Recruiting College Coaches Getting Started: Most of us think of college coaches recruiting players.  Players play their best and hope to be recruited by college coaches.  They consider offers and choose what seems to offer the best route to college.  It's like buying a new car by making a sign "New Car Wanted" and choosing from among the salesman who show up. Choose Your Colleges:  Choose colleges the way you'd buy a car:. List what you want, what features are must haves, what are nice to haves.  Limit it by what you can afford, what gets you where you want to go.  Consider various sources of paying for it.  Then shop around. Visit dealers. Talk to salesman. Get information.  See who will give the best service after the sale.   Your education as a bridge to the rest of your life is worth a lot more preparation than buying a car.   Do Your Homework: Recruiting your coaches starts with homework.  Know everything you can about the college and what about it makes you want to go there.  Learn all you can about the lacrosse program and the coaching staff.  Will they have openings at your position?  What is the coach like?  What is the coaching style?  How is the team doing.  The better you do this homework the better your coach recruiting will be.  Know that your athletic skills, academic record, and standardized test scores put you in a good position to be accepted.   Everything Counts: A coach is going to spend 4 years with you.  He wants you to be a top player, but when coaches talk about players what they really ask each other is "what's he like?"  Your attitude, personality, coachability, behavior are going to make a huge difference in whether you get recruited or not.   Let me repeat this:  It's at least as important for you to be coachable,  polite, a team player as it is to be the best player on the team.  Every interaction you have with anyone from the college is going to tell them what you're like.  Everything from your manners on the phone, spelling on your questionnaire, respect shown the coach when you meet to how you tour the campus will tell the coach who you are.  For this reason coaches prefer to talk to players instead of parents.   They're spending 4 years with you, not your parents.     Your Recruiting Campaign:  1. Make a resume of your sales points -honors activities, scores, sports. You'll be talking about them and sending them so be complete and accurate. For each college make a list of reasons why you want to go to their school.   2. Complete the Prospective Student Questionnaire- Almost all schools have an online form which you use to alert them to your interest.      3. Visit the school.  You can make "informal visits" any time so long as you pay the costs.  Make sure that the feel of the campus and its atmosphere are for you.  If possible, attend an athletic event and watch the coach and team.  This is a time to observe.  It's not time to meet the coach yet.    4. Prepare a letter to the coach expressing your interest in  attending his college. Specify your reasons why his college meets your goals.  Briefly state your academic, athletic and test numbers.  Give him your team and event schedule for the next season and end with a request for an informal visit to his school.   5. Wait until you are sure that he has received your letter and then call him on the telephone.  While NCAA rules limit when coaches can call you, there are no limitations on when you can call a coach.   Check out our next mailing for tips on this important step.    6. Stay in touch.  Let the coach know of your continuing interest, team, camp, tournament schedule.   There are no rules as to how often, or about what, but be sensitive to the fine line between being active and being a pest.  The key is to put your successes before him:  SAT, athletic honors, new scheduled events, academic performance.  When NCAA rules allow do a visit and meet the coach.  Your best foot forward will always be your best footwork.   7. Share your performance - Send professional, video showing you in high quality competition.  Participate in recruiting showcases, tournaments, and other events.     8. Keep your options open.  You only get one chance to make  this major decision in your life.  Don't narrow your options too early.  Be prepared for coaches to ask you to apply early decision and be sure that you have done ALL your college recruiting before you're recruited.   10. Choose wisely.  Don't be pressured by your own enthusiasm or that of others into a decision.  Write down the pros and cons.  Compare the costs after all aid is applied.  Consider the security of your financial aid package.  Add in the factor of your feelings about the college, and the coach. Then, when you're absolutely sure, make a decision.

