GETTING TO THE OFFICIAL VISIT

 A guide for first time parents of high school juniors with the recruiting process.
By Darryl Delia, Assistant Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach, Fairfield University

 Throughout my years as a recruiting coordinator at the Division one level, every year I come across parents who are going through the recruiting process for the very first time. They all ask similar questions. I thought I would supply answers to some of those questions.

 QUESTION # 1- My son’s going to be a senior next year, when should he contact coaches?

During his junior year is the best time to send a letter to the coaches of those schools that he may be interested in.

 QUESTION # 2- What should be in this letter?

This should be an introduction letter. Make sure you provide your coaches contact information along with your e mail address. It would be a good idea to include an athletic resume. This resume should have vital athletic and academic information to include additional sports participated in as well as honors and statistics. Usually at this point the staff will start a file on your son.

 QUESTION # 3- Can we call coaches?

Yes. Junior prospects and their parents are allowed to call college coaches. Understand that if you do not reach them and you leave a message they will not be able to return your call. My suggestion would be to contact the coaching staff via e mail. They will always respond to e mail messages. After July 1st is when coaches can call rising seniors.

QUESTION # 4 –What should we do if they do not respond?

Most coaches are heavily into recruiting the rising senior class and are totally immersed in getting that class of student athletes prior to responding to the class below. At some point during your junior year you will receive a letter from those schools that you have contacted.

QUESTION # 5- When should we consider coming for an unofficial visit?

As of late many schools have junior recruiting days. That is when prospects from the junior class gets invited to make an unofficial visit to school. At these events the number of prospects invited will vary. Usually a tour and a meet the coach session is included. If it is during the season coaches try to bring you in on a day of a home game so you can watch his team compete. If you do not get to any junior days, start your visits during your junior year. A tour by the admissions department will help give you a perspective. After the tour try and meet with a member of the lacrosse staff. It’s a good idea to notify the staff prior to your coming on campus.

QUESTION # 6- When should we send a highlight film?

Please understand coaches do not want to see highlight films. They prefer full games or extended portions of a game. If you have highlights you can either add them at the end or start the tape with highlights. Please include your uniform number and let them know your uniform color. Send game tapes from your junior season.  It would be a good idea to send film against some of your toughest competition. Expect the films that you send to remain with the coaches that you send them to. Every coach evaluates game tape differently. Don’t expect an answer back right away. Allow them time to get to your tapes.

QUESTION # 7- What should I do about sending my son to the right summer camp?

This is a very good question. It is important that you find out early on what camps you are going to attend. Since there are so many camps going on all summer long you need to make wise decisions. If you really want to get evaluated by a certain coach, contact them and see if their institutional camp is worthy of your son’s lacrosse talent level. If it is consider attending that schools lacrosse camp. The best way to be seen by the most college coaches is to attend one of the many recruiting camps during the summer. All of the top recruiting camps are usually by invitation or recommendation from your high school coach. It’s very important to speak with your coach and let him know you’re interested in a particular camp.

QUESTION # 8- Should we notify the coach letting him know where our son is going to be playing?

Yes. Do so by sending him your season schedule or your summer camp schedule either in a follow up letter or by e-mail.

QUESTION # 9- What takes place after July 1st after his junior year?

At this point coaches will contact you by telephone. All Division 1 coaches are permitted to call and speak to you once a week.

QUESTION # 10- What should we do if we do not hear from the schools that we are interested in.?

Contact the coaching staff again, one last time. It could mean that your son may not be what that school is looking for. If that’s the case move on to the next school that you have interest in. It is possible that the staff may have over looked your son. If so, they will then begin the recruiting process. It’s a good idea to contact coaches that have shown interest in you prior to the July 1st contact date.

QUESTION # 11-How do we narrow down the coaches that we want to speak with.

That process works both ways. Coaches who have shown interest in you early on may now have changed their focus onto other student athletes based on their evaluations of your son. Likewise schools that you are not interested in you should let them know that you are not interested in attending their schools.

QUESTION # 12- My son keeps getting tons of calls from college coaches what should we do?

Although you always want to be polite and courteous, it is very important to be honest with the coaches that call. If your son is not interested he or you must tell the coach that. He has to eliminate the calls from those schools he is not interested in. You will not hurt any of the coach’s feelings and they will appreciate the honesty. If you think that your son is the one who should deliver the news, than have him contact the coach himself.

QUESTION # 13- What is the NCAA clearing house?

For those student athletes that will be participating in Division 1 or Division 2 they will be required to be cleared through NCAA clearing house. Each student should register on line at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. The clearing house  will check on the students initial-eligibility before allowing participation in any athletics.

QUESTION # 14- My son has been asked to make some official visits. What are they?

The official is a visit to campus arraigned with the coaching staff and paid for by the institution. Each student will be allowed to take five official visits during their senior year. It will consist of 48 hours on campus. On the official visit your son will spend time with members of the lacrosse team. They will be given a member of the lacrosse team as their host. During his time on campus they will go to other athletic events on campus such as football games, watch the lacrosse team practice/scrimmage, attend classes and meet with the coaching staff and members of that schools faculty. Make sure your son asks plenty of questions while on his visit.

QUESTION # 15-How do we make our decision on what school to attend?

So many factors go into making the right decision. To begin with it is your son that will be going to school so he should make the final decision. However you will need to guide him in the right direction. It will have to be a family discussion. What you can do is point out the pros and cons that you were able to discover throughout the recruiting process.