College Lacrosse

Getting Recruited

Everything you need to navigate the college lacrosse recruiting process — from your freshman year through signing day.

Start Here

The recruiting process is long, often confusing, and expensive if you go in without a plan. These two guides cover what every player and family needs to know before spending a dollar on showcases or prospect days.

Guide

Recruiting 101: A Guide for Players and Parents

The full picture — school lists, timelines, scholarships, prospect days, showcase strategy, and NCAA recruiting rules explained plainly.

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Guide

So You’re Making a Highlight Tape — Here’s What Actually Matters

What to include, what to cut, how to format it, and exactly what coaches are looking for when they press play on your tape.

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The Recruiting Timeline

NCAA rules changed in 2017 — coaches cannot contact players before September 1 of junior year. Here’s what each year should look like.

Freshman & Sophomore
Focus on grades, development, and finding the right club program. Coaches cannot contact you — use this time to build your list of 50–100 schools and research academics at each one.
Summer Before Junior Year
Attend 2–3 targeted recruiting showcases. Coaches can watch but still cannot speak to you. Put your highlight tape together before this summer.
September 1 — Junior Year
Communication opens. Begin emailing coaches directly with your resume, schedule, and highlight tape. Attend prospect days at schools genuinely interested in you.
Junior & Senior Year
Official visits, offers, and decisions. Most recruiting wraps up by the end of junior year for competitive programs. Senior year is about finishing and formalizing.

Find the Right Showcases

Getting in front of college coaches means being at the right events. The Lax Lock showcases directory lists 56 recruiting events with dates, locations, and registration links — updated every season.

A few things to know before you register:

  • Always confirm which college coaches are attending before paying. A big name on the flyer doesn’t mean their staff will be there.
  • If a showcase conflicts with a club tournament, talk to your coach first. Missing team events for individual exposure rarely goes over well.
  • Freshman and sophomores generally don’t need to be at national showcases — coaches can’t talk to you anyway. Save the money for junior year.
Browse Recruiting Showcases

Work with a Coach

Private coaching before and during your recruiting summers can make a real difference — on film and in person. The Lax Lock coaches directory lists Bay Area coaches offering private lessons, with contact info and background.

Find a Private Coach