Capital Tryouts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The concept of fairly equal playing time during recruiting years absolutely makes sense. I would think that would be fairly standard since the clubs want to tout great recruiting success. And on any top club’s top team the difference in abilities would be minimal so more even playing time might result in a few losses or ties but no blow outs. One thing players and parents forget about are the other things college coaches look for and ask about—coach ability, what type of teammate (girls having sour attitudes for not playing the whole game), team play/lax IQ (not driving and dodging a million ways when you have two open teammates), commitment, resiliency, academics, parents, etc. The girls have to catch their attention but there’s a lot more to getting that offer.

As someone who has been through the recruiting process for girls under both old and new rules, I can tell you that performances in club tourney , especially in the summer before recruiting opens is drastically overrated, at least for those targeting top 30 schools.

Here is a highly simlified version of how recruiting works for all non specialist (goalie, draw) girls

1) 8th grade summer/freshman year: Girls get coaches attention by sending out highlight film. Coaches will often invite to prospect days via club director. Girls also register on college's own recruiting website and enter profile including grades. Girls should already have a realistic target list of 15-20 schools by now. If you can make american select / UA, definitely play.

2) fall/winter sophomore year: coaches start watching girls live, invite more to prospect days and starting building a list for summer recruiting. For top prospects, these are the most important games you will play in front of coaches. (Most top schools will already have a list down to 75-100 girls by now). Go to showcases where your targeted coaches will be.

3) girls take PSAT in fall and SAT/ACT in spring or summer. PSATS are incredibly important if you are targeting a high academic school. If a schools doesn't think you will qualify, the recruiting process often ends at this point.

4) Summer before junior year: Girls play in summer tourneys but more importntly go to prospect days of targeted schools, if invited.. Coaches will watch girls they are already recruiting to validate their lists, but it is rare for a girl to jump on their radar at this time. If schools are interested, then they will invite you to their prospect days via your director. Go to top showcases if you qualify. Send your SAT scores and grades before September 1st. If you aren't invited to a prospect day, go at your own peril. You won't be in a top group and very hard to stand out

5) Initial contact period: During September, coaches reach out. Generally top girls will get offers first week of September and have 3-4 weeks to decide while they keep other girls "warm". Non top 25 schools will reach out to alot more but often not make offers. Some girls will get "contingent" offers based on SAT scores (if they havent taken them) or fall semester junior grades. Be sure to ask coaches where you are on their list.

6) November fall club tourneys: Top 25 teams probably have all scholarship $$ committed at this point, but still looking for preferred walk-ons. Other schools looking to validate decisions through fall play. Lots of offers in Nov/Dec Periods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The concept of fairly equal playing time during recruiting years absolutely makes sense. I would think that would be fairly standard since the clubs want to tout great recruiting success. And on any top club’s top team the difference in abilities would be minimal so more even playing time might result in a few losses or ties but no blow outs. One thing players and parents forget about are the other things college coaches look for and ask about—coach ability, what type of teammate (girls having sour attitudes for not playing the whole game), team play/lax IQ (not driving and dodging a million ways when you have two open teammates), commitment, resiliency, academics, parents, etc. The girls have to catch their attention but there’s a lot more to getting that offer.

That’s a big difference from the boys in my experince, the boys really want to win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The concept of fairly equal playing time during recruiting years absolutely makes sense. I would think that would be fairly standard since the clubs want to tout great recruiting success. And on any top club’s top team the difference in abilities would be minimal so more even playing time might result in a few losses or ties but no blow outs. One thing players and parents forget about are the other things college coaches look for and ask about—coach ability, what type of teammate (girls having sour attitudes for not playing the whole game), team play/lax IQ (not driving and dodging a million ways when you have two open teammates), commitment, resiliency, academics, parents, etc. The girls have to catch their attention but there’s a lot more to getting that offer.

As someone who has been through the recruiting process for girls under both old and new rules, I can tell you that performances in club tourney , especially in the summer before recruiting opens is drastically overrated, at least for those targeting top 30 schools.

