had a blast and would go back again. I also noticed that the coaches were actively engaged in coaching the games/boys. Flow of information was also very good.
Playing with people from all over and with different levels of experience.
Balance of time on and off the field where you can play and also have time to hang out with friends and also get to know other players on your team from other parts of the country.
Getting in depth coaching on all my strong and weak areas. Coached provided very helpful constructive criticism.
The coaches were very friendly and helpful.
Exposure to higher lacrosse IQ
Organization was fantastic! Ease of check-in and check out, organization of games and schedules
The evening that the boys got to speak with the coaches they were interested in talking to.
My son had a challenging set of games, including the all star game and an overall great experience, not to mention the exposure to so many college coaches.
I enjoyed the campus, coaching staff, and overall atmosphere of the camp.
Coaching, drills, games, meeting other players, exposure
Talking to college coaches
Meeting other players and seeing what level I have to play at.!
I enjoyed getting to play against the best competition I have ever played against.
The coaches were supportive, informative, and enthusiastic. Many reached out to express their interest in having our son play for their schools.
I liked the competition
I got to meet many kids from all over the country, and being looked at by college coaches
All the staff really tried to help and it was an overall great experience
The the staff was wonderful and they were great with the kids
Quality of competition and amount of field time. Coaches were all great and made the camp fun. Being part of Varsity championship team!
The close knit relationships I made with the best in the country
Thursday, July 4, 2013
What Age Does Recruiting Start?
We are proud of our ongoing efforts to inform athletes and families about the college recruiting process of which we are a part.
A vast number of youngsters start playing lacrosse each year (facts).. of these a certain number find a love for the sport and may stand out in skill development. For others the skill development may blossom later. The first young team leads to another level, U10, U12... and the level of play and challenge increases. These are critical times for young lacrosse players. Finding good coaching which focuses on basic skill development, team play, and sportsmanship will provide a sound base for the major challenges to come.
By U13 and U14, boys are moving in more advanced club teams and Rising Freshmen scholastic teams. Coaches expect more; games begin to become more challenging, and as surprising as it may seem, college coaches are beginning to pay attention. So these years are the time to support your son's interest with the level of supportive coaching matching his interest. If the interest is there, this is the time for clinics, youth programs with good coaches, developmental camps, even private lessons, and certainly encouragement for lots of casual play. Recent changes in recruiting practices have pushed recruiting to younger and younger ages.
By U14 and U15 (Rising Freshmen and Rising Sophomores), the top players will be identified at camps, club teams, coaches and others and it becomes significant to signal to college coaches your son's interest in colleges. Here comes the rub: at this age few boys are ready to understand the significant dynamics of college life that will match their interests. This means that as parents it is incumbent on you to support college visits, attendance at college nights, online campus tours, discussions of life in the big city, small town, coed or singer gender school, large college or small, special majors or liberal arts. Recognizing that these are likely to change it remains important to balance the glamor of the college interest with the reality of the role of college in life.
By U16 and U17 you should be well into active college recruiting mode: helping your son identify a range of colleges, reaching out to colleges, gaining a realistic appraisal of his skills, completing the standardized examinations, understanding the admissions standards of his college interests, and helping your son reach out to coaches and evaluate their responses By this point you should be planning your son's profile, highlight video, recruiting camp attendance, continued college visits, understanding of the college recruiting process and rules and more.
We will continue to write more about these steps in future blogs. Meanwhile if you have questions drop a note to me.
A vast number of youngsters start playing lacrosse each year (facts).. of these a certain number find a love for the sport and may stand out in skill development. For others the skill development may blossom later. The first young team leads to another level, U10, U12... and the level of play and challenge increases. These are critical times for young lacrosse players. Finding good coaching which focuses on basic skill development, team play, and sportsmanship will provide a sound base for the major challenges to come.
By U13 and U14, boys are moving in more advanced club teams and Rising Freshmen scholastic teams. Coaches expect more; games begin to become more challenging, and as surprising as it may seem, college coaches are beginning to pay attention. So these years are the time to support your son's interest with the level of supportive coaching matching his interest. If the interest is there, this is the time for clinics, youth programs with good coaches, developmental camps, even private lessons, and certainly encouragement for lots of casual play. Recent changes in recruiting practices have pushed recruiting to younger and younger ages.
By U14 and U15 (Rising Freshmen and Rising Sophomores), the top players will be identified at camps, club teams, coaches and others and it becomes significant to signal to college coaches your son's interest in colleges. Here comes the rub: at this age few boys are ready to understand the significant dynamics of college life that will match their interests. This means that as parents it is incumbent on you to support college visits, attendance at college nights, online campus tours, discussions of life in the big city, small town, coed or singer gender school, large college or small, special majors or liberal arts. Recognizing that these are likely to change it remains important to balance the glamor of the college interest with the reality of the role of college in life.
