Time is of the essence…a refrain that applies to not only SAT/ACT, but also similarly to the consideration given to constructing your recruiting grid and timeline.

Early and often has been told to me by coaches when planning how athletes should integrate standardized tests into their hectic schedule. The priority for the athlete should be to make it easier for a coach to make sense of where you stand as a recruit by getting your tests in as early as possible. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that another recruit reports in a SAT/ACT scores that will allow the coach to formulate a favorable opinion of your competition.

ACT vs. SAT

Student athletes often ask us which test is better to focus on. There are sites that will give you SAT and ACT conversions, so you can tell which test would be more appropriate for you based on preliminary practice tests. It is important that you take practice diagnostic tests early enough to afford you the hard data to point you in the direction of the better format. www.act.org/aap/concordance

SAT Structure and Content

The SAT consists of 10 sections: a 25 minute Essay, 3 Critical Reading sections (two 25 minute and one 20 minute section), 3 Math sections (two 25 minute and one 20 minute section), 2 Writing sections (one 25 minute and one 10 minute section.) The Critical Reading section is made up of 19 Sentence completions and 48 Passage-based reading questions. These sections test vocabulary and reading comprehension. On a given test, roughly 600 nontrivial words are tested in the questions, reading passages, and answer choices.

The Math sections are made up of 44 multiple choice questions and 10 free response questions. The content tested includes Arithmetic, Algebra I and II, Functions, Planar and Coordinate geometry, data analysis and probability. Calculators are allowed, including the advanced ones such as TI-89 and TI-nspire.

The Writing sections include 49 multiple choice questions. Twenty-five of these are sentence improvements. Eighteen are identifying sentence errors. Six are paragraph improvements. The writing score will also include the grade you get on your essay. Two readers will grade your essay. Your score on this can range from a 2 through 12. Many schools still put less emphasis on the writing section when doing pre reads on a recruited athletes file. It is incumbent upon you to ascertain what portions of the test a school may assign a higher priority to.

ACT Structure & Content

The ACT is made up of four tests with an optional Writing test (a 30 minute essay that you write at the conclusion of the multiple choice sections.) The English Test consists of 45 minutes of 75 questions and it tests grammar, syntax, usage, and rhetoric. The Mathematics test consists of 60 minutes of 60 questions. The math content is a little more extensive than what is tested on the SATs, but the questions are much more straightforward. While the SAT Math has tricky, puzzle-type questions, the ACT Math section is more aligned with what you have done in school. Unlike the SAT, however, you cannot use the TI-89 or TI-nspire, although you may use other graphing calculators like the TI-84. The Reading section consists of 35 minutes of 40 questions split into four passages, each followed by 10 questions. Vocabulary is not tested as much on the ACT as it is on the SAT. This test requires the reader to search and find answers quickly. The Science test consists of 35 minutes of seven passages with a total of 40 questions. This section requires that you interpret scientific data presented in texts, tables, charts, and graphs, and that you analyze multiple hypotheses and points of view regarding those hypotheses. If you have done labs in science classes during high school, that work will be helpful for this section.

Recent Developments

Most colleges consider the SAT and ACT equally. What is changing, however, is that more and more colleges are now Superscoring the ACTs, as many do for the SATs. This is a significant development for recruited athletes. Given that the ACT component tests can vary in difficulty from one administration to another, superscoring is a terrific benefit to you if you take the test more than once. Here is a list of some schools that now Superscore your ACTs: Amherst, Brown, Duke, Franklin and Marshall, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Trinity College, and Tufts. This list is longer than last year’s list and the policies of the schools seem to change frequently. To be safe, call the admissions offices of the colleges recruiting you and confirm with the coaching staff that the policy is in place for your recruiting class. Grab every advantage that you can in attempting to secure a spot in this fiercely competitive world of lacrosse.

Below are a few pointers we at LacrosseRecruits.com put together. Having a LacrosseRecruits.com profile helps a high school lacrosse player stay organized throughout the recruiting process. A LacrosseRecruits.com profile makes it easy for a college coach to view your profile and game video, increasing your odds of being recruited.

The four most important points we want every high school lacrosse player to understand are:

1. Work hard in the classroom and study hard for the SATs / ACTs. The better your grades and the higher your board scores, the more schools that can recruit you. The more schools that can recruit you, the more options you have. The more options you have, the less stressful the recruiting process will be.

