Summer Do's and Dont's
Summer lacrosse tips and tricks
We’re going to stick with the theme of recruiting. I’m in Salt Lake City at the moment. I just spent Friday, Saturday, and all Sunday morning in Denver, CO for an event. I spent the last 9ish hours in a car driving through the mountains. If you’ve never done it before, I would recommend it. It is a gorgeous and scenic drive unlike any other heading west straight through the Rocky Mountain pass. I am exhausted, however. I’ll have a day to regroup before I hit the recruiting trail again in SLC, UT.
For all young coaches out there, here are some Summer Do’s and Don’ts when on the recruiting trail:
Do’s:
Do remember to bring sunscreen. I never do, so if you see me, I’ll probably ask to borrow some. In all seriousness, if you have fair skin, the summer recruiting circuit can be brutal. You are talking long days just sitting and roasting in the hot sun, from 8am til 5pm some days. Make sure to lather up with some SPF 50.
Always be prepared. I like to lay out my game plan the night before. Sometimes it is hard. Like I mentioned in my last piece, how I went straight to the venue right form the airport. That can happen from time to time, believe me. I like to get as organized as possible so I am not scattered. I like to review the schedule, tournament location, and field map the day before if I can. I hate not knowing where I am going, or who I should be watching. Most of that stuff just requires the tourney machine app on your smart phone. Event Beacon has made my life easier as well. Supplies wise, I like to have plenty of binder clips. Sometimes I will bring an extra binder with me, just in case I get handed a loose packet. I like to have plenty of pens, and a highlighter too. I like to have a chair with me, especially if I am driving there. A water bottle and snacks are good to have too, though most events will provide you with those items.
Dress Appropriately. You may want to make sure you wear what a Coach would wear while coaching. Now there are different scenarios that would require something different. But I like to make sure I am wearing athletic coaching attire that always shows who I am, and the school I represent. Sometimes, if I know I will have to speak, or give a recruiting talk, I will wear something a little snazzier, like a polo or quarter zip. If I am actually on the field coaching a team, I will wear more athletic clothing, like a pull over, or long sleeve T and dry fit shorts. Coaches are pretty good about what they choose to wear. Like I said, it is hot out so no one is expecting anything crazy like a suit and tie. Just a nice clean T and golf shorts suffice. I like long sleeves because I am protected from the sun. I’ll usually wear a wide brim, or bucket hat if the sun is really blazing. Sunglasses are essential as well. For shoes, I would wear training shoes with low cut golf socks always, because I hate tan lines on my ankles. Recently, I have been wearing Kane’s. If you don’t know about Kane’s, they are like supped up crocs. They are a recovery shoe, but look sneakerish enough to pass for just a training shoe. I like them a lot. I think they are super comfortable and I can wear them without socks (I hate socks, and try my best not wear them until at least October). The age old question is always; are flip flops kosher to wear while recruiting? This is a tough one! I know coaches that wear them recruiting all the time, and others that draw a hard line as the open toe look is a little too casual when you are technically working and representing your school. Personally, I love flip flops. They are usually all I wear in the summer time. Like I said before, socks are the enemy. Some of it is the crazy tan lines I get if I wear sneakers all the time, but I just love my dogs out rather than confined in a couple of cotton foot prisons. However, when it comes to recruiting, I try my best not to wear them. Have I ever worn them recruiting? I’d be lying to you if I said that I haven’t. If it’s the last day of a two or three day event and games are dwindling, and I have to catch a flight home etc, yea sometimes it is easier to wear what’s comfortable. I might just show up in the morning for 1 or 2 games to see a couple teams I may have missed, and then leave after only a couple hours. It happens. I try not to make a habit of it, but I don’t think the shoe police are going to give me any static. Like I said, I try not to do it. I most definitely won’t if I am talking or coaching a showcase team. But if I see another coach who is comfortable wearing them, I will not judge them for it.
