Not sure what you should be doing
for recruiting right now?

It is early — and that is a good thing. Nothing on this list involves contacting college coaches. It is about building the foundation so high school starts smoothly.

• Protect the fun(All year)

  Burnout before high school ends more recruiting journeys than talent ever does. Multi-sport play is a plus, not a problem.

• Focus on skills, not exposure(All year)

  College coaches are not evaluating middle schoolers. Wall ball and stick work beat any showcase at this age.

• Build homework and study habits now(This school year)

  The GPA that matters for recruiting starts freshman year. The habits that produce it start now.

• Find the right club level(Next tryout season)

  The right club is the one where your athlete plays real minutes and develops — not the biggest name.

• Parents: learn the timeline before it starts(Whenever you have 20 minutes)

  Recruiting contact opens September 1 of junior year. Knowing the calendar now means no panic later.

Freshman year is foundation building. College coaches cannot recruit your athlete yet — so this year is about grades, development, and starting to get organized.

• Treat GPA as a recruiting stat(All year)

  Every transcript from ninth grade forward counts. Strong grades open doors at every division level.

• Prioritize development over exposure(All year)

  Coaches recruit juniors and seniors who have improved over the years and are coachable. Freshman year is for becoming that player.

• Start saving footage — and cut a first reel(Spring & summer)

  If D1 schools are the goal, make your first highlight reel freshman spring or summer. It builds the habit of collecting game footage and creating a reel early.

• Set up your recruiting profile(This spring)

  Freshman spring, if not before. Coaches and club directors will ask for film links, GPA, and schedule — have them in one place.

• Learn what D1, D2, and D3 actually mean(This year)

  Only about 3% of high school players reach D1 — but over 14% play college lacrosse somewhere. Knowing the levels makes every later decision easier.

• Pick one or two development camps — skip the rest(Before summer)

  Freshman-year showcases rarely move the needle. Save the budget for when coaches are actually evaluating.

This is the setup year. September 1 of junior year is when D1 coaches can finally contact your athlete — and the families who prepared sophomore year are the ones whose phones ring.

• Create a highlight reel(After each season)

  3–4 minutes, best plays first, jersey number visible. By sophomore year your athlete should have reels from the fall and winter tournaments with their club team.

• Build a first target list of 15–30 schools(This fall)

  Mix levels honestly: reaches, targets, and safeties across divisions. A list of only D1 dream schools is not a plan.

• Keep your recruiting profile current(Ongoing)

  Ideally this was set up freshman spring — if not, do it now. Then keep film links, GPA, and schedule updated before junior year.

• Email coaches before every tournament, showcase, and prospect day(1–2 weeks before each event)

  This is when it starts. Coaches cannot talk recruiting yet, but they read emails, watch film, and plan their sidelines — send your schedule, jersey number, and film link.

• Send your introductory email on September 1(Draft in summer, send September 1)

  Draft over the summer so that on September 1 — the day personalized contact opens — every school on the list gets your intro: coach name, why that program, film link, schedule.

• Choose events where target-list coaches will be(Before each registration deadline)

  An event is only worth it if coaches from your list attend. Check attendance lists before you pay.

• Keep grades recruiting-strong(All year)

  Sophomore-year GPA is the one coaches see first when contact opens. Academic fit is half the equation.

This is the year it happens. From September 1, D1 coaches can call, email, and make offers. Every item below feeds directly into coach conversations.

• Follow up with every school on your list(September, then ongoing)

  Your September 1 introductory email is out — now personalized replies are open. Respond fast, send updates after strong performances, and keep target coaches warm.

• Keep film current(After each season)

  If your recruitment journey continues after September 1, keep film current — an updated junior-season reel beats last year’s.

• Re-tier the list based on real responses(Monthly)

  Coach interest is data. Schools that respond move up; silence after two good emails is an answer too.

• Rebuild the list around real interest(Spring)

  By spring, coach responses tell you where you stand. Rebuild the list around programs showing genuine interest and realistic openings.

• Take visits where there is mutual interest(Fall through spring)

  Unofficial or official — campus time converts interest into offers, and tells your athlete what actually fits.

• Attend events your target coaches attend(Before each event)

  Junior-year events are evaluations, not exposure. Tell coaches your schedule and jersey number in advance.

• Lock in academics and test plans(This spring)

  Selective programs need scores and rigor to say yes. Ask target schools what they need before senior fall.

It is not too late — but there is no time to waste. Rosters still have openings, especially at D2, D3, and NAIA. Senior year rewards focused, honest outreach.

• Rebuild the list around real openings(This month)

  Programs still recruiting seniors exist at every level. Widen the divisions you are considering — the goal is the right fit, not one label.

• Email coaches directly and say you are a senior(This month)

  Coaches filling last spots move fast. Lead with film, grades, and availability — clarity wins late recruiting.

• Get a current reel together now(Next 2 weeks)

  Even an unpolished, recent 3 minutes beats a great sophomore-year film. Recency matters most late.

• Run admissions and lacrosse in parallel(Application deadlines)

  Apply on regular timelines everywhere you are talking to a coach. A roster spot without an acceptance is nothing.

• Compare real costs, not just offers(As offers arrive)

  D3 has no athletic money but often strong merit aid. Compare full packages before saying yes to anyone.