2. Be realistic about your ability. The number of players that play at the top Division 1 schools is a very small percentage of the number of college lacrosse players across Division I, Division II, Division III and MCLA (club). Being realistic about your ability from the beginning will make the recruiting process a lot less stressful and ultimately more rewarding.

3. Do not pick a college just because you can play lacrosse there. Choose a college or university that is a good fit for you academically. Use lacrosse as a vehicle to get you into the best college possible.

4. BE PROACTIVE IN THE RECRUITING PROCESS. Just like anything else, the harder you work, the better your results will be. Create a profile on LacrosseRecruits.com and send your profile to every school you are interested in. Call the schools you are interested in. Introduce yourself to the coaches you are interested in when you see them at camps / tournaments. The more you put into the recruiting process, the more you will get out of it.

Rising Freshmen-

• Focus on academics!! Start your high school career off right by doing well in school. When the time comes and you are recruited, grades are VERY important. You can be the best player in the country but with poor grades, top tier academic institutions will not be able to recruit you. By working hard in school, the number of schools able to recruit you increases exponentially, giving you more options.

• Improve your lacrosse game. Keep a stick in your hand in the off-season and try to play a lot of lacrosse in the summer. Be sure to stay in shape if lacrosse is your only sport. If you are a multi sport athlete, that is terrific. College coaches like well-rounded athletes, but if lacrosse is your main sport, try to hit the wall during the off-season to stay sharp.

Rising Sophomores-

• Continue to work hard in school. Mistakes made sophomore year academically can really hurt your chances of being recruited by top academic institutions. The harder you work in the classroom, the more options you will have when being recruited. You do not want a coach that is interested in your athletic ability to not be able to recruit you because you did not take pride in your academics.

• Begin thinking about college and what kind of college you are looking for. Do you want a big school? Small school? Northern? Southern? Speak to your teachers about schools you are interested in and do research online.

• Create a LacrosseRecruits.com profile. You can choose schools you are interested in and each coach is alerted immediately of your interest. One click and any coach in the country can view your complete profile and video. This is the best way to get on the coach’s radar because a profile on LacrosseRecruits.com makes it convenient for the coach to view your profile and video. Instead of being another letter or e-mail, you have a personal webpage that can be viewed by any college coach. For an example, view:

                     www.LacrosseRecruits.com/Chris_Hines

Rising Juniors-

• Again, keep working hard in school! This year is critical when you are applying to college. Take challenging classes. If you can take Advanced Placement classes, take full advantage.

• Make a list of 15-20 schools you are interested in. Be realistic about your lacrosse ability. Talk to your high school coach about what level you should be focusing on. Having a realistic list of target schools will make your life a lot easier when the recruiting season starts. Lacrosse should be used as a vehicle to get you into a better academic institution. Get the best education possible! We cannot stress this enough.

• By now, you should have a profile on LacrosseRecruits.com. Your profile has all academic and athletic information a college coach needs to evaluate your talent. The coach can also watch your high definition video with the click of a button.

• Having a profile on LacrosseRecruits.com allows coaches from every DI, DII and DIII school to search for athletes that fit their recruiting profile. Coaches run searches for athletes that fit their recruiting profile and are able to watch their video and connect with recruits they are interested in.

• College coaches are under a lot of pressure and giving them a convenient way to evaluate your talent increases your odds of being recruited. Instead of just sending a letter / DVD and crossing your fingers, your LacrosseRecruits.com profile makes it easy for the coach to see you play and see your grades. Including your custom web address in every e-mail and letter to coaches lets coaches quickly and easily evaluate your talent.

• Log into your LacrosseRecruits.com account to see where the coaches from the schools you are interested will be during the summer recruiting season. Every lacrosse program has a profile on LacrosseRecruits.com with a list of the Camps and Tournaments they plan to attend.

• In all correspondence with college coaches, include a link to your LacrosseRecruits.com profile. If your name is Chris Hines, your profile would be:

www.LacrosseRecruits.com/Chris_Hines

Rising Seniors-

• Create a list of your top 15 choices. Connect with the coaches at each of these schools and include a link to your LacrosseRecruits.com profile. These coaches can view your profile / video and make a note to see you during the summer on the recruiting trail.

• If a coach contacts you and you are not interested, tell the coach. Coaches respect honesty.

