How can you maximize your chances of being recruited for college lacrosse. What are the most effective strategies for getting noticed by coaches. Which steps should you prioritize in your recruitment journey.

Crafting an Impactful Lacrosse Skills Video

Creating a compelling skills video is a crucial step in the lacrosse recruitment process. This visual representation of your abilities can significantly impact a coach’s perception of your potential contribution to their program.

To create an effective lacrosse recruiting video:

• Capture highlights from various camera angles to showcase all your skills
• Include snippets that display athletic feats like sprinting and quick direction changes
• Choose energizing music that complements your highlights
• Use only your best footage for a high-impact reel

A well-crafted skills video brings your talents to life, offering coaches a dynamic view of your capabilities that surpasses static profiles or statistics sheets.

Key Elements to Include in Your Lacrosse Skills Video

When compiling your lacrosse skills video, focus on highlighting:

• Speed and agility
• Stick handling skills
• Game intelligence and decision-making
• Positional play and awareness
• Shooting accuracy and power
• Defensive capabilities

Is a longer video always better? Not necessarily. A concise, high-quality 3-5 minute reel showcasing your best plays is often more effective than a lengthy video with lower-quality content.

Leveraging Recruiting Websites for Maximum Exposure

Recruiting websites serve as invaluable platforms for connecting with college coaches and showcasing your talents. These platforms allow you to create comprehensive profiles that highlight your athletic and academic achievements.

Some top lacrosse recruiting websites include:

• BeRecruited
• NCSA (Next College Student Athlete)
• LaxNumbers
• LaxRecords

When creating your profile on these platforms, ensure you provide detailed information about your lacrosse experience, positions played, style of play, academic achievements, and any relevant awards or honors.

Optimizing Your Recruiting Profile

To make your recruiting profile stand out:

• Upload high-quality headshots and action photos
• Highlight your GPA, test scores, and academic achievements
• Include information about community service or leadership roles
• Regularly update your stats and accomplishments
• Provide links to your skills video and social media profiles (if appropriate)

Can a well-crafted online profile really make a difference in recruitment? Absolutely. Many college coaches actively search these platforms for prospects, making a strong online presence crucial for increasing your visibility in the recruitment landscape.

Maximizing Exposure at Recruiting Camps and Showcases

Attending recruiting camps and showcases provides unparalleled opportunities to demonstrate your skills directly to college coaches. These events are specifically designed for talent evaluation and discovery.

To make the most of recruiting camps:

• Prioritize camps at your top choice colleges
• Display your full range of skills during drills and scrimmages
• Introduce yourself to coaches and share your accomplishments
• Seek honest feedback on areas for improvement
• Follow up with coaches after the camp to reiterate your interest

In addition to college-specific camps, consider attending prestigious regional and national showcases like Maverik Showtime, National Lacrosse Classic, and Blue Chip camps.

Strategies for Success at Lacrosse Showcases

When participating in high-level showcases:

• Prepare for intense competition
• Focus on playing your natural game without overexertion
• Maintain confidence, even when matched against top-ranked players
• Let your skills shine through authentic performance

Are showcases worth the investment? For many players, the exposure and experience gained at these events can be invaluable in the recruitment process, often leading to connections with coaches and programs that might not have been possible otherwise.

Developing a Strategic Communication Plan with Coaches

Effective communication with college coaches is a critical component of the lacrosse recruitment process. A well-executed communication strategy can help you stand out from other prospects and demonstrate your genuine interest in a program.

Key elements of a strong communication plan include:

• Researching programs thoroughly before reaching out
• Crafting personalized emails to coaches
• Following up after camps, showcases, or games
• Maintaining regular contact without being overbearing
• Responding promptly and professionally to all coach communications

Remember, your communication with coaches is not just about showcasing your athletic abilities, but also about demonstrating your character, academic commitment, and potential fit within their program.

Crafting Effective Emails to College Coaches

When composing emails to college coaches:

• Use a clear, attention-grabbing subject line
• Introduce yourself concisely, highlighting key stats and achievements
• Explain your interest in their specific program
• Include links to your skills video and recruiting profile
• Close with a call to action, such as expressing interest in visiting campus

How often should you contact coaches? While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, aim for meaningful communication every 3-4 weeks, or more frequently if there are relevant updates to share.

Elevating Your Game: Continuous Skill Development

The journey to becoming a recruited lacrosse player doesn’t end with creating profiles and attending camps. Continuous skill development is crucial for standing out in a competitive recruitment landscape.

To enhance your lacrosse skills:

• Practice regularly, focusing on both strengths and weaknesses
• Seek feedback from coaches and experienced players
• Analyze game footage to identify areas for improvement
• Participate in off-season training programs or clinics
• Cross-train with other sports to improve overall athleticism

Remember, college coaches are not just looking at your current abilities, but also your potential for growth and development at the collegiate level.

