September 7, 2010
How to take your game to the collegiate level
by Braden Campbell/
Tyler Szymanski of Framingham, Mass., will play at Merrimack.
He runs the ball in from just past the midline as the thousands of fans in the stadium hold their collective breath. He hesitates briefly as he reaches the top of the box; the defender tenses his legs and readies his pole.
Switching his stick to his offhand, he charges. As he reaches his obstacle, he plants, pivots, dives and shoots in a single seamless motion, and as he hits the ground, the thud is eclipsed by the roar of the crowd.
As he rises to his feet, the crowd’s cheers fizzle into nothing and the goal becomes a brick wall. The boy grips his stick with his official Mikey Powell gloves and resumes wall ball … and his high school reality.
While only an elite few of the 200,000-plus American kids who don their high school’s colors each spring will realize the dream of playing college ball at the highest level, experts agree that with a little bit of skill and a lot of preparation, almost anyone can find their niche in the collegiate game.
The first step toward reaching this goal – and this applies from the very top players to the most raw newbie -- is to be proactive. Stud or not, if you want to get noticed, put aside your ego and make the first move.
“Nowadays, you have to be proactive because coaches want to know that someone is interested in their program,” said Janine Tucker, head women’s coach at Johns Hopkins. “If there’s a kid who consistently sends me an email or lets me know an update from her summer or the classes that she’s taking, that demonstrates to me that this young lady is very interested in Hopkins. I’m going to make sure that I give that kid as much of a look as possible.”
The earlier you contact a college coach, the better. Tucker said she frequently receives contact from athletes as young as sophomores, and though NCAA rules prohibit division 1 and 2 coaches from responding until September 1st of the athlete’s junior year, this initial contact will put the athlete on her radar.
Coaches are allowed to send out generic information packages prior to September along with a preliminary questionnaire, and will often send these to students who have contacted them. Filling out and returning this questionnaire promptly is another way to earn some early points.
Finding the right match is important in the college search, whether or not you’ll be playing a sport. First, find a school that matches your academic and financial interests, and then look for athletics.
“Make sure you do your due diligence, make sure you set your priorities as far as what you want in a college or university, not just for lacrosse,” said Gordon Webb, head men’s coach at Plymouth State. “You’re going for a 40-year career, not a 40-year experience of playing the game.”
Don’t set too lofty a goal for yourself, coaches say; make a serious evaluation of your athletic abilities, and how much time you’re willing to invest. Each of the three divisions in college lacrosse has a different appeal for different athletes.
NCAA Division 1 is the most demanding of the three, with the most grueling schedule and often the strongest talent. Playing at these schools is like having a full-time job in addition to your schoolwork. If you’re in your junior year and have yet to hear from such top-tier schools, chances are they’re not in your future. If you’re still young and think you have what it takes, get in contact immediately.
Division 2 is slightly less taxing schedule-wise, but with few concessions in competition level. Players often have a chance to make an earlier impact in Division 2 than in Division 1, where they likely won’t get significant field time until they’re upperclassmen. Division 2’s recruiting follows slightly behind that of D-1, with most commitments coming in the fall of a student’s senior year.
In Division 3, the emphasis is more on academics and less on athletics when compared to the other two divisions, though lacrosse still will take a chunk of time. D-3 lacrosse has the widest disparity in competition; top teams can give a good game to anyone at any level, while the newest and weakest teams are sometimes desperate to fill their rosters and might struggle on the field playing against a top high school team.
Division 3 recruits typically follow the standard college admission timeline. Open tryouts are held by some schools in all divisions, but Division 3 is the most walk-on friendly.
Financially, don’t count on getting too much help from lacrosse. A fully funded D-1 or D-2 team will have 12 and 10 scholarships, respectively, to split amongst their entire roster, so if you can’t afford a school and you’re not at the very top level of the game, chances are lacrosse won’t do you too big a favor. Still, a school that is recruiting a player – even down to the Division 3 level – may be able to come up with more money in grants and aid to help a lacrosse player than someone applying without the pull of the sport.
What’s more, some coaches have enough pull with the admissions department to help a recruited player make up for academic inequities – allowing them to get into a school that might otherwise be a stretch. This academic help is more common at the highest levels of the game, but it happens at all levels, although coaches may only be able to help one or two kids this way per recruiting class, so you will need to be a priority for the coach in order to get this kind of help.
Regardless of the level where you want to play, start early. After making initial contact, the next most important step is maximizing your exposure. The more opportunities college coaches get to see your best facets, the better your chances of playing in college.
“It’s a combination, one thing is not going to be the ticket,” said Leslie Frank, director of Achieve Lacrosse and coach of Massachusetts girls’ powerhouse Westwood, and of the Mass Elite select club. “It’s more having a relationship with a coach and doing everything. Going to the coaches’ clinics, going to the camps, going to tournaments.”
Athletes should compile a solid mix of highlights and game film to send to college coaches by their junior year. Showcases, tournaments and club teams are an excellent way to get noticed, provided you correspond with coaches so that they are aware of opportunities to see you. The better your relationship with a coach, the easier it is to know which events they will be attending, which also can shape your decisions about the right clinics or showcases to attend.
If a coach has his or her own summer camp, consider whether it might be the best way to make a personal impression. If you’re offered an official visit, take the opportunity. Visiting on your own volition and meeting with the coach also is a good idea.
Thousands of kids want to play college ball, but only a fraction ever make it there. College coaches agree, however, that too many give up without even trying. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you will be one of the lucky few who get to make lacrosse an important part of your college life.