More Than 100 Colleges and Counting  If you have an invitation number click this button to REGISTER   If you would like to register but don't have an invitation click this button to request one   If you're a coach and want to get your players the best recruiting showcase click this button      More information about Blue Chip 225 CHECK OUT OUR NEW RISING FRESHMEN SESSION     Blue Chip 225 Payment Plans available  Visit our Camp Store for Videography and Camp Apparel ____________   2015 Sessions Rising Seniors July 6 - July 8 Rising Juniors June 29- July 1 Rising Sophs June 29 - July 1 Rising Freshmen July 6 - July 8        More than 100 colleges have signed on as staff or observers for Blue Chip 225 and more continue to be added.   They represent the range of colleges from all over the country, public-private, big, small, rural-city, religious-secular, selective-inclusive and more.     Shown below are a few of our coaches and observers scheduled for Blue Chip 225 for 2015.  Click here  to view a current list of colleges wishing  to attend.  Plan to be part of Blue Chip 225 this summer and showcase YOUR game.  Click on the buttons at the left to secure your opportunity to connect with colleges.               Contact us if you have any questions about attending Blue Chip 225.  We'll be glad to assist you.    Sincerely,    Ted Spencer   Ted Spencer Blue Chip 225 Lacrosse 925-718-5758

We goofed.. After telling you why it's a great idea to take charge of your future and contact coaches with your interest we didn't tell you how to do that.  There are a variety of ways to do your homework about colleges and programs you might be interested and even some ways that help you identify schools.   FINDING COLLEGES There are about 3,000 colleges in the country, and you can't know every one.  There are many online guides to colleges, but very few online options that combine academics and athletics.   The College Board has an excellent sort and find tool which shows 798 colleges with mens lacrosse.  Click here to visit this list and browse colleges that might fit you. Peterson's College Guide and search tool list 874 colleges with men's lacrosse programs.  Click here to browse these.   FINDING COACHES Here's the big one - the link to name, email and phone for college lacrosse coaches from just about every college both 4 year and 2 year in the country.  Thanks to US Lacrosse for this great resource.     FINDING BLUE CHIP 225   After you've connected with colleges and coaches, let them know you'll be at Blue Chip 225 this summer where they can see you showcase your skills against top players from around the country.  Just click below to be part of the program that works to connect you with colleges and coaches.  If you're not already registered, just click below to showcase your game this summer.

Each week we receive questions from players and families about preparing for college lacrosse.  From time to time we'd like to present the answers.  With recruiting moving earlier and earlier the question of when to start and what to do is raised.   If you are the parent of an 8th grader whose skill in and passion for the game is high, this question and our answer will be of interest to you.  "I have a question for you.  My Son is registered to play at Blue Chip 225 (Elite) this Summer and is in 8th grade.  He is definitely a top player and performed very well at  recent competitive events.  My question is around calling college coaches at this stage.  Would it be too early for an 8th grader to begin calling coaches?  Or should he be waiting another year?  There was an 8th grade player at our last event who was already committed to a major DI school. and I am aware that some kids will get recruited as rising Freshmen. I don't want my Son to begin calling now if it is way too early.  Please advise." Great question! It is not too early to reach out to college coaches if you have an exceptional player as an 8th grader. Keep in mind they cannot call you back. They may even have to refer you to an athletic liaison to fill out a questionnaire. Most important is to put your son on the radar by communicating what events you will be attending and by including highlights. Every college has a different recruiting timetable. Some programs will not even entertain the idea of speaking with 8th graders. For instance, the colleges of higher academic standard like the Ivy leagues have so many academic variables that must fall into place before considering a prospective student athlete. If you commit to Notre Dame and you get two C's on your transcript you may not be going to Notre Dame! Therefore they may be more hesitant. Keep in mind that only 50% of the young players that commit at an early age actually stick. If the institution does not like your physical and athletic development in lacrosse, or your behavior is sub par, motivation is lost or you score poorly in school they will drop you like a lead weight! The last thing I would say is DO NOT be in a hurry! Your son will changeso much over the next 2 years you won't believe it. For an 8th grade boy to be making a decision on the college he wants to attend in 8th grade is silly. If Coaches like him now take the offers and sit on it and see how many others come to fruition. You may find he gets a better deal if you are patient. However, it is your choice. Don't forget to enjoy the process and look at all the variables when making a decision on where your son will spend his four great years of college. Those four years will affect the next 50 years of his life!