• Again, be realistic about your ability. If you are not receiving letters from the top DI schools, do not take it personally. Play hard during the summer and focus on the schools that have shown interest in you. By the end of the summer, you will know where you stand recruiting wise.

• Upload game film to your LacrosseRecruts.com profile so a coach can see how you play in the flow of a game. Consider cutting down the game to only the plays you are involved in. Highlight tapes are important to show the coach your most athletic plays, but every coach is interested in seeing how you play over the course of a game. Everyone looks like a star in his or her highlight tape!

• Study hard for the SAT / ACT. Just like poor grades can keep you from being recruited, poor SAT / ACT scores can close doors from a recruiting standpoint. Do the best you can on these tests!

BE PROACTIVE IN THIS PROCESS!

Create your LacrosseRecruits.com profile to make it easy for a college coach to see you play. It will make the process a lot easier and increase your odds of being recruited.

Here's a list of tips and ideas to help make your recruiting process more enjoyable, productive, and successful.

• Accept invitations to attend college-sponsored recruiting days (sometimes referred to as "Junior Days") that focus on student athletes and their parents. Frequently held in conjunction with a campus sporting event, they are great opportunities for you to learn more about the college and its sports program and include meeting current team members. An invitation to one of these events does not mean a student athlete is being recruited.
• Choose your college as much for the education you will receive as for your sport. Very few college athletes will play their sport professionally. Should you get injured, decide later not to play during college, or not make the team it is important to be enrolled in a school that meets your academic needs.
• Be a student of your sport and learn everything you can about your position.
• Attend college athletic events for your sport whenever and wherever possible.
• Learn about your sport's mental game and how it impacts your athletic success.
• Maintain your eligibility for athletic scholarships by passing all required coursework and maintaining a satisfactory grade point average.
• Keep up-to-date records of all practice and competition statistics to track your progress and share with coaches.
• Apply and gain acceptance to at least one college you want to attend whether or not you have an opportunity to play your sport.
• Personalize your letters and emails to each coach by using the coach's name and professional title. Avoid starting your letters and emails with "Dear Coach". Find coach information at individual college athletic program web pages or call the college athletic department.
• The three essential qualities needed to win an athletic scholarship are (1) athletic talent, (2) academic achievement, and (3) exposure to the coaches and colleges that match your unique student athlete profile.
• Ask yourself why you are interested in playing sports at the college level. Your answer will help guide your plans and shape your decisions as a student athlete. Do you love the game and competition? Do you plan an athletic coaching career? Are you looking for a way to pay for your college education? Is your goal to play professional sports?
• Involve your parents, coaches and other supportive adults in your plans to attend college as a student athlete. Ask them to assist you with planning college visits, role playing before meetings and interviews, and reviewing the letters and applications you prepare.
• Challenge yourself to exceed the minimal standards for high school graduation. Minimal efforts equal minimum results in competition and in the classroom.
• Keep college coaches updated throughout your recruitment process. Send a brief email or text message when you have new information to share.
• Visit college web sites to conveniently access information for prospective athletes. Learn about available academic and sports programs and what makes each college program unique.
• Be realistic about your athletic ability and level of commitment. Ask your high school coaches and counselors to provide assessments and recommend colleges matching both your academic and athletic needs.
• Arrange to have your final high school transcript sent to the NCAA Clearinghouse if you expect to compete as a D-I or D-II college student athlete.
• Be self-confident, realistic and persistent in presenting your student athlete profile to coaches.
• Ask former and current college athletes to share their experiences and offer advice.
• Your online student athlete profile is your most valuable tool for organizing the details of your academic and athletic performance and communicating them to coaches. Frequently update your online student athlete profile to reflect competition results; participation in tournament, camps and showcases; video highlights, current G.P.A. and other information coaches need to evaluate prospects.
• Be honest with college coaches and counselors about your athletic abilities, academic standing, accomplishments and personal goals.
• Know college and conference calendars and schedules. Be aware of all application deadlines and recruiting periods for your sport.
• Know and follow all college and conference student athlete recruitment and eligibility regulations.
• Make official campus visits to your 'Top 5' colleges and athletic programs prior to your Senior year sport season. This scheduling will allow you to enjoy a productive but relaxed 48 hours on each college campus while visiting with team members and coaches.
• The amount of athletic scholarship money that may be offered to a student athlete does not necessarily reflect how much a coach wants the player on the team. For example, the current team may have a large number of upperclassmen with few athletic scholarships available to incoming freshmen. Or, a limited number of scholarships in a given sport may restrict athletic scholarships offered to incoming freshman.