Developing Position-Specific Skills

While overall lacrosse fundamentals are important, honing position-specific skills can set you apart:

• Attackmen: Focus on shooting accuracy, dodging, and off-ball movement
• Midfielders: Improve two-way play, face-off skills, and transition game
• Defensemen: Enhance footwork, stick checks, and clearing ability
• Goalies: Work on reaction time, communication, and clearing techniques

How can you track your skill development? Consider keeping a training log to document your progress and set specific, measurable goals for improvement.

Building a Strong Academic Foundation

While athletic ability is crucial, academic performance plays a significant role in the lacrosse recruitment process. Many college programs, especially at top academic institutions, have strict GPA and test score requirements for athletes.

To strengthen your academic profile:

• Maintain a high GPA throughout high school
• Take challenging courses that demonstrate your academic capabilities
• Prepare thoroughly for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT
• Seek help from teachers or tutors in challenging subjects
• Participate in academic extracurricular activities

A strong academic record not only increases your chances of recruitment but also opens up opportunities for academic scholarships and admission to top-tier institutions.

Balancing Academics and Athletics

Maintaining a balance between academic and athletic commitments can be challenging. Here are some strategies to help:

• Develop strong time management skills
• Create a study schedule that accommodates your training and game commitments
• Communicate with teachers about your athletic schedule
• Use travel time for studying when possible
• Prioritize sleep and self-care to maintain overall well-being

Does academic performance really matter for athletic recruitment? Absolutely. Many coaches view academic discipline as an indicator of an athlete’s overall character and ability to succeed at the collegiate level.

Leveraging Social Media in the Recruitment Process

In today’s digital age, social media can play a significant role in the lacrosse recruitment process. When used strategically, platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn can help you connect with coaches, showcase your personality, and demonstrate your commitment to the sport.

To effectively use social media in your recruitment journey:

• Create professional, sport-focused profiles
• Share highlights, achievements, and training updates
• Follow and engage with college lacrosse programs you’re interested in
• Demonstrate good sportsmanship and positive character online
• Be mindful of the content you post or are tagged in

Remember, college coaches often review prospects’ social media profiles as part of their evaluation process. Your online presence should reflect the qualities of a committed student-athlete.

Crafting an Effective Social Media Strategy

To maximize the impact of your social media presence:

• Use relevant hashtags to increase visibility
• Share diverse content, including game highlights, training sessions, and academic achievements
• Engage with lacrosse-related content from coaches, programs, and professional players
• Maintain consistency across all platforms
• Regularly update your profiles with recent accomplishments and stats

Can social media really influence recruitment decisions? While it shouldn’t be your primary focus, a well-managed social media presence can certainly complement your other recruitment efforts and provide coaches with additional insights into your character and commitment.

As you navigate the lacrosse recruitment process, remember that it’s a journey that requires dedication, persistence, and strategic planning. By focusing on these key areas – from creating impactful skills videos to maintaining a strong academic record and leveraging social media – you can significantly enhance your chances of catching the attention of college coaches and securing a spot on a collegiate lacrosse team.

Stay focused on continuous improvement, both on and off the field, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from coaches, mentors, or recruitment specialists along the way. With the right approach and unwavering commitment, you can turn your dream of playing college lacrosse into a reality.

Getting recruited to play lacrosse in college is an exciting goal, but achieving it takes focus and dedication. Here are some of the most important steps to getting noticed and recruited for lacrosse.

Make a skills video to showcase your abilities to coaches

Coaches want to see your speed, athleticism, stick skills, IQ, and more in action. Create a 3-5 minute highlight reel of your best plays from games and tournaments. Show off your strengths and capabilities at your position. Share the video with college coaches to give them an immediate understanding of the player you are.

Some key tips for an effective lacrosse recruiting video: Capture highlights from different camera angles to showcase all your skills. Include snippets that display athletic feats like sprinting down the field or quick changes in direction. Choose music that complements and energizes your highlights. Only use your best footage – better to have a shorter, high-impact reel than lower quality clips.

Having video evidence of your talents makes it easy for coaches to envision you contributing for their program. With so many athletes vying for roster spots, a skills film gives you a major advantage in getting a coach’s attention.

The rest of the steps will expand your lacrosse profile, but creating video highlights is one of the most vital actions to take in order to get recruited. Coaches want to see your speed, IQ, stick skills and overall game in motion. Your highlight reel brings your skills and potential to life better than any static profile or stats sheet ever could. Get footage of your talents on film to showcase yourself to college programs across the country.