Recruiting Colleges For Your Future The Three Phases of College Recruiting

There are three stages to every college recruiting connection.    To be successful in connecting with colleges you MUST be successful at all three. IDENTIFICATION:  Getting noticed as someone who might be a possible recruit, getting on the radar, getting on the recruiting board - whatever you call it the first step in every instance is getting the coach to identify you as a potential recruit.  Coaches have limited resources, and there are more players wanting to be recruited than spots.  A few players are SO good that they are identified to coaches by Inside Lacrosse and other publication "Top" lists, but most are in the great crowd of hopefuls.  If you say you want "to be recruited," you have defined the process as something that happens TO you.  To be successful at this stage you should beACTIVE, not passive.  Here are some examples of active steps.  Research colleges and choose all that fit your goals. Write the coach- why you want his school and what you have to offer. Visit the campus if you can - attend a game. Fill out the prospective student questionnaire online. Keep the coach up to date on when and where you'll be playing. Prepare a quality video with information and send it to coaches. If there are current players from your hometown email them to ask about team. Ask your club or school coach to contact the college with recommendation. ASSESSMENT:  OK, you get a letter from a coach saying he's interested in you and enclosing a questionnaire.  This does NOT mean you're being recruited.  This only means that you may be moving from the identification phase to the assessment phase.  In this phase a coach reviews your play (and grades and character) and decides if you are what he needs both on the field and in the classroom.   Some parts of this are totally beyond your control.  If you are a goalie and the program has strong goalies already rostered you are most likely not going any further.  If the coach already has five national all-stars at your position your chances of being even considered are slim.  Most of the factors, though, are under your control. If your grades won't get past Admissions, you're out of the game.  If your coach says you have a bad attitude, skip practices, are a poor sportsman, it's likely the coach will move on to someone better suited.  With so many players looking to play college lacrosse in each class (about 44,000) and relatively few slots, this first cut in assessment is brutal and swift.   After a coach sees you may meet his needs, and the other factors stand out, he will ensure that you are observed.  This can be by video (now almost a requirement), or having a local coach scout you, or, in the final step viewing you by one of his assistants or himself. In most programs much of this phase is done by one or more of the assistant coaches.  The value of a program such as Blue Chip 225 is that is makes this step of being viewed by coaches easy for them and showcases your game under ideal conditions (multiple games, top competition).   Assessment is done by the college, but even in this phase you can improve your chances by being active. Here are some examples: Put your best foot forward in your Questionnaire and letter to coach.   Stress your strong points- Include grades, SAT, activities, as well as sports. Communicate your schedule to coaches. Have a GREAT video - It may be your only audition. Have specific reasons why you want THEIR school.  Attend Blue Chip 225 (and other events).   RECRUITING: This is where many people think recruiting begins but it is the final step in a long process that may be the last step in a several year journey.  The coach calls you and says he's interested, invites you for a visit (under NCAA regs).  It's easy to be so flattered that whichever college it is suddenly becomes the best program. You buy a school sweatshirt and shake the coach's hand.  Not so quick.  The steps of this process are clearly defined by NCAA regulation.  What matters a great deal is what YOU do at this step.  The coach's goal is to get the best team for his college.  Your goal is to get the best education for the least amount of money.  They are not quite the same thing. Some suggestions for you at this phase: Keep your feet on the ground - Maintain perspective. Consider as many colleges as possible for as long as possible. Be prepared for Early Decision request by coach. Educate yourself - know what informal commitment means. Negotiate - Get the best support for your education possible. Know the terms of the scholarship offer in detail and compare. IT'S NOT EASY - These steps don't happen in lockstep. You can be in assessment at one school, being ID'd by another and being recruited by a third.  The entire process has two key points:  You control your future by your play, your grades, your attitude. Being recruited to play college lacrosse is something YOU DO, not something that is done to you.   We founded Blue Chip 225 to help athletes and coaches through this process.  At Blue Chip 225 all coaches are college coaches.  Each coach is provided mobile app Coach Packet with you pinny number and basic data on you.  They can easily identify you as you play in seven games, and all star and championship rounds.  They are assessing your performance against top competition across enough games to get a good sense of your ability, attitudes, and character.   With so many coaches present every player is viewed by a large number of colleges. Our alumni report that Blue Chip 225 has facilitated recruiting for a great number.  Join us for 2015 and take charge of your college goals.