• Take the SAT and ACT college entrance tests during your Junior year and retest should your scores be lower than expected. Take both exams because some colleges emphasize one score over the other. Satisfactory completion of standard college entrance testing by Fall of your Senior year can help coaches more quickly decide you are a valuable recruit.
• Confirm you have the correct coach name, title, and address before you attempt to contact a coach. Coaches change jobs; however, you can take steps to ensure your message reaches the intended individual.
• Tell your high school coach which colleges interest you. (S)He can provide initial introductions to college coaches in addition to valuable advice and contacts.
• Participate in a physical conditioning program to prepare yourself for college competition and minimize the possibility of sports-related injuries.
• Respond promptly and courteously to all inquiries and continue to visit colleges until you have a signed contract from the college of your choice. Avoid rejecting any interested school too early in the athletic recruiting process.
• Remain flexible in choosing a college. Identify available athletic and academic opportunities and carefully compare them to your individual strengths and personal goals.
• Participate in quality summer camp, clinic, tournament, showcase and travel team experiences. They provide you with opportunities to improve your skills and display them to college representatives.
• Extend invitations to coaches to watch you compete in scheduled games, tournaments, camps and showcases. In addition to providing your event date, location and time you should include details that help coaches identify you during competition: your team name, uniform color and number.
• A well-made video showcases your talent and skill in competition. Be sure your video includes your name and year in school, the name of your high school, your uniform color(s) and number(s) as shown in the video, and other information you think would be useful to college coaches viewing your video.
• In competition and in the classroom, always conduct yourself in a positive manner. Coaches are reluctant to recruit student athletes that can bring negative attention to themselves, their team and their school.
• If a coach advises you that you are not a good match, accept the news and quickly move on to identify and contact colleges that can be both an academic and athletic fit.
• Ask a lot of questions throughout your recruiting process. Before visiting colleges, prepare a list of questions to ask coaches and counselors about your athletic career, the coaching staff and team, academics, and finances.
• It is never too early to visit colleges with athletic programs that interest you. However, if you are interested in early signing (November of your Senior year), your college visits should begin no later than Fall of your Junior year.
• Review the team rosters for college sports programs that interest you. Current players' hometowns and states can suggest where a coach focuses his or her recruiting efforts. Reviewing the athletes in your position and their year in college can indicate a team's recruiting needs. Current team member profiles can reveal the physical and competitive qualifications expected of team members.
• When meeting a coach face-to-face, be well-groomed and neat in your appearance. Your appearance provides a first impression that is long-remembered.
• Develop your plan to let college coaches know who you are and what you can offer their program. Persistently follow your plan to make your goal of a college sport scholarship happen!
• A well-made video that showcases your athletic talents and skills should be 5 to 10 minutes in length regardless of your sport and position. Include video of your drills or fundamental skills, in addition to competition highlights, only when requested by a coach.
• Respond to requests from coaches immediately. Carefully review your responses to eliminate errors in spelling and grammar.
• Send thank you notes to every college coach during your recruiting process. Your courteous follow-up communication with the coach could open the door for you in the event another student declines their scholarship offer. Whether a coach replies (s)he is not recruiting your athletic talents or you decide not to attend the college, thank all coaches involved for their time and interest. Thank you notes following unpaid, as well as paid, college visits present a positive image of you both as a player and a person
• Show your initiative and leadership by contacting coaches to express your interest in attending college as a student athlete. Colleges are more likely to recruit student athletes who demonstrate interest.
• Keep all scheduled appointments for recruitment phone calls and visits. If for any reason you are unable to complete a scheduled appointment, contact the individual as soon as possible to request a re-scheduled appointment.
• Promote yourself to multiple colleges. This approach allows you to benefit from the widest possible range of academic and athletic opportunities and increases your leverage when discussing scholarships.
• Register with the NAIA Eligibility Center for initial eligibility certification prior to participating in athletics at a NAIA college or university.
• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse by the end of your Junior year to confirm your eligibility prior to receiving an athletic scholarship, practicing and competing at a NCAA Division I or II school. You can register online.
• Be knowledgeable about all levels of U.S. college sports competition and related opportunities. Athletic scholarships are primarily awarded by three national athletic organizations: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). The NCAA is the largest of the three organizations. Smaller colleges and universities are part of the NAIA and the NJCAA is the association for junior colleges and community colleges.