Register with recruiting websites to get exposure

One of the most effective ways to get on college coaches’ radars is by creating profiles on lacrosse recruiting websites. These sites allow you to upload your stats, honors, video highlights, and other credentials for coaches to review. Here are some of the top lacrosse recruiting sites:

• BeRecruited – Create a free profile and get matched with programs that fit your skills and academic goals.
• NCSA – Widely used site where you can research colleges and contact coaches directly.
• LaxNumbers – Database focused on lacrosse stats and measurable data points.
• LaxRecords – View regional and national player rankings by graduation year.

When setting up your profile, put your best foot forward both athletically and academically. Highlight awards, accomplishments like all-conference selections, GPA, test scores, and community service. Upload high-quality headshots and action photos that capture your talents. Provide detailed information on your lacrosse experience, positions, style of play and more.

College coaches actively search these recruiting sites for prospects that fit their program’s needs and culture. By having a strong presence on these platforms, you expand your visibility substantially compared to just relying on your high school coach’s network and recommendations.

In addition to lacrosse-specific recruiting sites, gain more exposure by registering with sites like NCSA that help connect athletes and all types of college sports programs.

Cast a wide net by creating and optimizing your profiles on lacrosse recruiting platforms. It allows coaches across the country to discover and learn about you as an athlete and student.

Attend recruiting camps and showcases to be seen by college coaches

One of the most direct ways to get exposure with college lacrosse programs is to attend camps hosted by schools you’re interested in. Coaches use these events specifically to evaluate and discover talent. Here are some tips for making the most of recruiting camps:

• Register for camps at your top choice colleges first and work down from there.
• Display your speed, athleticism, skills and lacrosse IQ during drills and scrimmages.
• Introduce yourself to coaches, share your academic and athletic accomplishments.
• Ask coaches for honest feedback on what skills to develop.
• Send follow-up notes to reiterate your interest after camps.

In addition to college-run camps, attend premier regional and national lacrosse showcases like Maverik Showtime, National Lacrosse Classic, and Blue Chip camps. These events draw coaches from top D1 programs across the country looking for talent.

When attending showcases:

• Be prepared for a higher level of competition.
• Focus on playing your game, don’t try to overdo it.
• Stay confident even if matched against a top-ranked player.
• Let your skills shine through – don’t get caught up in reputation.

Getting seen in person competing allows you to make a strong impression on coaches through your work ethic, athleticism, and lacrosse abilities. Follow up with any interested coaches after events to continue building relationships.

Leverage recruiting camps and showcases to put yourself directly on coaches’ radars under live game conditions. Use these influential events to display your talents and take the next steps in your recruiting journey.

Contact coaches directly and introduce yourself

Don’t just rely on your profile on recruiting sites – take the initiative to directly engage with college coaches at programs you’re interested in. Emailing coaches shows your determination and interest in their program. Here are some tips when reaching out:

• Personalize each email, don’t just blast a generic template.
• Provide your academic and athletic credentials and accomplishments.
• Share video highlights or links to your profiles.
• Explain why you’re interested in that specific program.
• Ask thoughtful questions about their recruiting process and timeline.
• Use proper grammar, spelling and etiquette.

Follow up with calls and even handwritten notes to stand out and continue nurturing the relationship. Once a coach begins actively recruiting you, maintain steady communication through text, email, calls and campus visits.

An intro email opens the door – follow up consistently to demonstrate your sincere interest in their program. Establish personal connections and show the coach you have done your homework about their lacrosse program.

Here’s a sample intro email template:

Subject: John Smith Lacrosse Recruit Interested in State U Program

Dear Coach Johnson,

My name is John Smith and I’m a sophomore attackman at Springfield High School interested in playing lacrosse at State University. I’ve been following State’s program and believe I would excel there.

I’ve attached a link to my skills video and my LaxNumbers recruiting profile. As a freshman I was named All-Conference Honorable Mention. I hold a 3.8 unweighted GPA and scored 1350 on the SAT.

What advice can you provide on the recruiting process? I’m excited to learn more about your program and how I can contribute on the field and in the classroom. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Best Regards,
John Smith

Build relationships with college coaches on social media

Social platforms like Twitter and Instagram provide additional channels to engage with college lacrosse coaches beyond just email. Here are some tips for connecting on social:

• Follow accounts for programs and head coaches you’re interested in.
• Like and comment on their posts – respond when coaches post congratulating committed players.
• Share your own lacrosse-related updates, training progress, academics, volunteering.
• Tag coaches in relevant posts like tournament results or new highlight reels.
• Send coaches quick notes or updates if they follow you back.

Avoid passive stalking – actively participate, share insights, and post compelling lacrosse-related content. Commenting and engaging builds familiarity and gets your name on a coach’s radar.

