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Recruiting 101- So What Now?

Each week, Showcase Lacrosse will bring you blogs focused on recruiting and the uncertain times ahead in an effort to help you maximize this time off and best prepare you for when you are back out in front of college coaches.

THE DEAD PERIOD

You have lost your spring lacrosse season and valuable recruiting time. So what now? Each week, Showcase Lacrosse will bring you blogs focused on recruiting and the uncertain times ahead in an effort to help you maximize this time off and best prepare you for when you are back out in front of college coaches. Topics will range from changes happening in the world of recruiting, such as the dead period and transfer portal; to tips on how to improve your highlight tape and what you should be messaging coaches. This week, we will tackle the “dead period”.

Before we get to maximizing your time off, let's get to know some of the new rules put into place. We have entered a recruiting dead period. So what does that mean and what do we do now? First off, it is important to know that the dead period varies depending on division, conference, and even school. 

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For Division I & II, the dead period is in place until May 31st. Meaning a college coach will not be able to recruit you in person until June 1st. Division III has not officially implemented a dead period but expect those schools and coaches to follow along with DI. However, the NESCAC, a DIII conference, has implemented an in-person recruiting ban for coaches which is currently in place until June 15. 

So what is, and isn't allowed during this time?

Not Allowed:

  • In-person recruiting 
  • On-campus visits
  • In-person communication

Allowed:

  •  A player CAN reach out to coaches 
  •  A coach CAN respond and reach out as long as the player is past June 15th (DII) or September 1st (DI) of his/her Junior year.
  •  Virtual meetings via Facetime, Zoom, or Skype

LEARN MORE ABOUT GIRLS INDIVIDUAL SHOWCASES

Bottom line, players are still allowed to have full virtual contact with coaches as long as they are beyond September 1st of their junior year. In-person communication and recruiting have been put on pause. 

In addition, with the start of the summer recruiting circuit being pushed back, it is important to know that there are currently no plans of time being added to the back end. Meaning, come August 2nd, all in-person evaluations, and any communication with college coaches will not be permitted until September 1st (DI). As it would any other year. The summer recruiting period will likely be the shortest in recent memory.

Players should take this time to get organized and reach out to schools. Reach out to coaches you have already been in contact with. Reach out to new schools and let the coaches know you are interested in their program. Make sure all the coaches you are in communication with have your most up to date highlight reel, test scores, or any other relevant information. 

With a shortened summer recruiting circuit on the horizon, make sure you are doing everything you can now to prepare for when you are back out in front of coaches at a NXT Showcase event.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Recruiting 101 - Highlight Reels