lacrosserecruits.com/recruitingcampguide.php

Jake Reed's Nike Blue Chip - National Invite 175 - New England Top 150 Lacrosse

Peak 200 - Showtime Recruiting: National Recruiting Showcase

Super Sophs (only for 2014s) - Ted Spencer's Blue Chip 225 - Top 205

Adrenaline Showcase Sonoma - Adrenaline High Rollers - Nike Blue Chip 225

Champ Camp - Tri State Tournament - Hot Beds -

2012  Camp Dates: 
Sunday July 22 to Wednesday July 25
 

Champ Camp 23 - Wednesday, July 18th-Saturday, July 21st, 2012
No More Speculation. End Of Discussion. Time To Play.
 

Rising Seniors
July 2-5,2012     Rising Juniors
                           July 9-12,2012

                                                     Rising Sophomores
                                                     July 16-19,2012

The Northeast's Premier Recruiting Camp 

July 9th Thru July 11th, 2012
at Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts

The Campus:

The Peak 200 Lacrosse Camp is located on the campus of Springfield College in Springfield, MA. Springfield College contains some of the finest athletic facilities in the northeast. The outdoor facilities include four artificial turf fields and two grass fields. All the fields have lights for evening play.

The New England Lacrosse Camp Top 150 will provide the experienced high school player with excellent competition and advanced coaching techniques. Each player will have the opportunity to improve their individual techniques and tactical knowledge and to compete against strong competition. Over 50 Colleges are in attendance providing student/athletes an opportunity to meet college coaches.

3 sessions

July 5-July 7, 2012
July 8-July 10, 2012
July 11-July 13 2012

Showtime Lacrosse, sponsored by Maverik proudly presents its 4th annual National Recruiting Spotlight. 160 of the top rising sophomores (Class 2015) and 160 of the top rising juniors (Class of 2014) with college lacrosse aspirations will compete from July 9th-July 12th, 2012 at Western Connecticut State University, in Danbury (Fairfield County), CT. Participants will have the opportunity to showcase their skills while being individually assessed during game sessions. Many top DI, DII, and DIII coaching staffs will be in attendance.

Welcome to the Nike Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp, where the nation’s elite high school lacrosse players get the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of nearly every NCAA Division I coach in the nation. With over 90% of our players earning a spot on an NCAA Division I team, Nike Blue Chip Lacrosse is the number one way to reach the pinnacle of college lacrosse. Competition among those personally invited by Camp Director Jake Reed ensures the highest caliber of play throughout the camp, and the ideal chance for players to see how they stack up against the nation’s best. This year’s camps will be held in June, and the expectation is that the camp’s 11th year will be its finest yet.

DATE: 

July 14th & 15th, 2011

Check-In: July 14, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

LOCATION:

Sonoma State University
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Driving Directions/Travel Info

In its inaugural year, The Black Card Showcase will claim the title of Adrenaline's Premiere Prime Time Event. Featuring only the absolute best 114 players in the entire country.

*June 15th, 2012

COST:

$75.00*

*This is an at cost event, player fee covers field rental, refs and coaches only!

Camp Information - Invite Only

The Denver Shootout will take place June 15-17, 2012 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Shootout started as the original Denver Team Camp in 2004 and has flourished into a 100 team tournament. Conveniently, the dates for this year’s Shootout precede the Warrior Vail Tournament, so teams from around the country can extend their stay and participate in both tournaments.

This guide is a valuable resource for parents and players who are trying to decide which camps are worth attending. Each lacrosse recruiting camp review has three sections. The first section, or “summary”, is information taken from the lacrosse recruiting camp’s website. This provides a general overview of the recruiting camp. The second, or “overheard”, section features the perspective of players and coaches. This section provides a first-hand view of the lacrosse recruiting camp. In the final section, “our take”, The LacrosseRecruits.com experts provide their perspective on which players can benefit most from that specific lacrosse recruiting camp.

The Northeast Top 215 puts you in direct contact with some of the best minds in women’s lacrosse while giving you the opportunity to separate yourself from the 2000+ players that make up the national 2014 and 2015 classes!   