Ask Coach Spencer - How Do I Connect With Colleges?

Dear Coach,

I am the starting attack for a small midwestern school.  There are no big time clubs around.  I'm a sophomore now and want to get recruited for a DI program.  My coach says I'm good enough and he says he'll help any way he can.  How do i get started?
 

Getting Recruited from a region like the Midwest, Southwest or the West Coast can be significantly more challenging than the traditional powerhouse lacrosse regions of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

The same would apply for the Deep South and Southeastern regions of the United States. Even though there are many more college lacrosse programs that are emerging across the country both at the DI and DII levels the nucleus of College Coaches remain in the powerhouse regions of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

The challenge of being recruited from a Western or Southern Region is that it is unlikely that your high school games will ever have significant attendance if any from college coaches. A Chaminade vs. St. Anthony's High School match up on Long Island may draw anywhere from 30-40 college coaches. The same would apply for a hot Maryland matchup of Boy's Latin vs Loyola Blakefield in Baltimore or West Genesee vs. Fayetteville Manlius in upstate New York. I have been to Pennsylvania High School Playoff games in the Spring where Haverford Prep is playing and the sidelines are lined with Top DI, DII and DIII College Coaches. Fairfield County (CT) teams like Darien, New Canaan, Wilton and Fairfield Prep are common feeding grounds for top coaches around the country. Let's not forget about New Jersey and teams like Delbarton and Seton Hall Prep. Westchester County (NY) have teams like John Jay, Yorktown and Ridgefield (CT) that have produced some of the greatest college players to ever play the game! 

The common thread with all these recruiting grounds is that they are 2-5 hours apart from each other and allow coaches to get there easily from all the major DI, DII and DII Colleges. Before YOU even attend one summer recruiting event coaches have had numerous evaluations on high school players from the major recruiting markets

So, yes you are at a disadvantage. In order to successful in the Recruiting Process in a non-major market you have to be organized and you will have to market and promote yourself. You will also need your High School or Club Coach advocate on your behalf. Here are some important steps to help assure your success in this process.

1) Attend Recruiting Showcases  like Blue Chip 225 or Tournaments that are well attended by coaches.
 

2) Maximize your 

 opportunities and play your very best at all times. Your evaluation opportunities are limited and Coaches will notice both your effort and your attitude.

 
 

3) Attend Showcases and Tournaments that are in the general region of colleges you would like to attend. That way there is a better chance they will attend.
 

4) Express interest to the college coaches and lacrosse programs that you are interested in. Make sure you include a thorough academic and athletic profile along with a strong highlight video. Market yourself!
 

5) Notify the College Coaches at which Showcase events and Tournaments you will be attending so you can be evaluated properly.
 

6) Map out and plan your recruiting calendar for the summer. Maybe attend a Showcase event the first week, visit colleges or attend a prospect day a second week and attend a third showcase event in the third week. This means being on the road for a couple weeks at a time.
 

7) Keep your head up! The process can be frustrating. Remember that every player has a different recruiting experience, some commit at an early age others in their senior year.
 

8) Make the process your own and don't worry about everyone else.

Cheers!

Ted Spencer
President / Director
Blue Chip Lacrosse LLC
925-718-5758
tspencer@bluechiplax.com  

        Blue Chip 225 Connects with Coaches

Every coach has online player info.  

Every coach at the showcase has easy access to data on each player.  Over up to 7 games you have a chance to showcase your game to a wide range of college coaches.

All coaches are college coaches - 100+ 

We have a large number of coaches from all divisions, areas and types of schools.  Others attend as observers and still others view all star games online.  

All games are saved on video online. 

Thanks for our video partners,  Touchline Video, and Front Rush profile service, all your games will be available to college coaches online for a year.  

All Star games are webcast nationally. 

Each showcase has two divisions, varsity and elite, and two all star teams are selected for each division.  Their games are broadcast live online and every college coach in the country is invited to tune in.  

Our alumni tell us it works.  

We survey our players each year and 90% of Rising Seniors, and 70% of Rising Juniors report college coach contacts as a result of attending Blue Chip 225.  

Ted Spencer