Here is a highly simlified version of how recruiting works for all non specialist (goalie, draw) girls

1) 8th grade summer/freshman year: Girls get coaches attention by sending out highlight film. Coaches will often invite to prospect days via club director. Girls also register on college's own recruiting website and enter profile including grades. Girls should already have a realistic target list of 15-20 schools by now. If you can make american select / UA, definitely play.

2) fall/winter sophomore year: coaches start watching girls live, invite more to prospect days and starting building a list for summer recruiting. For top prospects, these are the most important games you will play in front of coaches. (Most top schools will already have a list down to 75-100 girls by now). Go to showcases where your targeted coaches will be.

3) girls take PSAT in fall and SAT/ACT in spring or summer. PSATS are incredibly important if you are targeting a high academic school. If a schools doesn't think you will qualify, the recruiting process often ends at this point.

4) Summer before junior year: Girls play in summer tourneys but more importntly go to prospect days of targeted schools, if invited.. Coaches will watch girls they are already recruiting to validate their lists, but it is rare for a girl to jump on their radar at this time. If schools are interested, then they will invite you to their prospect days via your director. Go to top showcases if you qualify. Send your SAT scores and grades before September 1st. If you aren't invited to a prospect day, go at your own peril. You won't be in a top group and very hard to stand out

5) Initial contact period: During September, coaches reach out. Generally top girls will get offers first week of September and have 3-4 weeks to decide while they keep other girls "warm". Non top 25 schools will reach out to alot more but often not make offers. Some girls will get "contingent" offers based on SAT scores (if they havent taken them) or fall semester junior grades. Be sure to ask coaches where you are on their list.

6) November fall club tourneys: Top 25 teams probably have all scholarship $$ committed at this point, but still looking for preferred walk-ons. Other schools looking to validate decisions through fall play. Lots of offers in Nov/Dec Periods.

Good post. Thanks for the info for the rest of us new to all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The concept of fairly equal playing time during recruiting years absolutely makes sense. I would think that would be fairly standard since the clubs want to tout great recruiting success. And on any top club’s top team the difference in abilities would be minimal so more even playing time might result in a few losses or ties but no blow outs. One thing players and parents forget about are the other things college coaches look for and ask about—coach ability, what type of teammate (girls having sour attitudes for not playing the whole game), team play/lax IQ (not driving and dodging a million ways when you have two open teammates), commitment, resiliency, academics, parents, etc. The girls have to catch their attention but there’s a lot more to getting that offer.

As someone who has been through the recruiting process for girls under both old and new rules, I can tell you that performances in club tourney , especially in the summer before recruiting opens is drastically overrated, at least for those targeting top 30 schools.

Here is a highly simlified version of how recruiting works for all non specialist (goalie, draw) girls

1) 8th grade summer/freshman year: Girls get coaches attention by sending out highlight film. Coaches will often invite to prospect days via club director. Girls also register on college's own recruiting website and enter profile including grades. Girls should already have a realistic target list of 15-20 schools by now. If you can make american select / UA, definitely play.

2) fall/winter sophomore year: coaches start watching girls live, invite more to prospect days and starting building a list for summer recruiting. For top prospects, these are the most important games you will play in front of coaches. (Most top schools will already have a list down to 75-100 girls by now). Go to showcases where your targeted coaches will be.

3) girls take PSAT in fall and SAT/ACT in spring or summer. PSATS are incredibly important if you are targeting a high academic school. If a schools doesn't think you will qualify, the recruiting process often ends at this point.

4) Summer before junior year: Girls play in summer tourneys but more importntly go to prospect days of targeted schools, if invited.. Coaches will watch girls they are already recruiting to validate their lists, but it is rare for a girl to jump on their radar at this time. If schools are interested, then they will invite you to their prospect days via your director. Go to top showcases if you qualify. Send your SAT scores and grades before September 1st. If you aren't invited to a prospect day, go at your own peril. You won't be in a top group and very hard to stand out

5) Initial contact period: During September, coaches reach out. Generally top girls will get offers first week of September and have 3-4 weeks to decide while they keep other girls "warm". Non top 25 schools will reach out to alot more but often not make offers. Some girls will get "contingent" offers based on SAT scores (if they havent taken them) or fall semester junior grades. Be sure to ask coaches where you are on their list.