Don’ts:
Don’t talk to the recruits. This is a big one. You aren’t allowed to engage with a recruit at a recruiting event. There are NCAA rules. This is good for the players to know as well, because every year I always have guys reaching out trying to connect at an event. I’m sure it happens to every coach. If you are a HS prospect out there, don’t ever feel that a coach isn’t interested in talking to you if he doesn’t rush over to talk to you. He legally cannot. So don’t take it personally if they don’t engage with you in a way that is anything more than a pleasantry (hello, how are you, etc). So guys just have to understand the rules. Now there are a couple loop holes. If you are coaching at a showcase, or an all-star team, etc, then you can talk to players. Obviously you cannot coach players on the field without talking to them! But it has to be about game play. It cannot lead to talking about your school, etc. There are times when I have to give a recruiting talk to players and sometimes parents. If you ever are asked to give a recruiting talk or to serve on a coaches panel, you can speak to people at recruiting events. Keep it general. Talk about the overall process, and avoid saying anything too specific that pertains directly to your institution. Those are good for young coaches to get up and serve as a guide, as well as practice speaking in front of people and fielding questions. But that’s all its meant for. It’s not meant to be a sales pitch for your school or program. Lastly, if you know the rules, you can talk to prospective athletes at events about their recruitment, as long as they are finished competing for the day. Remember if anyone comes up to you, to ask them if they are done playing for the day. If they say no, just walk away. I’m joking. Say, ‘oh gotcha, let me know when you wrap up for the day and I’d love to chat with you then, thanks!’ or something to that effect. That’s all it takes. But don’t be the guy that shows up and doesn’t know the rules. I doubt any of your fellow coaching colleagues would ever turn you in the NCAA, but it’s just not a good look.
Don’t blow your stipend. If you are a young assistant, or a GA, in all likelihood it is your first college coaching job and your probably don’t get paid that much or that often. For a lot of young assistants, recruiting is a way to get some money in your pocket. If you coach a positional group or a showcase team, you can make $200-$300 a weekend. Some guys could get less than that. It is important to know the value of what you are doing. This is the real dad coming out in me now (I feel old). But I fell victim to this as a young coach 12-14 years ago. I would go work a camp, clinic, or showcase. Anywhere I went, whether it was in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, etc I had friends there that would always peer pressure me to go out and party with them. It is very easy to fall victim to the peer pressure. Sometimes I would crash on friends couches while recruiting, so there was no avoiding the inevitable nighttime festivities. It is easy for a young guy, on his own for the first time, hanging out with friends, former teammates, or other coaches. It is easy to go out boozing all hours of the night in Denver, Chicago, or Philly. As a young guy, it is fun. Heck it still might be fun now. But the point is, with the food, gas, travel, lodging etc plus going out to clubs and bars in major cities til close, you could blow your whole paycheck right there in one weekend. You end up spending what you make, and might barely break even on the weekend. I learned very quick, that as much fun as it is to relive the ole college days with my buddies, comes at a cost. I am a frugal person, and was not interested in coming out in the red on a weekend trip that I am supposed to be making money. Don’t get me wrong, networking is good. For young coaches, they should hang out with their colleagues and attend coach’s socials and things like that. But just don’t forget why you’re there in the first place. You’re there to help your program get better, and to help your own financial situation. That is one of the biggest obstacles in surviving in this profession. So many guys leave a promising coaching career because they simply weren’t able to make enough money doing it. It happened to a very close friend of mine. People work their ass off for part time salaries well into their 30’s in the coaching profession, all in hopes of getting a full-time gig or head coaching opportunity. So you have to be savvy with how you do things. I once met a guy that slept in his SUV on recruiting trips. He wouldn’t stay in hotels because he had to pay for all his travel. So the only way for him to come out ahead was for him to drive to campsites after an event, pay the $40 or whatever to park his car at the site, and sleep in his car under the stars, as opposed to springing $100-$150 a night for a hotel. He just would use the shower block in the morning and head to his next event. I couldn’t tell if he was crazy or a genius, but I’ll never forget that as long as I live. I’m not suggesting anyone having to do that, but just keep an eye on your money. That’s it for the dad in me today, I won’t go on any further with the fatherly financial advice. That’s it really. By the way, anyone else see Shellenberger leading all PLL rookies in points right now? ;)
KASEY BURST
The HC at the University of Dubuque, Kasey brings all things college lacrosse to your inbox.