My son is a rising 9th grader who will attending a private school known for lacrosse. We are relocating from an area where baseball still rules, so this ultra competitive lacrosse scene is new to me. Do the invitational recruitment tournaments start this summer for rising 9th graders?

Anonymous wrote:Thank you OP for this thread. Single lax mom here who knows nothing about the sport, but my sons are fantatics and from what I have been told by other parents and coaches, may be recruitable if it is something they are interested in pursuing.

My oldest son is a rising 10th grader. I guess we've missed the boat on Div. 1? My son is actually more interested in attending a Div. 3 school. Has that boat left the harbor too?

Your son has not necessarily missed the boat but if he has his sights set on D1 you need to get busy reaching out to coaches. First ask his current coach (HS and/or club) their honest take no his recruitability and if so which division they can see him in. Let them be your guide, if they think he is D1 material, then also let them reach out to anyone they might know connections are common with the sport. Then circle in on the kind of school/location get the emails of the coach off the website and have your son send an intro email telling them some basic info and be sure a small clip (highlight tape even a short one) is included. If they like what they see they will respond.

For D3 no your are not late all, its just beginning really into the junior year and normally late summer into fall of senior year is when you might be offered a spot for a D3 team, so he has plenty of time. But in today's fast paced recruiting world..things are happening earlier and earlier so best bet is to stay ahead of the curve ball and reach out to these coaches, it cannot hurt and will only help.

Best of luck and don't be bashful about enlisting the help of the HS and club coach, they should play a pretty pivotal role in this process and if they believe in him, then it will be their pleasure to help out.

Thank you OP for this thread. Single lax mom here who knows nothing about the sport, but my sons are fantatics and from what I have been told by other parents and coaches, may be recruitable if it is something they are interested in pursuing.

My oldest son is a rising 10th grader. I guess we've missed the boat on Div. 1? My son is actually more interested in attending a Div. 3 school. Has that boat left the harbor too?

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

Crucial. I am not OP, btw.

More so than physical size?

Depends on position--but even the big guys are lightning fast. It's a quick sport.

It is a very fast paced sport and in college it is much more so. One highly recruited defender though on my sons team is really not that fast, but hes a beast huge (6'4") and daunting on the field..he is a force but lacks the amazing speed of most of the players. For what he has to do though, defend he is perfect for the job.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

Crucial. I am not OP, btw.

More so than physical size?

Really depends on position, for a middie or attack ,size is least relevant, speed and agility most. Defenders size is most relevant and speed less so. For those that play both, long stick middies they need to have the whole package.

Anonymous wrote:How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

For any offensive positions speed is very important, you realize this when you watch a college game. I remember the first time we watched, it was so revved up compared to HS. It was remarkable in the power, speed and overall level of play. So speed is quite important, obviously less so for defenders though it certainly helps. I think what most coaches really emphasized was the overall athleticism not so much position specific qualities..they are looking for an all around athlete because sometimes they may change your position on you as happened with one of my sons.

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Anonymous wrote:Besides playing in college and scholarships that come with that, what are some other benefits of playing?

Not OP, but if I saw a resume come through my desk from a Div. 1 lacrosse player, it would definitely be put on the top of the pile. I would know that this person is a hard worker, can set his/her sights on a goal and achieve it, and would be a great team player.

And hopefully it wouldn't be from George Huguely V. As an employer, I'd be curious about any Div. 1 athlete, but would certainly check them out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

Crucial. I am not OP, btw.

More so than physical size?

Depends on position--but even the big guys are lightning fast. It's a quick sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

Crucial. I am not OP, btw.

More so than physical size?

Anonymous wrote:How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

Crucial. I am not OP, btw.

How important is speed to be able to play at the college level?

Anonymous wrote:Other benefits of playing college lacrosse - business relationships

Wall Street / Commercial Real Estate

The money that comes from those far out paces anything at the professional sports level.

Lionel Messi would disagree!

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Anonymous wrote:What age did your kids start playing? Where/what club?

My sibling and I were Div 1 soccer players, but the travel soccer thing these days make me want to stab my eyes out.

Son is 8. DH went to Hopkins son is no gung-ho to quit travel soccer and go into LAX.

My kids do travel soccer and lacrosse. If soccer makes you want to stab your eyes out don't play lax, it is much worse.

If you are in MD you are stuck with Bethesda and Club blue. You could drive to VA and play madlax.

Have to agree here, soccer is much more "tame" and less of "scene" than the lacrosse field sidelines.....TRUST ME on that!

Ha!! Thanks for the tip. I grew up in am intense soccer family. The problem with soccer is the picks are soooooo political--even if you are David Beckham you have a good chance of not making the National team.

Crazy parents I can tune out---shady, political shit not so much.

Is it straightforward or does it also have that element?

LAX is all politics, soccer less so.

Hmmm. I have heard the opposite. Every kid on our top team had a parent working behind the scenes with the coaches or travel director. I know I'm high up in the organization and repulsed by it.

You mean academies, or national team? there are other ways to get exposure for soccer, not so much for lax.

Other benefits of playing college lacrosse - business relationships

Wall Street / Commercial Real Estate

The money that comes from those far out paces anything at the professional sports level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What age did your kids start playing? Where/what club?

My sibling and I were Div 1 soccer players, but the travel soccer thing these days make me want to stab my eyes out.

Son is 8. DH went to Hopkins son is no gung-ho to quit travel soccer and go into LAX.

My kids do travel soccer and lacrosse. If soccer makes you want to stab your eyes out don't play lax, it is much worse.

If you are in MD you are stuck with Bethesda and Club blue. You could drive to VA and play madlax.

Have to agree here, soccer is much more "tame" and less of "scene" than the lacrosse field sidelines.....TRUST ME on that!

Ha!! Thanks for the tip. I grew up in am intense soccer family. The problem with soccer is the picks are soooooo political--even if you are David Beckham you have a good chance of not making the National team.

Crazy parents I can tune out---shady, political shit not so much.

Is it straightforward or does it also have that element?

LAX is all politics, soccer less so.

Hmmm. I have heard the opposite. Every kid on our top team had a parent working behind the scenes with the coaches or travel director. I know I'm high up in the organization and repulsed by it.