6) November fall club tourneys: Top 25 teams probably have all scholarship $$ committed at this point, but still looking for preferred walk-ons. Other schools looking to validate decisions through fall play. Lots of offers in Nov/Dec Periods.

Good post. Thanks for the info for the rest of us new to all of this.

Thanks for taking the time to write this and hoping you will pls answer follow up questions

You mention grades in the 8th grade summer - do girls really report middle school grades? Or have highlight tape already? Or are you talking end of freshmen year?

Why do PSAT matter for athletes at schools where applicants do not need to submit test scores?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i’m beginning to think this thread is just the local club directors responding to each other!

I was thinking the same thing. For sure the Caps owners are on here. I don't blame them for closing ranks around those that are entertaining the idea of going to Skywalker's, Hero's or M/D. They are trying to build a business in this area, so the idea of losing top end girls to Baltimore clubs would not be a positive development.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The concept of fairly equal playing time during recruiting years absolutely makes sense. I would think that would be fairly standard since the clubs want to tout great recruiting success. And on any top club’s top team the difference in abilities would be minimal so more even playing time might result in a few losses or ties but no blow outs. One thing players and parents forget about are the other things college coaches look for and ask about—coach ability, what type of teammate (girls having sour attitudes for not playing the whole game), team play/lax IQ (not driving and dodging a million ways when you have two open teammates), commitment, resiliency, academics, parents, etc. The girls have to catch their attention but there’s a lot more to getting that offer.

As someone who has been through the recruiting process for girls under both old and new rules, I can tell you that performances in club tourney , especially in the summer before recruiting opens is drastically overrated, at least for those targeting top 30 schools.

Here is a highly simlified version of how recruiting works for all non specialist (goalie, draw) girls

1) 8th grade summer/freshman year: Girls get coaches attention by sending out highlight film. Coaches will often invite to prospect days via club director. Girls also register on college's own recruiting website and enter profile including grades. Girls should already have a realistic target list of 15-20 schools by now. If you can make american select / UA, definitely play.

2) fall/winter sophomore year: coaches start watching girls live, invite more to prospect days and starting building a list for summer recruiting. For top prospects, these are the most important games you will play in front of coaches. (Most top schools will already have a list down to 75-100 girls by now). Go to showcases where your targeted coaches will be.

3) girls take PSAT in fall and SAT/ACT in spring or summer. PSATS are incredibly important if you are targeting a high academic school. If a schools doesn't think you will qualify, the recruiting process often ends at this point.

4) Summer before junior year: Girls play in summer tourneys but more importntly go to prospect days of targeted schools, if invited.. Coaches will watch girls they are already recruiting to validate their lists, but it is rare for a girl to jump on their radar at this time. If schools are interested, then they will invite you to their prospect days via your director. Go to top showcases if you qualify. Send your SAT scores and grades before September 1st. If you aren't invited to a prospect day, go at your own peril. You won't be in a top group and very hard to stand out

5) Initial contact period: During September, coaches reach out. Generally top girls will get offers first week of September and have 3-4 weeks to decide while they keep other girls "warm". Non top 25 schools will reach out to alot more but often not make offers. Some girls will get "contingent" offers based on SAT scores (if they havent taken them) or fall semester junior grades. Be sure to ask coaches where you are on their list.

6) November fall club tourneys: Top 25 teams probably have all scholarship $$ committed at this point, but still looking for preferred walk-ons. Other schools looking to validate decisions through fall play. Lots of offers in Nov/Dec Periods.

Good post. Thanks for the info for the rest of us new to all of this.

