Handling Sep 1st of Junior Year

9/01 is a date every recruit has circled on their calendar as early as freshman year.

You enter high school and you see juniors at your school potentially going through the process. Commitment announcements start to pour in. Commitment tweets are getting fired off from media accounts. Sophomore year rolls around, and you are closer with the guys and girls going through it. You aren't there yet, but now your upcoming recruit year begins.
 
Approaching 9/01 as a player or a parent? Here are some things to remember:
 
1. Everyone's journey is different. I know it is challenging not to compare yourself to others around you. It can be extremely stressful as you see teammates and friends advance earlier in the process than you. Each player and school's journey follows their own timeline. From my (Coach Dunn) personal experience, I did not commit until May of my junior year. I did not even get recruited by half the schools I ended up considering until April of my Junior year. I remember friends committing in the fall and it being a stressful experience. This happens more than you think.
 
2. Pull yourself back to focusing on your own process. The best thing you can do is focus on your own process. Control the controllables. Make sure you are checking all of the boxes you can. Keep improving, make the appropriate highlight tapes, send personalized emails, do well in school, stay out of trouble, and do everything you can to prove you will be a value-add to any program.
 
3. Your timeline isn't always the college's timeline. Recruiting is a two-way street. It requires both the player and the school to align. Just because you are not on a school's top list in September, does not mean that will not change in December. Recruiting is a dynamic process with plenty of moving parts. Understand that nothing is set in stone. Stay the course. 
 
4. Be respectful to everyone you encounter. This is a great opportunity to practice communication. Word travels quickly in the college lacrosse world about players and families who may have poorly handled an interaction with a school. It is ok to not be interested in every school, but be sure to thank them for their interest and/or time if applicable. It goes a long way and is a great skill to work on for life in general.
 
5. Find the Silver Linings. Enjoy the process of getting recruited -- it is really cool to have the opportunity to pursue a sport at the next level. While it is easy to stress about it, challenge yourself recognize this is a once in a lifetime moment. Keep an open mind and explore different places to truly find a great fit for yourself.
 
We wish you the best of luck -- this is a special time! 

- Coach Dunn

We hope you found this helpful. We started First Class Lacrosse because we believe in the power player development. We believe you can get exponentially better if you combine a great work ethic with the guidance of knowing what to work on and how to do it. Luckily, we experienced it firsthand as players and coaches. Our goal is to pass on what we have learned and experienced to future generations of lacrosse players, parents, and coaches. Join our Email List here.

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