The Elite 180 Lax recruiting camp is located on the beautiful Keene State College campus in Keene, New Hampshire.  Approxmately two hours from Boston, 3 hours from New York City and 45 minutes from the local airport, Manchester, NH (MHT). Keene State offers the perfect setting for players to showcase their lacrosse skills in a small setting. At Elite 180 Lacrosse each of the teams are coached for the entire camp by a NESCAC or high academic DIII school coach. The camp enrollment is limited in order to keep player to coach ratio at a level that allows the coaches to get multiple exposures to each of the players.  

Sunday, July 1st ~ Tuesday, July 3rd

The Nike Elite 120 is an invitation only event designed for players looking to be the best in their class and compete at the highest level!  The best college coaches in the country will be in attendance as evaluators.

The Elite 120 is a highly unique event.  Several factors differentiate the Elite 120 from other events.  First, all athletes will be tested in an NFL-style speed and agility session run by the nationally renowned Parisi Speed School including a 40-yard dash, vertical jump, 5-10-5 shuttle run & 300-yard shuttle run.  Your scores will be made available immediately following the speed and agility training. 

Sold Out! Year 2012

January 14, 15 & 16, 2012 at The Indoor Sports Pavilion in Randolph, NJ

• Table of Contents
• Master the Recruiting Process
• 12 Pitfalls to Avoid
• How To Improve Your Profile
• Essential Action Steps
• LacrosseRecruits.com Articles

Search for your favorite Boys and Girls high school players from across the country and see where they will be attending college.

These unofficial lists contain verbal commitments, early signers, recruits, and walk-ons.  Some of the latter will not make the team, but neither will some recruits.  A status flag (albeit imperfect) should help identify which is which.

Recruits Database for 2012-2013   *   Verbal Commitments for 2013-2014

tv.insidelacrosse.com/media/42c6da23b8c94345aaefe857b2548473/high-rollers---coach-interviews

It is necessary for coaches around the country to be able to see a players skills and style of play. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to produce a highlight video of the player and put it on YouTube. Then when you reach out to the various coaches in an e-mail you can attach the video or past the link in the e-mail for the coach to view immediately.

One of the most effective ways for a coach to gain interest in a player is to see him play either in person or in a video in a real live situation. Coaches are looking for athletic ability, ability to play without the ball, defense, stick skills, hustle and leadership qualities.

In most cases, if you don't go to them (coaches) they won't find you.

Our own Judy Baxter co-coaches the MN Elite Team with Laura Mark (The Blake School). See what it is like to play with the best that MN has to offer. See the game as it is played out east and take your game to a higher level. 

MN Elite- The premier girls travel team in  MN.  

Between the 2 Coaches- (9) MN State High-School Championship Titles!

Editor’s Note: In our newest Fireside Chat (that series has been HOT lately!) Connor Wilson sits down with Chris Meade of Lacrosse Recruits to talk about blue chip recruit signings, box lacrosse, the MCLA, summer plans for Lacrosse Recruits, how the game has changed and SO MUCH MORE!  Chris is an absolute expert when it comes to getting recruited as a lacrosse player and student, so listen up and take notes!  As an interesting side note, both Connor and Chris played lacrosse at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Sounds like Lacrosse Recruits has some BIG things in store for the Summer recruiting camp circuit!  Tell us a little bit more about how Super Sophs is going, and if you’re adding anything new this year!?!?!  I love those Vineyard Vines shirts from the Super Sophs event!

Over 50 2014s have already verbally committed to colleges.  Man, the recruiting process is starting earlier and earlier each year!  The chaotic recruiting atmosphere has created a need for straightforward high quality events that benefit the college coach and the high school player. We feel like Super Sophs has filled this role over the past three summers. In our first year of Super Sophs, we pushed the envelope by creating a showcase that focused on Rising Juniors. Now, it is a respected stop on the recruiting trail.

This summer we are adding Super Sophs Girls and Fab Frosh Boys. These two events are natural progressions. Both days will draw top talent and draw top D1 assistant coaches to run the teams, give instruction, and of course, recruit.

Some CT SuperSophs action! - photo courtesy of John Mecionis

For more photos of Super Sophs, check out Lacrosse Magazine.

Have any of the LR users committed to, or been accepted to, any notable schools? Where are some of your top players headed?

