Lacrosse Recruiting Tips
Ok halfway through, two more to go. Fortunately, and surprisingly, the NCAA stuff is pretty straight forward.
The NCAA's membership includes 326 active Division I members, 281 active Division II members, and 421 active Division III members. Now of course not all have lacrosse teams. But it gives you and idea of the number of schools in the overall pool for athletics.
DIII has a bit more flexibility in contact that DI or DII.
If you have any interest in DI, DI-AA (not sure if there are any varsity lacrosse programs there), or DII, you need to register with the NCCA Clearinghouse the beginning of your junior year. This entails going online, completing the online form, having transcripts and test scores sent, and finally get your pin. Make sure you follow up and get the pin. Make sure that the application is fully processed. We had an issue with something not getting in and it delayed our registration. I claim it was because the notice went to my SON'S email and not mine.
Clearing house https://www.ncaaclearinghouse<wbr></wbr>.net/NCAA/common/index.html
The following is a pretty useful doc:
2006-07 Guide to the College-Bound Student-Athlete
This provides an overview in one document. The 07-08 version isn't out yet, but the link below (very long) should get you to the landing page for it:
www.ncaa.org/wps/portal<wbr></wbr>/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLM<wbr></wbr>nMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3NQDJgFjGpvqRq<wbr></wbr>CKO6AI-YXARX4_83FR9b_0A<wbr></wbr>_YLc0NCIckdFAEuT364!/delta<wbr></wbr>/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEv<wbr></wbr>NElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL<wbr></wbr>=http://www2.ncaa.org/portal<wbr></wbr>/media_and_events/ncaa_publicat<wbr></wbr>ions/general_interest/cbsa.html
2006-07 Lacrosse Recruiting Calendar
Information regarding: Contact/Evaluation dates, quiet dates and dead periods.
www.ncaa.org/wps/portal<wbr></wbr>/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLM<wbr></wbr>nMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3NQDJgFjGpvqRq<wbr></wbr>CKO6AI-YXARX4_83FR9b_0A<wbr></wbr>_YLc0NCIckdFAEuT364!/delta<wbr></wbr>/base64xml/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEv<wbr></wbr>NElVRS82XzBfTFU!?CONTENT_URL<wbr></wbr>=http://www1.ncaa.org/membershi<wbr></wbr>p/membership_svcs/recruiting<wbr></wbr>_calendars/index.html
Some definitions about the various periods noted in the calendar:
- Contact period - permissible for authorized athletic department staff members to make in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts and evaluations.
- Dead period - not permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts or evaluations on- or off-campus or permit official or unofficial visits.
- Evaluation period - permissible for authorized athletics department staff to be involved in off-campus activities to assess academic qualifications and playing abilities. No in-person, off-campus recruiting contacts with a prospect are permitted.
- Quiet period - permissible to make in-person recruiting contacts only on the member institution's campus.
Keep in mind that DIII is not bound by these same contact periods.
NCAA section on Eligibility and Recruiting:
www.ncaa.org/wps/portal<wbr></wbr>/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLM<wbr></wbr>nMz0vM0Y_QjzKLN4j3CQXJgFjGpvqRq<wbr></wbr>CKOcAFfj_zcVH1v_QD9gtzQiHJHRUUA<wbr></wbr>c0tpTA!!/delta/base64xml<wbr></wbr>/L3dJdyEvUUd3QndNQSEvNElVRS82Xz<wbr></wbr>BfTFU!?CONTENT_URL=http://www2<wbr></wbr>.ncaa.org/portal/legislation<wbr></wbr>_and_governance/eligibility<wbr></wbr>_and_recruiting/
The NAIA is a separate body, of about 300 schools has its own governing body. From naia.cstv.com - "The NAIA has 50,000 student-athletes participating at nearly 300 member colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. Divided into 14 regions, the NAIA offers 23 championships in 13 sports."
NAIA Rules and Regs: graphics.fansonly.com<wbr></wbr>/schools/naia/member-services<wbr></wbr>/pubs/handbook/2006-07_Official<wbr></wbr>_Handbook.pdf
NAIA Calendar: naia.cstv.com/member<wbr></wbr>-services/administration<wbr></wbr>/calendar.htm
Quick aside, I did find a few lacrosse schools in the NAIA by googling around. Not big schools, but I would imagine the opportunities for merit based scholarships and athletic scholarships exist. If you are thinking small school, it might pay to do some digging.
Lindenwood University - www.lindenwood.edu<wbr></wbr>/athletics/lacrosse/men.asp 7 national championships in men sports last year.
Seton Hill University - www.setonhill.edu/o<wbr></wbr>/index.cfm?PID=35&T1=7&T2=0&T3<wbr></wbr>=0 2nd year program
Savanah College of Art and Design - www.scadathletics.com<wbr></wbr>/programs/lacrosse/mens/index<wbr></wbr>.cfm - intercollegiate program from a club team
Dominican University of CA - www.dominican.edu<wbr></wbr>/athletics/men/lacrosse.html - one of three varsity programs in CA
You get the point, there are some out there, you just have to dig.
NCAA Sport Listing - generate a list of schools by division...provides click throughs to school (sent this before, but its worth a repeat.)
web1.ncaa.org/onlineDir<wbr></wbr>/exec/sponsorship?sport=MLA
National Letter of Intent insights - www.national-letter.org
Big thing here is to understand that there are rules in place to protect your son during the recruiting process. Coaches can be nice, coaches can say whatever they need to in order to get your son to commit. You have to filter the reality from the hype. You have to be aware of the rules. Personally, I found most coaches to be very helpful and all the coaches we dealt with played well within the guidelines set out.
Last up - Managing Recruiting Contacts
