Frequently Asked Questions

Here's the basic process for video.

• Identify target rich content ... games where the competition is pretty good and there are meaningful highlights
• Download the complete game(s) if the content is sourced from ORLaxRecruit or any other event shooter
• Watch games and log highlight timestops (email or ORLaxRecruit log)
• Forward those timestops to ORLaxRecruit
• ORLaxRecruit cuts clips from the original HD games
• ORLaxRecruit adds isolation highlighting, intro/outro and transitions ... finally encodes and uploads highlight vid
• ORLaxRecruit provides prospect with a link he can use in coach communication or embeds the video in a web profile

The process usually looks something like this ... there are lots of variations.

Game content can come from many places. If someone is shooting your high school games you may be able buy or beg a copy, parents can shoot games (high school or club) and events frequently offer video services for purchase.

The list below by position is based on what I've seen in successful recruits and what college coaches have said in discussions about prospects. The only other thing I'd mention is that beyond all these bullets college coaches are looking for players who have athleticism and a great attitude. Examples of this in a highlight video get a premium. Most figure that they can teach the game and the skills if they have an abundance of the raw materials.

Attack

• Dodging - looking for ability to dodge and create own shot and create shots for others. Don't show plays where you run through five defenders b/c this is unrealistic at the college level. Show that you can take care of the ball in traffic and break GLE, fighting for the island and being physical with your defender. Be sure to include plays where you start the offense with a dodge, draw a slide, but you make the smart play and move the ball adjacent. Also, "hockey assists" are great to include.
• Off ball - Show that you are active off ball, looking for seams in the defense and not just killing grass (standing in place). Include plays where you find seams in defense for an outside shot. Include plays that show you are comfortable with contact and handling and finishing in tight ... with both hands.
• Riding/loose ball scenarios - Show hustle on loose ball plays. Demonstrate ability to ride effectively. Effective rides include forcing a bad pass, forcing a ball carrier out of bounds, and stripping the ball carrier. Demonstrate ability to get ball off turf and to the open man.

Middies

• On the offensive end: see above
• Riding: Demonstrate ability to ride effectively. Effective rides include forcing a bad pass, forcing a ball carrier out of bounds, and stripping the ball carrier.
• Demonstrate ability to get ball off turf and to the open man.
• Clearing - show ability to clear the ball with your feet and with your stick. Show ability to push tempo on offensive end following a clear.
• Defense - include clips that show ability to play solid on ball defense and solid off ball defense. Show plays where you recognize a turnover and are able to turn defense to offense.
• If you take wings on face-off's, include clips of that too.

LSMs

• Good on ball and off ball defense. Stick in the passing lanes.
• Effective riding.
• Clips of you clearing the ball with your feet and stick ... with both hands.
• Ability to pick up ground balls in the defensive end.
• Ability to turn defense to offense.
• Ability to join the play in transition.
• Show wing play on face offs.
  

Close Defense

• Solid on ball defense: playing good angles, throwing take away checks on the right parts of the field, not throwing desperation checks in dangerous parts of the field.
• Off ball defense: Stick up in the passing lanes, physical play. Spatial awareness. Knowing where the ball is and your man is at all times.
• Show ability to pick up ground balls in defensive end and start the clear.
• Show ability to help in clear and be big part of clearing game, and excellent stick skills.
• Show ability to play good transition defense.
• Don't get too crazy with the coast to coast goal score. Coaches want to see good footwork and solid defense.

Goalies

• Include saves from the outside, inside, high, low, stick-side, off-stick, hips.
• Include saves on shots coming from all shooting angles: overhand, sidearm, underarm.
• Show good ground ball play/control of rebounds.
• Show efficient clearing ability.
• Show ability to throw quick outlets.
• Show ability to run a settle clear
• Show ability to back up shots.
• Show leadership and being directive with the defense.

Coaches routinely ask for 4-6 minutes. After tracking video play time, most videos are only watched for 3-4 minutes.

Coaches typically need some biographical information. That's like a recruiting resumé. The prospect's bio/resumé can simply be a Word document (preferably converted to PDF) or an online web-based profile. The web-based profile does offer some advantages ... it allows for video/bio integration (handy if a coach passes info along to another coach) and it's designed to allow for some basic traffic reports.

To get started with an ORLaxRecruit custom online profile fill out our Profiler.

While the profile is custom to fit a player's strengths they usually include ...

• Event schedule
• References
• Academic section
• Lacrosse accomplishments (school team and/or club)
• Other accomplishments or activities (optional)

Check out profiles of other players for ideas. There are lots of examples in the "Website" section of ORLaxRecruit.com.

Next steps in the process depend somewhat on player goals, but it roughly looks like this after a prospect has a solid profile and video.

1. Create a target list of schools that are comfortably within reach from a player ability and academic standpoint. Create a second list of schools that are a bit of a "reach" academically and from a player ability standpoint.
2. Send targets personalized introductory email communication with biographical profile and highlight video. Phone follow-up is a good idea ... especially for the top targets. Communication should be thought of as a process, not a one-time event. Periodic communication builds a relationship with target programs.
3. College coaches will sometimes check references for prospects that look qualified for their watch list.
4. Recruiter will want to SEE a player in person (always for D1/2, not always for D3). Focus on events that offer good target visibility.
5. Schedule unofficial visit for high target programs that show interest.
6. Make verbal commitment.
   

Step #2 is especially crucial before big events in the NCAA recruiting window. It is also extremely important to know that very few prospects are "discovered" at recruiting events. That's not how recruiters operate. Recruiting events are for "visibility" not discovery. Coaches go to events with a list of prospects who are qualified and have already expressed interest in their program. Not having systematic communication BEFORE important events is wasting much of the high cost of those events.

The value of an event depends largely on 6 things:

1. College playing goals
2. Player's ability to compete (consider individual vs team events)
3. Availability of target coaches/schools
4. Opportunity to improve (largely driven by team quality and overall playtime)
5. Event and travel cost
6. Fun!

We've never had any problem with #6. :-) Numbers 1-3 are the keys for recruiting. Lots of players and parents think that recruiting events are places you get "discovered." That does happen, but it's the exception. Recruiting events are places to be seen. A reasonable event is one where a very good player (#2) roughly knows the schools he's interested in (#1) and knows there will be coaches from those schools at the event (#3). He must communicate with those coaches in advance (with video and bio) to convince the coach that he's worth checking out at the event. Coaches expect that and they're pretty good about watching you at the event. After all … knowing that the player is interested in their school/team is half the battle from their perspective.