Thanks for taking the time to write this and hoping you will pls answer follow up questions

You mention grades in the 8th grade summer - do girls really report middle school grades? Or have highlight tape already? Or are you talking end of freshmen year?

Why do PSAT matter for athletes at schools where applicants do not need to submit test scores?

Thank you!

I should have written with the caveat that this is for girls targeting D1.

Please let me know if I answered all of your questions

1) Even at schools which don't require test scores, recruited athletes still need to take and submit. UC-Berkley is only exception. Remember these coaches have to convince their school to admit your daughter after effectively 4 semesters of high school.

2) You should plan to take SATS for the first time spring or summer of sophomore year. (most girls do it in spring since summer is so busy). And take again in early Fall and maybe winter. You don't need to hit their athletic minimum but need to be close enough that schools are confident you can improve. A good PSAT score can also give schools confidence of where your SAT score will fall.

3 You should definitely start reaching out to coaches with highlight reels after 8th grade summer or early in Freshman year. You want to get on their radar so when you attend their camps they put you in their top groups.

The most important part honestly is getting an honest assessment of where you fit in. Across top clubs, the only girls who don't end up playing D1 usually fit into one of the following 3 category

- most common: Targeting schools at too high a level of lacrosse for them
- only targeting high-academic D1 schools which are very competitive
- having a red strike in the process: poor grades, bad attitude, problem parents


Please let me know if I missed anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The concept of fairly equal playing time during recruiting years absolutely makes sense. I would think that would be fairly standard since the clubs want to tout great recruiting success. And on any top club’s top team the difference in abilities would be minimal so more even playing time might result in a few losses or ties but no blow outs. One thing players and parents forget about are the other things college coaches look for and ask about—coach ability, what type of teammate (girls having sour attitudes for not playing the whole game), team play/lax IQ (not driving and dodging a million ways when you have two open teammates), commitment, resiliency, academics, parents, etc. The girls have to catch their attention but there’s a lot more to getting that offer.

As someone who has been through the recruiting process for girls under both old and new rules, I can tell you that performances in club tourney , especially in the summer before recruiting opens is drastically overrated, at least for those targeting top 30 schools.

Here is a highly simlified version of how recruiting works for all non specialist (goalie, draw) girls

1) 8th grade summer/freshman year: Girls get coaches attention by sending out highlight film. Coaches will often invite to prospect days via club director. Girls also register on college's own recruiting website and enter profile including grades. Girls should already have a realistic target list of 15-20 schools by now. If you can make american select / UA, definitely play.

2) fall/winter sophomore year: coaches start watching girls live, invite more to prospect days and starting building a list for summer recruiting. For top prospects, these are the most important games you will play in front of coaches. (Most top schools will already have a list down to 75-100 girls by now). Go to showcases where your targeted coaches will be.

3) girls take PSAT in fall and SAT/ACT in spring or summer. PSATS are incredibly important if you are targeting a high academic school. If a schools doesn't think you will qualify, the recruiting process often ends at this point.

4) Summer before junior year: Girls play in summer tourneys but more importntly go to prospect days of targeted schools, if invited.. Coaches will watch girls they are already recruiting to validate their lists, but it is rare for a girl to jump on their radar at this time. If schools are interested, then they will invite you to their prospect days via your director. Go to top showcases if you qualify. Send your SAT scores and grades before September 1st. If you aren't invited to a prospect day, go at your own peril. You won't be in a top group and very hard to stand out

5) Initial contact period: During September, coaches reach out. Generally top girls will get offers first week of September and have 3-4 weeks to decide while they keep other girls "warm". Non top 25 schools will reach out to alot more but often not make offers. Some girls will get "contingent" offers based on SAT scores (if they havent taken them) or fall semester junior grades. Be sure to ask coaches where you are on their list.

6) November fall club tourneys: Top 25 teams probably have all scholarship $$ committed at this point, but still looking for preferred walk-ons. Other schools looking to validate decisions through fall play. Lots of offers in Nov/Dec Periods.

Good post. Thanks for the info for the rest of us new to all of this.