Here are some ways to provide value on social media:

• Congratulate coaches on team accomplishments like conference titles.
• Share articles or content related to their program.
• Provide motivational quotes for players as big games approach.
• Wish coaches well before big matchups or tournaments.

Social platforms humanize you beyond just another recruiting profile. Coaches get a better sense of your personality, passions, and character. Steady, value-adding engagement helps nurture relationships vital in the recruiting process.

Just like in games, have a plan and work hard without getting frustrated. Develop social media relationships persistently and coaches will take notice of your interest.

Have your high school coach advocate for you to college coaches

Your high school and club coaches can be invaluable allies and references during the recruiting process. Their recommendations carry significant weight with college coaches. Here are some ways to leverage your coach’s network and advocacy:

• Ask coaches to email or call college coaches they know on your behalf.
• Have your coach mention you to college coaches when they talk.
• Request your coach nominate you for all-star games and regional teams.
• Get your coach’s feedback on contact with college programs.
• Have your coach write letters of recommendation highlighting your assets.

To encourage your coaches to advocate for you:

• Train and practice hard to showcase your dedication.
• Demonstrate leadership and maturity on and off the field.
• Show discipline in academics, conditioning, nutrition and recovery.
• Be a model teammate – hustle, support and cooperate.

Coaches want to recommend athletes that reflect highly on their program. Show your coach you’ll represent his program well at the next level. Provide updates on your recruiting progress so your coach knows how to best contribute.

Your high school coach’s personal recommendations carry weight due to their experience evaluating talent. Get them in your corner as an influential advocate during the recruiting process.

Get great grades to be eligible for athletic and academic scholarships

While lacrosse skills get coaches’ attention, a strong academic record is essential for college eligibility and scholarship opportunities. Here are some academic tips:

• Earn at least a 3.0 GPA throughout high school.
• Take honors or advanced placement classes to challenge yourself.
• Score well on the SAT or ACT standardized tests.
• Research the academic criteria for playing Division I, II or III.
• Stay organized and disciplined – study hard and manage your time.

Being a great player won’t matter if you don’t meet academic standards. Even elite Division I programs require academic minimums for admission and eligibility:

• Minimum GPA of 2.3 in 16 core courses.
• SAT score of 980 or ACT sum score of 75.
• Graduate high school.

Top academic performers can earn academic scholarships in additional to any athletic scholarship:

• 3.75+ GPA and 1300+ SAT may get a full academic ride.
• 3.5 GPA and 1200 SAT can lead to substantial academic aid.

Put in the work in the classroom as intensely as on the field. Strong grades provide financial benefits and prove you can handle college academics and lacrosse responsibilities.

Practice diligently and continue improving your skills

College lacrosse is faster, more complex, and more competitive than high school play. You need to demonstrate the work ethic and dedication to continually enhance your skills. Here are some tips:

• Train year-round – don’t just play in-season.
• Master fundamentals like stick handling, footwork, and conditioning.
• Take extra reps to keep refining technique.
• Analyze game film to study tendencies and weak spots.
• Set specific skills goals and track measurable progress.

To showcase growth, record your skills progression on film over time. Coaches want to see tangible development across many aspects:

• Increased shot speed and accuracy.
• Crisper passing and catching.
• Faster dodge moves and change of direction.
• Improved lacrosse IQ and field vision.
• Stronger defensive positioning and checking.

Seeking extra coaching and training outside team practices demonstrates your motivation. Attend prospect camps, clinics, showcases year-round to continually test yourself against top talent.

Your skills and knowledge of the game will never stop evolving. Outwork everyone on daily improvement to get coaches’ attention.

Stay organized and create a timeline for your recruiting process

15 Steps to Getting Recruited for Lacrosse in 2023: The Ultimate Guide

Getting recruited for lacrosse takes a multi-year effort and strategic approach. By starting early, developing elite skills, gaining exposure at the right events, building relationships with college coaches, and staying focused academically and athletically, any dedicated high school lacrosse player can make their college lacrosse dreams a reality. Follow these key recruiting steps year-by-year and you’ll be competing on the college fields in no time. Stay hungry, determined and proactive throughout the process to achieve your ultimate lacrosse goals.

Believe in yourself and your abilities so coaches see your confidence

15 Steps to Getting Recruited for Lacrosse in 2023: The Ultimate Guide

Getting recruited to play college lacrosse requires self-confidence, skill development, exposure to coaches, relationship building, and persistence over many years. By mastering fundamentals, competing in showcases, contacting coaches directly, gaining insider tips, and managing stress, you can achieve your lacrosse recruiting dreams. Believe in your abilities, shine when it matters most, and stay focused on your goals throughout the ups and downs. You have what it takes to play at the next level!