Anonymous wrote:Prior poster: I actually don't care if a particular school admits poorly qualified lacrosse players, since I'm confident my son will be accepted to a top school based on academic merit. Way too much emphasis on non-revenue sports on this blog, when more intelligent conversations could occur on more important topics.

Anonymous wrote:Who cares about lacrosse? There isn't even a viable professional league. Lacrosse should be dropped from the NCAA program as it isn't even a sport played throughout the US, let alone the world.

Anonymous wrote:The commentary in the last couple of posts on "commitments" is accurate; however, in general the colleges do try to honor them out of self-interest. If the coach of a top lacrosse program is seen as not honoring those commitments, it will make it more difficult for them in future recruiting. (Lots of discussion about these sorts of things on lacrosse forums like LaxPower.)

For the Ivies, you'll see language about a recruit "committing to the admissions process" at Ivy School X. That reflects the fact that the coaches at the Ivies have less control over the admissions process (although of course they have significant input) and that the standardized test scores (not available for freshman/sophomores) will be a major part of that equation.

Finally, yes, Division III recruiting generally happens later. Much more common to see kids focusing on DIII schools in the summer after junior year and committing (for what that's worth) in the fall of senior year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The commentary in the last couple of posts on "commitments" is accurate; however, in general the colleges do try to honor them out of self-interest. If the coach of a top lacrosse program is seen as not honoring those commitments, it will make it more difficult for them in future recruiting. (Lots of discussion about these sorts of things on lacrosse forums like LaxPower.)

For the Ivies, you'll see language about a recruit "committing to the admissions process" at Ivy School X. That reflects the fact that the coaches at the Ivies have less control over the admissions process (although of course they have significant input) and that the standardized test scores (not available for freshman/sophomores) will be a major part of that equation.

Finally, yes, Division III recruiting generally happens later. Much more common to see kids focusing on DIII schools in the summer after junior year and committing (for what that's worth) in the fall of senior year.

The recent data are challenging some of these points. Our son is one of the "commits to the admissions process" at an Ivy, which basically means he has a preferenced chance of admission if he meets certain academic requirements. The requirements are very high, and if you blow it all bets are off. Also, there are situations where kids who were offered spots have them pulled. This year there is one Landon senior who was a lacrosse commit to UVa, and he didn't hold up in the grades and is out.

Also, there are examples of programs that have a coaching change and rescind the prior coach's commit list. Happened at Penn State couple years ago and is happening now at Cornell. Something to be aware of as a risk.

Basically I think this whole lacrosse thing is a blessing to be able to get your kid favored to be admitted to a good school that he otherwise would not be certain to get into. The scholarship money in lacrosse is also really low...25% of tuition is considered a jackpot. So in many regards, if you can't afford an expensive college, you'll find better luck having some lacrosse coach help with admissions at a school with a great endowment. Financial aid is a better dollars possibility than lacrosse. Then there is the other side...the 15 year olds of course love the status of bei ng a "commit" and the parents love to brag on it too. Is what it is. I just think focus on securing a good college for academics and that is the most you and your kid can see out of this. Nobody is going to make millions in this sport so prepare for a future.

All good points. It is a continuously evolving (or devolving?!) process and your current experience is helpful. I'm glad you highlighted the issue of available scholarship money. For many families in this area, it is more about getting the additional help at getting into a great school like an Ivy, but there's also a lot of people who think there is a pot of gold at the end of the recruiting rainbow and that just isn't the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The commentary in the last couple of posts on "commitments" is accurate; however, in general the colleges do try to honor them out of self-interest. If the coach of a top lacrosse program is seen as not honoring those commitments, it will make it more difficult for them in future recruiting. (Lots of discussion about these sorts of things on lacrosse forums like LaxPower.)

For the Ivies, you'll see language about a recruit "committing to the admissions process" at Ivy School X. That reflects the fact that the coaches at the Ivies have less control over the admissions process (although of course they have significant input) and that the standardized test scores (not available for freshman/sophomores) will be a major part of that equation.

Finally, yes, Division III recruiting generally happens later. Much more common to see kids focusing on DIII schools in the summer after junior year and committing (for what that's worth) in the fall of senior year.

The recent data are challenging some of these points. Our son is one of the "commits to the admissions process" at an Ivy, which basically means he has a preferenced chance of admission if he meets certain academic requirements. The requirements are very high, and if you blow it all bets are off. Also, there are situations where kids who were offered spots have them pulled. This year there is one Landon senior who was a lacrosse commit to UVa, and he didn't hold up in the grades and is out.

Also, there are examples of programs that have a coaching change and rescind the prior coach's commit list. Happened at Penn State couple years ago and is happening now at Cornell. Something to be aware of as a risk.

Basically I think this whole lacrosse thing is a blessing to be able to get your kid favored to be admitted to a good school that he otherwise would not be certain to get into. The scholarship money in lacrosse is also really low...25% of tuition is considered a jackpot. So in many regards, if you can't afford an expensive college, you'll find better luck having some lacrosse coach help with admissions at a school with a great endowment. Financial aid is a better dollars possibility than lacrosse. Then there is the other side...the 15 year olds of course love the status of bei ng a "commit" and the parents love to brag on it too. Is what it is. I just think focus on securing a good college for academics and that is the most you and your kid can see out of this. Nobody is going to make millions in this sport so prepare for a future.

Anonymous wrote:It's not semantics pp. DI can give athletic scholarships to super rich kids; whereas, DIII can give FA to needy students but not super rich kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The commentary in the last couple of posts on "commitments" is accurate; however, in general the colleges do try to honor them out of self-interest. If the coach of a top lacrosse program is seen as not honoring those commitments, it will make it more difficult for them in future recruiting. (Lots of discussion about these sorts of things on lacrosse forums like LaxPower.)