Thanks for taking the time to write this and hoping you will pls answer follow up questions

You mention grades in the 8th grade summer - do girls really report middle school grades? Or have highlight tape already? Or are you talking end of freshmen year?

Why do PSAT matter for athletes at schools where applicants do not need to submit test scores?

Thank you!

I should have written with the caveat that this is for girls targeting D1.

Please let me know if I answered all of your questions

1) Even at schools which don't require test scores, recruited athletes still need to take and submit. UC-Berkley is only exception. Remember these coaches have to convince their school to admit your daughter after effectively 4 semesters of high school.

2) You should plan to take SATS for the first time spring or summer of sophomore year. (most girls do it in spring since summer is so busy). And take again in early Fall and maybe winter. You don't need to hit their athletic minimum but need to be close enough that schools are confident you can improve. A good PSAT score can also give schools confidence of where your SAT score will fall.

3 You should definitely start reaching out to coaches with highlight reels after 8th grade summer or early in Freshman year. You want to get on their radar so when you attend their camps they put you in their top groups.

The most important part honestly is getting an honest assessment of where you fit in. Across top clubs, the only girls who don't end up playing D1 usually fit into one of the following 3 category

- most common: Targeting schools at too high a level of lacrosse for them
- only targeting high-academic D1 schools which are very competitive
- having a red strike in the process: poor grades, bad attitude, problem parents


Please let me know if I missed anything

Shout out to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i’m beginning to think this thread is just the local club directors responding to each other!

I was thinking the same thing. For sure the Caps owners are on here. I don't blame them for closing ranks around those that are entertaining the idea of going to Skywalker's, Hero's or M/D. They are trying to build a business in this area, so the idea of losing top end girls to Baltimore clubs would not be a positive development.

Folks still having trouble accepting how Capital's equal rotations can compete with MDs "best" who play 80 percent of each game ... and be better at recruiting.

I don't fault MD club owners and coaches from engaging here out of fear their players who never see the field might want to try and make Capital and get more exposure.

I mean ... It's not lost on anyone that the MD boydads are pretty tilted by Capital 23's recruiting success. Just wait until the 24s!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i’m beginning to think this thread is just the local club directors responding to each other!

I was thinking the same thing. For sure the Caps owners are on here. I don't blame them for closing ranks around those that are entertaining the idea of going to Skywalker's, Hero's or M/D. They are trying to build a business in this area, so the idea of losing top end girls to Baltimore clubs would not be a positive development.

Capital is a parent-run non-profit. Not a business at all, which has its positives and negatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i’m beginning to think this thread is just the local club directors responding to each other!

I was thinking the same thing. For sure the Caps owners are on here. I don't blame them for closing ranks around those that are entertaining the idea of going to Skywalker's, Hero's or M/D. They are trying to build a business in this area, so the idea of losing top end girls to Baltimore clubs would not be a positive development.

Capital is a parent-run non-profit. Not a business at all, which has its positives and negatives.

I don’t think that is the case anymore!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:** And if you are a goalie, draw specialist or low defender, these games are almost entirely meaningless. You aren't getting a D1 offer unless you have played in front of the coach at a camp or his/her prospect days.

Assuming this to be the case and you had a goalie daughter who dreams of D1, what would you be looking for in a club and how would you rank the NoVA and MoCo options (putting aside commute and price)?

What age is she now?

For a goalie, you want to look for 2 things

1) good goalie specific coaching and
2) playing a tough schedule.

Reps matter for a goalie

In terms of NoVa clubs, Stars has good goalie coaching but plays in real weak schedules. Pride plays in the top tourneys.

If she is good enough to make Pride Red, then she should play there. If not, I'd play for Stars and get good private goalie coaching.

Also, it is more of a drive but both of the top AA clubs have very good goalie coaching. Worth a look at Integrity and MDU at the youth level.

Also you should be proactive about be willing to guest play for other teams. Lots of clubs, especially out of state, are often in need of a goalie for tourneys. (especially in november when hockey is going).

