Georgetown Visitation Lacrosse- Recruiting Practices

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Heard same thing about soccer at Visi - coach coaches an outside team, gives preference to the girls on that team.
Visi admin must just not care that much.

You should not believe everything you hear (and should not make assumptions, especially without knowing the facts). My daughter played varsity soccer at Visi the last two years. The coach definitely does NOT coach club soccer. Ironically, many parents wish that she did - just like the coach at NCS, SR, etc. - because it can be an indicator of a quality coach. At any rate, it's a non-issue now, since the soccer coach resigned a couple of months ago due to work obligations, and the school is currently conducting a search.

Apparently there is a high rate of turnover then - do they have a new coach every year? Why would that be?
This was a man coach with an msi classic team and he favored those girls (over other travel girls).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is ISL better than WCAC?

Yes. A greater number of strong teams.

[Anonymous]

Apparently there is a high rate of turnover then - do they have a new coach every year? Why would that be?
This was a man coach with an msi classic team and he favored those girls (over other travel girls).

I think you must be confusing Visi with another school. The coach that just announced she was leaving had been there for four years - and she was not a man! The assistant for the last several years is also a woman. Neither coach has been involved in any capacity with MSI. The coach for many years before the just-retired coach took over is also the athletic director of the school, and he coached for many years before deciding to focus on just his AD duties. So - not a high rate of turnover, and no male coaches involved with MSI.

All of this demonstrates yet again why this forum is so dangerous. People post things they "heard" as "facts," and often make completely baseless statements.

[Anonymous]

It is so blatant the Visitation Lacrosse coaches are abusing their power and putting self ambition first, not the girls or the values of Visitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so blatant the Visitation Lacrosse coaches are abusing their power and putting self ambition first, not the girls or the values of Visitation.

OMG that is ridiculous. My daughter doesn't go to Visi and we aren't Catholic but she is a top lax player in the DC area and attends another private here. You have no idea what you are talking about. There is nothing, NOTHING wrong with highschool lax coaches also coaching club teams. In fact, it is beneficial for the school and the girls. Stop blathering on about a topic on which you are clearly clueless!

[Anonymous]

So is lacrosse a sacrament? Did Jesus preach about lacrosse in one of the gospels? I can't figure out why a Catholic girls' school should be as celebrated for lacrosse as a private lacrosse club. I do wish schools focused on education and private businesses focused on sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a daughter who wants to play lacrosse. Looking for info on making the Visitation lacrosse team. I heard they prefer girls from Capital Club Lacrosse. I know it is competitive so want to see if Caps is a feeder to making Visi lax. We play club lax but not for Caps. Can anyone offer insight?

You and your daughter both play?

[Anonymous]

The pressure to play and get recruited at Visi is unbelievable. My daughter is a 10th grader on the lacrosse team and is one of just a small handful who haven't committed to college. Imagine the pressure!! It is really too bad that the parents and coaches can't abide by the new understanding that things are moving too fast.

http://laxmagazine.com/college_women/DI/2015-16/news/092815_college_lacrosse_coaches_lobby_to_stem_early_recruiting

Imagine a 10th grader committing to a service academy to play lacrosse. Way too soon to be demanding this kind of commitment from these girls.

[Anonymous]

Are lacrosse scholarships really that great? This whole system is the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are lacrosse scholarships really that great? This whole system is the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

PP< it is never bright to call something "stupid" when you are completely clueless about the issue.

It is not about "scholarships" or money. Most families who have kids who play lacrosse at a high level do not need scholarship money. They can afford the top private schools and expensive club fees and college tuition. Schools rarely pay anyone a full scholarship or even more than a few thousand, to play lacrosse in college. Its about getting an "leg up" or an extra "hook" into a super competitive college. There is really fierce competition to get into the top colleges these days and if you can find something that gets you noticed, offer something that a school really wants such as great lacrosse skills, you have a tremendously better chance of gaining admission. The Ivies, Stanford, Duke, UVA, UNC, USC, the top SLACs, in fact, basically all of the most competitive and highly regarded colleges and universities have lacrosse teams and actively recruit for lacrosse. This means that, if you have a smart kid who does really well in school and on tests, and PLAYS LACROSSE at a high-level, their odds of gaining admission soar, yes SOAR. Kids from our area regularly get recruited to the colleges and universities I have named above to play lacrosse. These are kids who can hack it academically too but it gives them a better shot than the rest of the upper middle class private school kids who are applying to the same colleges. I get that many folks don't like or appreciate lacrosse but top colleges do and their alums do too and that means support, increased name recognition in certain circles, and more donations from happy alums. That is what the whole system is about, well that and a love of lacrosse, which many of us have anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are lacrosse scholarships really that great? This whole system is the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

PP< it is never bright to call something "stupid" when you are completely clueless about the issue.