By U16 and U17 you should be well into active college recruiting mode: helping your son identify a range of colleges, reaching out to colleges, gaining a realistic appraisal of his skills, completing the standardized examinations, understanding the admissions standards of his college interests, and helping your son reach out to coaches and evaluate their responses By this point you should be planning your son's profile, highlight video, recruiting camp attendance, continued college visits, understanding of the college recruiting process and rules and more.
We will continue to write more about these steps in future blogs. Meanwhile if you have questions drop a note to me.
Your Recruiting Homework
Summer seems far away at the moment and holiday events are more likely on your mind, but the secret of building a recruiting plan is the word "PLAN." The earlier you start the more likely you are to wind up with a result that will meet your goals.
"If you don't know where you're going any road will do." The point is to have your destination or at least a number of possible destinations in mind when you begin. All your recruiting efforts will be of little value if you wind up at a college or university that isn't a good fit for you. So Step One is know what you're looking for. There are dozens of college selection web sites, books, and applications. Use them to make a list of schools and visit. Use all your criteria to make your list: your field of interest, coed or not, public or private, city or country, local or far from home, dorm or commute. Good resources for this first screening include: Peterson's College Guide, College Confidential.....
Do all the work you can screening schools until you have your best shot at a visit list.
Then visit each school when it is in session. Do the tour. Hang out in the student union. Visit a class or two. See if you can stay overnight in a dorm. In other words, walking through an empty campus is almost a waste of your time. Get the feel of the campus and the community around it. You will know when a campus feels "right."
After your visit make a list of colleges that would be good fits for you. Make sure your grades and standardized scores are in their admissible range. Research the lacrosse team, its record, the coaching staff; look at the roster and measure its strength at your position; look at the home towns of the team. Are they all local to the college or regional? Is there anyone you know? If so, get in touch with them and ask them about their experience.
Now you have a list of target schools that feel right, are within reach academically, have the kind of lacrosse program where you feel your position and skills may be needed, and where the program feels good. Now you're ready to start contacting coaches. For each college write several paragraphs about why you want to go to that school specifically. It might be because they have a special major, because of their location, the strength of the lacrosse program, the reputation of the quality of the coaching staff, the organization of its curriculum. Each one must be unique and believable. Coaches want to know that you have taken time to consider their program and truly want to be there.
Now, write a letter (not an email) to each coach by name (no "Dear Coach") and express your interest in his school and his program. Include your paragraphs as to the reasons for your interest, and go on to provide a brief overview of your athletic and academic record. Include a statement of your schedule of games, tournaments and camps for the next season and invite him to attend. Tell him that you appreciate his interest and hope to hear from him. At the same time, go to the program's web site and complete the Prospective Recruit Questionnaire.
Look at the locations of your schools and choose camps and tournaments which make it easy for coaches to attend. Consider "guesting" with local teams for tournaments. Research what camps the coach attended last year and consider attending. Most obviously, attend the on campus camp of the school in which you have the greatest interest. Not only will the coach get to see you (and you him), but you will gain valuable insights into life on campus.
Prepare a video highlight reel with the best quality games and technical production you can. If you can afford to use a commercial service do it. If not survey your friends for the best techie you can find and make this a priority. Complete your lacrosse profile (many sites offer free services for this), and draft a cover letter that is directly and personally addressed to the coach. Keep the coach informed of your schedule updates.
Spend some time learning the NCAA rules regarding recruiting. If they are clearly not interested move on to other schools. Learn what you can and cannot say to coaches. Equally, find out what they can and cannot say to you and the schedule of their recruiting program. How to talk to coaches is a subject in itself so read on for another blog entry..
Planning is the key to recruiting. Doing your homework on this major life decision. Put your best effort into each step of the process. Four years of your life and all that that leads to depend on how well you do this homework assignment.
"If you don't know where you're going any road will do." The point is to have your destination or at least a number of possible destinations in mind when you begin. All your recruiting efforts will be of little value if you wind up at a college or university that isn't a good fit for you. So Step One is know what you're looking for. There are dozens of college selection web sites, books, and applications. Use them to make a list of schools and visit. Use all your criteria to make your list: your field of interest, coed or not, public or private, city or country, local or far from home, dorm or commute. Good resources for this first screening include: Peterson's College Guide, College Confidential.....
Do all the work you can screening schools until you have your best shot at a visit list.
Then visit each school when it is in session. Do the tour. Hang out in the student union. Visit a class or two. See if you can stay overnight in a dorm. In other words, walking through an empty campus is almost a waste of your time. Get the feel of the campus and the community around it. You will know when a campus feels "right."