At this point, I can’t even give you an, “oh, we have some players here, and we have some players there…” because our players are going to top tier D1 programs (like some of the earliest 2014 commits), to the Ivies or NESCACs (there are recruiting classes where we have over 50% of their recruits) and to brand new programs like Centre, Mercer or Albright.

We are exceptionally lucky to have such an active group of members who have separated themselves from the rest of the pack by their hard work and diligence in the recruiting process.

With more and more HS players coming out every year looking to play in college, how competitive has it become for those top 20 D1 roster spots? Are we going to see a greater concentration of talent at the top? Or will the talent spread out more? Basically, will the gap between D1 and D3 increase or decrease? (this is all assuming NCAA growth at the D1 level will remain slow, which is a big assumption)

We are following a few trends right now:

1) Stud Athletes are being picked up early – Lacrosse players who are in the top 1% athletically are going to be recruited during their freshman spring, summer after freshman year and then their sophomore fall. There is a very small group of players that have matured physically and they are anomalies in the recruiting process.

They are being picked up earlier and earlier. We are one year away from a freshman verbally committing.

2) The Ivies are getting put in a tough spot. (Immediately a reader can point to the recent Harvard recruiting class with Jahelka and Fischer and say, “oh no… that isn’t true…”) The reality is that if players like Jahelka or Fischer were going through the recruiting process today, they would have had offers from Duke, Hopkins and UVA in fall of their sophomore year that they might not have been able to pass up. If you are a parent, are you really in a position to roll the dice and say you are going to take your chance a year down the road?

Probably not. You are going to take the sure thing with Duke.

3) More and more smart kids are playing lacrosse.  And… more and more of them want to go to great schools. The pool of players interested in Ivy, Patriot and NESCAC schools has never been larger. When I go back and watch Wesleyan (my alma mater and Connor’s) play lacrosse, I am in amazement. 8 years ago we were fighting to fill roster spots. Today they have a full roster of 45 players. The same at Amherst or Tufts. The funnel of SMART kids who want to play college lacrosse has never been this competitive.

I was accepted into Wesleyan in 2001. This is a shot in the dark, but the kids in my recruiting class would have needed an extra 100 points on their SAT Math & Verbal as well as an extra 3-5 points on their GPA to get into the school in 2011.

Marty McFly: Wait a minute, Doc. Ah… Are you telling me that you built a time machine… out of a DeLorean?
Dr. Emmett Brown: The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style?

4) The growth of NCAA programs means that more kids can play college lacrosse. There are more great options to play a sport that you love at the college level than ever before. University of Tampa? Yes please (they get an A+ for nightlife). Or how about High Point University? Yes please (amazing golf and the best deals on furniture).

Seriously though… The growth is giving more kids than ever a chance to play lacrosse in college and enjoy what I often say was the best time in my life.

What role can or will the MCLA play in the growth of the sport?

I think it is one of the best things for the game of lacrosse. It is a proving ground for the game at a college level that, hopefully, will make colleges and universities realize the need to add more NCAA programs. The game is 12-15 years away from being a national sport on the collegiate level.  The MCLA will be the place where skeptics are won.

Do college coaches want to see film of a player playing box lacrosse if they played in that arena?

Yes of course. Coaches really want to see players who “wow” them in one of the following areas:

1. Athleticism

2. Lacrosse IQ

3. Pure Skill

4. Grit.

A coach can see all of that (or not) when a player is playing box.

Will we start to see more European players playing at US colleges?

At some point. There are just so many barriers that keep that from occurring – Visa issues, American private education costs, deciding to steer clear of national education programs in home countries, etc.

Generally, the quality of play in Europe is low compared to high school lacrosse in the US. This isn’t a knock, it is just where the game is at this point. It is traditionally a women’s sport and there aren’t too many men’s players who can play at the NCAA level (besides on the National Team levels).

You will gradually see more European players in the US. I think the majority will fall into two categories; truly exceptional athletes or extremely wealthy.

What is the biggest change in lacrosse that you have noticed since your college career ended?

Travel club lacrosse. It has changed the face of the recruiting process and pushed the envelope of playing for your high school in many areas.

There has also been an evolving professionalism that has never been seen before in lacrosse.

Thanks for the frank and informed answers, Chris!  I think I learned as much as anyone!