It is not about "scholarships" or money. Most families who have kids who play lacrosse at a high level do not need scholarship money. They can afford the top private schools and expensive club fees and college tuition. Schools rarely pay anyone a full scholarship or even more than a few thousand, to play lacrosse in college. Its about getting an "leg up" or an extra "hook" into a super competitive college. There is really fierce competition to get into the top colleges these days and if you can find something that gets you noticed, offer something that a school really wants such as great lacrosse skills, you have a tremendously better chance of gaining admission. The Ivies, Stanford, Duke, UVA, UNC, USC, the top SLACs, in fact, basically all of the most competitive and highly regarded colleges and universities have lacrosse teams and actively recruit for lacrosse. This means that, if you have a smart kid who does really well in school and on tests, and PLAYS LACROSSE at a high-level, their odds of gaining admission soar, yes SOAR. Kids from our area regularly get recruited to the colleges and universities I have named above to play lacrosse. These are kids who can hack it academically too but it gives them a better shot than the rest of the upper middle class private school kids who are applying to the same colleges. I get that many folks don't like or appreciate lacrosse but top colleges do and their alums do too and that means support, increased name recognition in certain circles, and more donations from happy alums. That is what the whole system is about, well that and a love of lacrosse, which many of us have anyway.

Thanks for the pedantic lecture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are lacrosse scholarships really that great? This whole system is the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

PP< it is never bright to call something "stupid" when you are completely clueless about the issue.

It is not about "scholarships" or money. Most families who have kids who play lacrosse at a high level do not need scholarship money. They can afford the top private schools and expensive club fees and college tuition. Schools rarely pay anyone a full scholarship or even more than a few thousand, to play lacrosse in college. Its about getting an "leg up" or an extra "hook" into a super competitive college. There is really fierce competition to get into the top colleges these days and if you can find something that gets you noticed, offer something that a school really wants such as great lacrosse skills, you have a tremendously better chance of gaining admission. The Ivies, Stanford, Duke, UVA, UNC, USC, the top SLACs, in fact, basically all of the most competitive and highly regarded colleges and universities have lacrosse teams and actively recruit for lacrosse. This means that, if you have a smart kid who does really well in school and on tests, and PLAYS LACROSSE at a high-level, their odds of gaining admission soar, yes SOAR. Kids from our area regularly get recruited to the colleges and universities I have named above to play lacrosse. These are kids who can hack it academically too but it gives them a better shot than the rest of the upper middle class private school kids who are applying to the same colleges. I get that many folks don't like or appreciate lacrosse but top colleges do and their alums do too and that means support, increased name recognition in certain circles, and more donations from happy alums. That is what the whole system is about, well that and a love of lacrosse, which many of us have anyway.

Do they soar, or do they SOAR? This seems like an important distinction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so blatant the Visitation Lacrosse coaches are abusing their power and putting self ambition first, not the girls or the values of Visitation.

I agree with this. They recruited a Senior pitcher and catcher from outside of the school to come in and take over so they could win the ISL. What a slap in the face to the rest of the team that worked so hard for years. No matter what the sport, the goal at this so called catholic school is to win at all costs. And by costs, it means your financial aid donations and your own child's playing time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so blatant the Visitation Lacrosse coaches are abusing their power and putting self ambition first, not the girls or the values of Visitation.

I agree with this. They recruited a Senior pitcher and catcher from outside of the school to come in and take over so they could win the ISL. What a slap in the face to the rest of the team that worked so hard for years. No matter what the sport, the goal at this so called catholic school is to win at all costs. And by costs, it means your financial aid donations and your own child's playing time.

Excellent example!! Visitation coaches (of more than just lax), the athletic dir and the admin have no loyalty to girls who have paid their dues & given so much time, effort and leadership to their team. Looks like its all about the ISL win and sadly so much is compromised because of it. Parents need to be aware and let Visi know that it is not ok.

[Anonymous]

I can only say that our experience with Visitation lacrosse and the current coaches has been nothing short of excellent. I think there are parents who don't understand that there is nothing wrong with wanting to win and putting forth your best players to achieve that goal. Our experience is that these coaches put the Visitation motto of "faith, vision and purpose" first - and winning, second. Our girls do service as a team, help run clinics as a team, worked at our first Visitation Cub Classic as a team, and several helped out with tryouts for a Northern Virginia club team not named Capital. I could not ask for better role models for my daughter than these coaches. And as for the parent who commented that these coaches "pull the strings," well, I should hope so. Because there is nothing worse than parents pulling the strings through the AD to run the team.