Recruiting: by the numbers
To get recruited to an NCAA lacrosse team these days, it’s almost imperative to be in a club lacrosse program. Lacrosse has shifted from power house private, preparatory, and post graduate high schools, which are still fantastic ways to get recruited, to power house club lacrosse programs. It could be said that the combination of a power house private school and a power house club program is the best recipe to get you recruited to an NCAA lacrosse team.
However, there is a difference between being on a club team and being good enough to get recruited, regardless of which club and which school you attend. A player’s focus shouldn’t be what club they play for, what school they attend, or how many tournaments they play in over the Summer. A player should focus on how smart, how athletic, and who they can rely on to coach them well because the opportunity to play at the next level is more attainable than most players think.
There are over 400,000 members of USA Lacrosse.
There are 127 Women’s NCAA DI programs.
There are 75 Men’s NCAA DI programs.
There are 122 Women’s NCAA DII programs.
There are 77 Men’s NCAA DII programs.
There are 291 Women’s NCAA DIII programs.
There are 247 Men’s NCAA DIII programs.
That is close to 1,000 NCAA lacrosse programs. There are also college club lacrosse team options that are fantastic opportunities to continue playing at the next level.
The NCAA alone accounts for 8% of total lacrosse players if you estimate an average of 30 players per NCAA team. 10% if you estimate 40 players per team.
The point of this calculation is to highlight that there are tons of opportunities to play at the next level and the number of opportunities are ever growing.
Players, be patient. Focus on making yourself a better person, a better teammate, and a better lacrosse player.
Good things will come if you work hard, surround yourself with the best lacrosse community you can, and show up to tournaments prepared and poised to impress… you’ll get noticed!
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Defy Athletics
I love that you include at least a line about college club teams. They are easily overlooked and can provide an amazing experience. But, no mention of the NAIA? School sponsored, scholarship available, varsity lacrosse programs that recruit nationwide. Basically D2.5, and something that is never shown any respect because they are smaller schools with the wrong letters after the “N”.