For the Ivies, you'll see language about a recruit "committing to the admissions process" at Ivy School X. That reflects the fact that the coaches at the Ivies have less control over the admissions process (although of course they have significant input) and that the standardized test scores (not available for freshman/sophomores) will be a major part of that equation.

Finally, yes, Division III recruiting generally happens later. Much more common to see kids focusing on DIII schools in the summer after junior year and committing (for what that's worth) in the fall of senior year.

The recent data are challenging some of these points. Our son is one of the "commits to the admissions process" at an Ivy, which basically means he has a preferenced chance of admission if he meets certain academic requirements. The requirements are very high, and if you blow it all bets are off. Also, there are situations where kids who were offered spots have them pulled. This year there is one Landon senior who was a lacrosse commit to UVa, and he didn't hold up in the grades and is out.

Also, there are examples of programs that have a coaching change and rescind the prior coach's commit list. Happened at Penn State couple years ago and is happening now at Cornell. Something to be aware of as a risk.

Basically I think this whole lacrosse thing is a blessing to be able to get your kid favored to be admitted to a good school that he otherwise would not be certain to get into. The scholarship money in lacrosse is also really low...25% of tuition is considered a jackpot. So in many regards, if you can't afford an expensive college, you'll find better luck having some lacrosse coach help with admissions at a school with a great endowment. Financial aid is a better dollars possibility than lacrosse. Then there is the other side...the 15 year olds of course love the status of bei ng a "commit" and the parents love to brag on it too. Is what it is. I just think focus on securing a good college for academics and that is the most you and your kid can see out of this. Nobody is going to make millions in this sport so prepare for a future.

Thank you for the info. Can you be "recruited" to play lax at college, and get the admissions bump, but get no $. That would be fine by our family. DS is more interested in playing at the college level, and perhaps getting an admissions bump for a school he might otherwise not get into.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The commentary in the last couple of posts on "commitments" is accurate; however, in general the colleges do try to honor them out of self-interest. If the coach of a top lacrosse program is seen as not honoring those commitments, it will make it more difficult for them in future recruiting. (Lots of discussion about these sorts of things on lacrosse forums like LaxPower.)

For the Ivies, you'll see language about a recruit "committing to the admissions process" at Ivy School X. That reflects the fact that the coaches at the Ivies have less control over the admissions process (although of course they have significant input) and that the standardized test scores (not available for freshman/sophomores) will be a major part of that equation.

Finally, yes, Division III recruiting generally happens later. Much more common to see kids focusing on DIII schools in the summer after junior year and committing (for what that's worth) in the fall of senior year.

The recent data are challenging some of these points. Our son is one of the "commits to the admissions process" at an Ivy, which basically means he has a preferenced chance of admission if he meets certain academic requirements. The requirements are very high, and if you blow it all bets are off. Also, there are situations where kids who were offered spots have them pulled. This year there is one Landon senior who was a lacrosse commit to UVa, and he didn't hold up in the grades and is out.

Also, there are examples of programs that have a coaching change and rescind the prior coach's commit list. Happened at Penn State couple years ago and is happening now at Cornell. Something to be aware of as a risk.

Basically I think this whole lacrosse thing is a blessing to be able to get your kid favored to be admitted to a good school that he otherwise would not be certain to get into. The scholarship money in lacrosse is also really low...25% of tuition is considered a jackpot. So in many regards, if you can't afford an expensive college, you'll find better luck having some lacrosse coach help with admissions at a school with a great endowment. Financial aid is a better dollars possibility than lacrosse. Then there is the other side...the 15 year olds of course love the status of bei ng a "commit" and the parents love to brag on it too. Is what it is. I just think focus on securing a good college for academics and that is the most you and your kid can see out of this. Nobody is going to make millions in this sport so prepare for a future.

Anonymous wrote:The commentary in the last couple of posts on "commitments" is accurate; however, in general the colleges do try to honor them out of self-interest. If the coach of a top lacrosse program is seen as not honoring those commitments, it will make it more difficult for them in future recruiting. (Lots of discussion about these sorts of things on lacrosse forums like LaxPower.)

For the Ivies, you'll see language about a recruit "committing to the admissions process" at Ivy School X. That reflects the fact that the coaches at the Ivies have less control over the admissions process (although of course they have significant input) and that the standardized test scores (not available for freshman/sophomores) will be a major part of that equation.

Finally, yes, Division III recruiting generally happens later. Much more common to see kids focusing on DIII schools in the summer after junior year and committing (for what that's worth) in the fall of senior year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it only D1 which gets commitments from/recruits freshmen and sophomores?

All these so-called commitments are is a statement by a boy to the coach of a college that saying your school is where I want to go.

No one signs anything. No one is offered anything by the school like a scholarship or even a paid official visit.

Recruiting, as defined by the NCAA, can't even occur till the Jr year. There are a whole set of rules and a handbook available on-line at NCAA.org

Players are free to do anything they want after "committing". And the school isn't bound to do anything.

There are different rules for DI and DIII since the DIII can't offer grants in aid.

Do yourself a favor. Read the handbook. You'll be light years ahead of everybody on here in terms of understanding the official terminology and the rules.

It's a verbal promise from a 15 yr old.

It's a silly practice that tends to limit the perceived flexibility of the student-athlete without any real commitment from the school.

We have had three boys go through the recruiting process, two of which were for more than one sport.


But the same rules apply to football and basketball and that doesn't stop the hoopla over "commits." We get that "decomitting" is possible, "committing" is still noteworthy.