Focus needs to be skill development and reps. Like i mentioned, goalie scholarships are earned at showcases and prospect days. Club plays a very low role in recruiting.

What’s the best way for goalies or field players to know about guest play options? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:** And if you are a goalie, draw specialist or low defender, these games are almost entirely meaningless. You aren't getting a D1 offer unless you have played in front of the coach at a camp or his/her prospect days.

Assuming this to be the case and you had a goalie daughter who dreams of D1, what would you be looking for in a club and how would you rank the NoVA and MoCo options (putting aside commute and price)?

What age is she now?

For a goalie, you want to look for 2 things

1) good goalie specific coaching and
2) playing a tough schedule.

Reps matter for a goalie

In terms of NoVa clubs, Stars has good goalie coaching but plays in real weak schedules. Pride plays in the top tourneys.

If she is good enough to make Pride Red, then she should play there. If not, I'd play for Stars and get good private goalie coaching.

Also, it is more of a drive but both of the top AA clubs have very good goalie coaching. Worth a look at Integrity and MDU at the youth level.

Also you should be proactive about be willing to guest play for other teams. Lots of clubs, especially out of state, are often in need of a goalie for tourneys. (especially in november when hockey is going).

Focus needs to be skill development and reps. Like i mentioned, goalie scholarships are earned at showcases and prospect days. Club plays a very low role in recruiting.

What’s the best way for goalies or field players to know about guest play options? Thanks.

Email the tournament director and they can help make the connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i’m beginning to think this thread is just the local club directors responding to each other!

I was thinking the same thing. For sure the Caps owners are on here. I don't blame them for closing ranks around those that are entertaining the idea of going to Skywalker's, Hero's or M/D. They are trying to build a business in this area, so the idea of losing top end girls to Baltimore clubs would not be a positive development.

Capital is a parent-run non-profit. Not a business at all, which has its positives and negatives.

Incorrect. Gussie Johns bought Capital in 2018/19 and now runs it as a business. Totally different animal business-wise now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i’m beginning to think this thread is just the local club directors responding to each other!

I was thinking the same thing. For sure the Caps owners are on here. I don't blame them for closing ranks around those that are entertaining the idea of going to Skywalker's, Hero's or M/D. They are trying to build a business in this area, so the idea of losing top end girls to Baltimore clubs would not be a positive development.

Don't bring logic into the equation here. You don't want to upset the balding, wanna be sports dads who rock their Capital t shirt in the family Christmas card. When you have Pride and Stars as your main feeder programs, you have to grasp at any straw you can. The competition in the DMV isn't getting better, in fact it's getting more diluted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:** And if you are a goalie, draw specialist or low defender, these games are almost entirely meaningless. You aren't getting a D1 offer unless you have played in front of the coach at a camp or his/her prospect days.

Assuming this to be the case and you had a goalie daughter who dreams of D1, what would you be looking for in a club and how would you rank the NoVA and MoCo options (putting aside commute and price)?

What age is she now?

For a goalie, you want to look for 2 things

1) good goalie specific coaching and
2) playing a tough schedule.

Reps matter for a goalie

In terms of NoVa clubs, Stars has good goalie coaching but plays in real weak schedules. Pride plays in the top tourneys.

If she is good enough to make Pride Red, then she should play there. If not, I'd play for Stars and get good private goalie coaching.

Also, it is more of a drive but both of the top AA clubs have very good goalie coaching. Worth a look at Integrity and MDU at the youth level.

Also you should be proactive about be willing to guest play for other teams. Lots of clubs, especially out of state, are often in need of a goalie for tourneys. (especially in november when hockey is going).

Focus needs to be skill development and reps. Like i mentioned, goalie scholarships are earned at showcases and prospect days. Club plays a very low role in recruiting.

What’s the best way for goalies or field players to know about guest play options? Thanks.

Email the tournament director and they can help make the connections.

Club directors can help a lot. Stars director has helped her goalies like this. Very hard to guest play as a field player.