All the summer and fall camps, showcases, and tournaments are supposed to prepare you for the culmination of our lacrosse calendar when our spring season begins. This is when we realize all our goals and validate our training from the previous nine months; a time to immerse yourself in daily practices and regular, organized, stop-time games. Because spring lacrosse doesn’t ask teams to play up to seven games in a weekend, many programs film every game, offer players online film memberships to sites like HUDL or Krossover, and more accurately track statistics and records. These are great tools for players to compile highlight reels, post their statistics on their profiles, and a tremendous resource for coaches to evaluate players in their team systems.
In this edition of our college lacrosse education series, we’ll give you some tips on keeping your recruiting progress up-to-date throughout the spring and be ready to take advantage of your summer recruiting cycle.
Update Your Profile
Regardless of the address, your online presence is going to be an important tool that college coaches will use to evaluate you and decide if you’re right for their programs. If you haven’t updated it recently, it’s likely that basic determining information like your height, weight, and upcoming schedule are outdated.
This is an opportunity to “clean up” your profiles also. Many players have multiple profile pages that have been left active, but have received no updates. Make sure that if a coach searches your name, he only finds updated, high-impact information on you.
Establish or Update Your Target List of Schools
Spring is also a good time to evaluate where you are academically and athletically in the recruiting landscape. Factors that impact your target list can change from year to year as you grow on the field and in the classroom. To limit the amount of time, effort, and frustration you’ll experience, it’s best to make sure that the schools you’re targeting fit with the level at which you’re currently performing.
As your season unfolds, you’ll want to reach out to the coaches on your target list to let them know a) you’re interested in their program, b) any successes you’re experiencing in the spring season, and c) your plans for lacrosse and visits this summer. If you are establishing contact with best-fit schools early, you will be more likely to be able to coordinate something with these coaches for the summer.
Organize to Capture Your Highlights
If your spring program doesn’t video games or use an online film service, you don’t have to worry. Any video, even mom-shot iPhone clips can work for your highlight reel. Just make sure you save them someplace easily accessible and fill up the folder with all the great plays you’ve made this season.
If you have the benefit of quality film and access to the online resources to manage your own highlights, make sure you organize your account and can habitually grab clips to add to your highlight reel. If you’re not familiar with the system your program uses, it’s certainly advisable to ask questions and figure out how you can make the most of these services. In either situation, when you’re happy with 3-4 minutes of your clips, you can compile them into one video to send or share with college coaches.
Request Summer Recommendations
If you want to attend any invitation-only events this summer, now is the time to hit up your high school and club coaches for recommendations and nominations. Whether it’s a prospect day or a national showcase, the earlier you can get your applications and recommendations in, the better you will be able to plan out your summer recruiting schedule.
Spend the Spring Playing
The whole purpose of this article is to get you organized so you can focus on the spring season. Having easily managed systems in place to update your information and results as the season progresses will make you ready to take advantage of your summer opportunities. The next three months is why we play the other nine, so if you can make the most of every practice and game, the rest will take care of itself. Good luck!!
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