Club Lacrosse
How are they getting it right?
How is Club lacrosse getting it right? In my opinion, and that is all this is, Club lacrosse is getting it right by generating opportunities for players and families to gain exposure and compete in front of audiences of college coaches. However the differences in offerings are so subtle, well-hidden, tough to see with an untrained eye or so obvious it makes you wonder what could be so different that you’re not sure who to trust?
It is very IMPORTANT to realize and acknowledge all clubs are NOT created equally, funded equally, have access to tournaments equally, are coached and players developed equally. Before you make any decisions and payments think about these…Who is running the Club and what are their goals? Do they have children in the program? Are they lacrosse people, former players, coaches or coming to the game from another avenue?
When seeking out a club lacrosse program it is critical to identify what your goals are as a consumer/player/parent, what needs are you trying to have met? What age is your child? Are you looking for a fun summer option? Is EXPOSURE the goal and playing college lacrosse at some level? Is the goal to just get better and have a great high school experience? Is the goal to find a Club that offers development and events?
I do recognize that where you live does impact your access to opportunities and coaches but YOUTH lacrosse, anything before HS, is very different to me than HS lacrosse, no matter where you live. This is not a piece about player development but I feel as if fundamental skills and development NEED TO BE THE FOCUS of your search before HS (exposure is great but learning how to shoot, stick skills, dodge, feed, ground ball, make saves, play defense, etc…will only make dreams actually attainable.)
I do think that the consumer needs to be more educated on this topic and that’s why I am writing this piece. Lacrosse as a sport is barely 25-years into the world of the Club sports but that doesn’t seem to have impeded the number of clubs offering programs and events nationwide looking to fuel the search for the next Jane Earley, Izzy Scane, Joe Spallina or Logan Ip.
Let’s be realistic about the numbers in lacrosse as well…for the Men, 72 Division I programs, average 50.8 players a team 12.6 scholarships, 79 D2 programs 44.6 average roster 10.8 scholarships, 244 D3 programs no scholarships; for the Women, 122 Division 1 programs, 34.3 average roster 12 scholarships, 114 D2 programs, 26.9 average roster 9.9 scholarships, D3 285 programs 21.8 average roster no scholarships. I am not including the numbers that involve Club lacrosse at schools that may or may not offer NCAA lacrosse. There are ONLY so many roster spots and the game is growing so that there is now parody at the highest levels, evaluation is a critical piece in recruiting.
In my opinion the fundamental goal/reason behind Club lacrosse, for high school age student-athletes, is exposure. I back that up by saying personal skill development and continual growth as a player are based in what is done daily by the athlete. IF YOU ARE DEPENDING ON DEVELOPING INTO THE PLAYER YOU WANT TO BE AND BEING RECRUITED BY SIMPLY DOING WHAT A CLUB TEAM OFFERS, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.
Again, I do realize that it can be tough to gain access to Club teams and a certain level of recruiting event BUT those are things the player/family needs to find out about before signing up and paying for anything. Also, who for the Club and how does the Club team assist in college placement and the RECRUITING process if the goal is exactly that!
What do you need or want as a player/parent from your lacrosse Club?
Are you being realistic?
How can you find what you feel you need?
Ask me! I was a college coach for 18-years with club and tons of recruiting, evaluating and development experience. I am currently coaching at the Belmont Hill School, running shooting and skills sessions, the voice of Harvard lacrosse broadcasts and assembling a nationwide roster for HS aged players looking for some high-end East Coast exposure this summer, follow insiderolllax on social media, insiderolllacrosse.com and insiderolllacrosse@gmail.com.
Is Club lacrosse getting it right?! Yes, if you know what it is there to provide you and what’s not fair of you to expect, in my opinion. Club lacrosse is only equipped at a high level to provide relative event exposure. Coaches who really know how to develop players, connect and grow the game are not as easy to produce and find as events that may have college coaches…realize that even if you want to play Club lacrosse at a College or University that doesn’t play NCAA lacrosse you will still NEED and WANT to be evaluated and recruited by the coach of the school. Expecting to show up as an unknown to play Club College lacrosse is not being very realistic. Every college or university that has a men’s or women’s lacrosse program at any and all levels, recruits! Lacrosse is growing and higher education is paying attention! Club lacrosse can serve a beautiful purpose if you know what you want and need from it…not what you hope and dream from it.