After your visit make a list of colleges that would be good fits for you. Make sure your grades and standardized scores are in their admissible range. Research the lacrosse team, its record, the coaching staff; look at the roster and measure its strength at your position; look at the home towns of the team. Are they all local to the college or regional? Is there anyone you know? If so, get in touch with them and ask them about their experience.
Now you have a list of target schools that feel right, are within reach academically, have the kind of lacrosse program where you feel your position and skills may be needed, and where the program feels good. Now you're ready to start contacting coaches. For each college write several paragraphs about why you want to go to that school specifically. It might be because they have a special major, because of their location, the strength of the lacrosse program, the reputation of the quality of the coaching staff, the organization of its curriculum. Each one must be unique and believable. Coaches want to know that you have taken time to consider their program and truly want to be there.
Now, write a letter (not an email) to each coach by name (no "Dear Coach") and express your interest in his school and his program. Include your paragraphs as to the reasons for your interest, and go on to provide a brief overview of your athletic and academic record. Include a statement of your schedule of games, tournaments and camps for the next season and invite him to attend. Tell him that you appreciate his interest and hope to hear from him. At the same time, go to the program's web site and complete the Prospective Recruit Questionnaire.
Look at the locations of your schools and choose camps and tournaments which make it easy for coaches to attend. Consider "guesting" with local teams for tournaments. Research what camps the coach attended last year and consider attending. Most obviously, attend the on campus camp of the school in which you have the greatest interest. Not only will the coach get to see you (and you him), but you will gain valuable insights into life on campus.
Prepare a video highlight reel with the best quality games and technical production you can. If you can afford to use a commercial service do it. If not survey your friends for the best techie you can find and make this a priority. Complete your lacrosse profile (many sites offer free services for this), and draft a cover letter that is directly and personally addressed to the coach. Keep the coach informed of your schedule updates.
Spend some time learning the NCAA rules regarding recruiting. If they are clearly not interested move on to other schools. Learn what you can and cannot say to coaches. Equally, find out what they can and cannot say to you and the schedule of their recruiting program. How to talk to coaches is a subject in itself so read on for another blog entry..
Planning is the key to recruiting. Doing your homework on this major life decision. Put your best effort into each step of the process. Four years of your life and all that that leads to depend on how well you do this homework assignment.
Tweet Your Way To Recognition
The world of college recruiting is a dynamic one, and the dream of "if you build it, they'll come" is even less true today than ten years ago. Even as the sport expands into new areas of the country, the number of skilled players in hotbed areas offers easy pickings for college coaches with limited time and even more limited travel budgets.
Luckily, the internet offers a great levelling effect for players to get the attention of college coaches with a variety of tools that can be used to great effect. Most college coaches have been adept at using the tools of internet communication and will be responsive to your presentation online.
An important starting note. The song says "you are what you are, and you ain't what you ain't." In planning for college it behooves you to know the difference. Set your college goals for schools that fit you, feel right, and offer a path to your adult life. Athletically, know your level of reach. Get feedback from coaches as to the reality of your dreams. Don't be afraid to think big, but don't set yourself up to frustration and failure either. So, make a list of colleges that are a fit academically, socially, and athletically.
Create a video highlight reel. There are many guides for this, but the key is WOW! - powerful, well produced, complete presentation of your skills. Place it on YouTube and be sure that it loads quickly, plays well and has your contact information at least. A screen shot of your academic and bio information is helpful.
Go to the lacrosse page of each college - usually athletics, mens' lacrosse, and get the email address for all the coaches. Most often the recruiting is done by an assistant so all the addresses are important. Then navigate to the Prospective Student Questionairre and complete it. This will signal your interest and put you on the radar as a candidate.
Send the coach a letter (yes, snail mail is still helpful) saying you are interested in their school and why. Don't be vague. "I am interested in ______ because of the friendly community, my anticipated major, the quality of faculty, proximity to family..." whatever it may be, but be real. Include a DVD of your highlight reel and your contact information.
Now you are ready to show the coach that you are a great find for his program. Email him your schedule for school or club games, tournaments, and camps. Tweet your specific tournament schedule, number, game schedule, and any honors such as all star selections. Your goal is to make it easy for him to see you play, have someone scout you, or notice your achievements in quality competition.
Engage the coach and respond to communication from him or his staff. Be timely. There is an expectation of responsiveness online and delays are seen as lack of interest. Respond to all contacts. Even if it is from a second choice school respond genuinely. Coaches talk to one another and are looking both for good athletes and people who are easy to work with. Be respectful. The internet is no place for snide, snarky.
Monitor all your online presentations. Everything you write and post is fair game for review. If you have some inappropriate photos or crude text it will work against you.
Whether you are in a hotbed area or the remote part of the midwest, the internet and its tools can assist you in achieving your post high school goals.
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