HELLO SEPTEMBER 1ST.....
HELLO SEPTEMBER 1st!!!!
Yay! The highly anticipated date for lacrosse players and families is around the corner. But what does this mean? Are you prepared to put your Best Foote Forward and navigate the process? With so many parents and players contacting me with questions, I thought I would take some time and put together a question and answer cheat sheet for parents and players preparing for the big day.
What is September 1st?
September 1st of junior year is the first day any division one college coach can communicate with you about their interest in you as a potential Student-Athlete.
Coaches can decide what form of communication they want to use:
Phone call
FaceTime
Text
Social media
Home visits
The doors are now opened for coaches and players to finally chat and can actually meet in-person!
BFF’s Tip:
Each coach has different philosophies on all aspects of recruiting. Some may decide NOT to do official visits (meaning they pay for most parts of your visit) because they want to save that for when your class has all committed and pay for a bonding trip out YOUR senior year!
Every coaching staff has planned- thought about- and analyzed their strategy for September 1st communication. Each school does it differently- so honestly, be prepared for anything!
Home visits- are rarer and mostly used for schools top few players (congrats if that’s you)! But if you are lucky enough to have a coach come to your house- I have lots of tips to help with that!
Official visit (they pay) vs. unofficial (you pay).
Unofficial visits
You pay for travel, accommodations, food. Coaches may be able to give tickets to an event. You will be able to meet the team and coaches and see the campus. Everything will be on campus. Financially-$$$$ all on you
Time Frame: Any time after September 1st, these visits are unlimited
Official visits:
Student-athletes are allowed to take 5 paid visits. School can pay for travel, accommodations, food, and other activities. You will be able to see the campus, stay overnight with a player, really get a feel for what the school and team are all about.
Financially: $ helps you out financially
TIME FRAME: Any time after September 1st, Limited to 5
BFF TAKE AWAY:
The most important thing to understand is that this is a special time for both players and coaches to finally start building a relationship! There are a lot of uncontrollables and surprises (some good, some bad), but you need to go in with a clear mind and a plan!
What can I do to prepare?
Two important tips to prepare. One is taking some time for self-reflection, two is to get an email out to coaches. Read my recent post on self-reflection
1- Prepare: Mindset- it is important to understand that September 1st (and the days and months after) can be confusing at times because there are a lot of moving parts. There are some elements of the unknown, and it’s kind of like a puzzle- You have to just keep putting the pieces together in order to find the right fit.
Remember no two humans are the same. It is so important to do some self-reflection prior to this process so you learn who you are, what you like, and what will make you happy after your 4 years!
2- Prepare-September 1 email-
Before September first, it is helpful to send an email to schools you are interested in acknowledging on your end that you are excited about the opportunity to potentially hear from them (even if they don’t call or even if you are unsure of your interest level but want to find out more). You can even say “I’m looking forward to potentially hearing from you on September 1st”.
Make sure you update it on any and all recruiting platforms you may use
Here is a checklist of important items to include in your email:
YOUR ( not your parents) CONTACT INFO:
including
1-your email
2-phone number
3-any academic information (GPA, SAT, SAT dates)
4- Can add a highlight video or link to your recruiting profile
Why is this email is so important?
As coaches are working on organizing their strategy for September 1st, it is very helpful they have YOUR contact information. A lot of times parents contact information is listed on your tournament rosters and camp stuff -important to COMMUNICATE your information.
3-What if I did not get contacted by a college coach on September 1st? What does that mean?
If you did not get any calls, don’t worry! Like I said in the very beginning every coach, every school does things differently. Just make sure you check your emails, texts, (even your parents they may have gotten the wrong information), etc. Coaches will continue to reach out over the next few days as they sort through their lists.
Be proactive, take initiative:
If there are schools you are interested in but didn't’ hear from? You can consider reaching out to them over the following days. It may also a good time to reach out to other schools who may not even know you are interested. Broaden your search of potential schools and know coaches will still be watching this fall in tournaments. They may also be hosting a prospect day, camp, clinic. If you are really interested in that, sign up and prove yourself! Communication is open now so you can reach out to them as well. You have nothing to lose by asking a coach to schedule a call
4-What should I do next?
BE AVAILABLE & RESPOND QUICKLY- make sure you respond to coaches quickly. If you are somewhere you can’t talk- either pick up and tell them or respond as soon as you can. Respond to emails, texts, and calls. Remember to keep your options open to many different kinds of schools. The school you end up at may not have been originally on your list.
Take notes, ask questions, be engaged and prepared.
BFF’s Final thoughts
Be prepared- mentally, physically, emotionally.
Be open to schools you might not have considered
Be open and honest on phone calls
Communicate clearly
For step by step September 1st action plans- preparation tips, question examples, templates and more:
Click here To order your digital copy of :
“Putting your Best Foote Forward: September 1st survival kit”
It includes:
1-step by step action plan to prepare for September 1st
2- thrive during it all
3-what to do after
plus I have included :
4- frequently asked questions
5-opportunity to join BFF’s Private Facebook group that connects to a community of other players and parents looking for answers to their questions
6-Become BFF ambassador where you get free swag for referring others and access to all my new releases first!
Once ordered, I will email you the PDF to download.within 24 hours.
