First, check out this video we posted last year:
https://vimeo.com/1220297963?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
College coaches aren’t expecting you to know every detail about their university or program. But you should know enough to have a thoughtful conversation and explain why you’re genuinely interested.
Here’s where to start.
Start With the Team Website
This should be your first stop.
Look through the current roster. Pay attention to:
- Positions
- Graduation years
- Players’ hometowns
- Player bios
- Recent news
- Game recaps
- Past schedules and results
Also look at the coaching staff.
How long has the head coach been there? What is each coach’s background? Has the staff recently changed?
This will give you a much better understanding of the program before you ever get on the phone.
Understand Their Conference + Recent Performance
Know what conference the program competes in and familiarize yourself with some of its regular opponents.
Look at recent IWLCA and NCAA rankings and past seasons.
You don’t need to memorize records and statistics! The goal is simply to understand the program you’re talking to.
Research the SCHOOL, Too
Remember: you’re not only choosing a lacrosse team. You’re choosing where you may live, learn and grow for four years.
Visit the university’s website and research:
- Majors you’re interested in
- Admissions information
- Acceptance rate
- Test-optional policies
- Average GPA and standardized test scores
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Campus location and size
If you’ve never visited campus, take a virtual tour.
Then ask yourself:
Could I actually see myself going to school here?
Go Beyond the Official Websites
A university website can tell you facts. Social media can sometimes give you a better feel for the experience.
Follow the lacrosse program and look at:
- Team traditions
- Game-day environment
- Team activities
- Player features
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Overall team culture
Also look at the university’s social accounts to get a feel for student life outside of athletics.
Get an Insider Perspective
If you have a connection to a current or former player, ask about their experience.
You can learn a lot by talking to someone who has actually lived it.
Ask your club coaches, high school coaches, alumni and older teammates if they know anyone associated with the program.
Use Your Research to Ask BETTER Questions
Here’s where all of this preparation pays off.
Instead of asking:
“Do you have a biology major?”
—which you could find online—you can use what you’ve learned to have a deeper conversation.
For example:
“I saw that you offer a biology major. How do your athletes typically balance labs with your practice and travel schedule?”
That’s a completely different question.
Your research should help you avoid asking coaches things you could easily Google and instead give you the background to ask questions that help you understand what being a student-athlete in that program is actually like.
You Don’t Need to Know Everything
Don’t spend three hours memorizing every player’s hometown before a phone call.
The goal isn’t to impress a coach with trivia.
The goal is to walk into the conversation informed, interested and ready to learn more.
Do your research. Write down a few notes. Prepare two or three questions.
Then put the notes aside and have a conversation.
Happy recruiting!
– Tori & The LineUP Team
