April 5, 2004

There are many reasons we believe you should choose the University of California when considering your college plans. Most importantly though is that you make an informed decision based on research and communication with parents, your coach, teachers, guidance counselors, peers and yes, even college coaches.

Choosing the right college and lacrosse program for you can seem overwhelming, but you are headed in the right direction if you are reading this. The best approach any student-athlete can take is a pro-active one. Research schools via the web but remember to look at the school's main site (www.berkeley.edu) for information beyond athletics.

There are several other helpful websites that give basic information to prospective student-athletes. Check out the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Website at www.iwlca.org . It has some great tips as well as links to nearly every college and university that offers an intercollegiate team. You may also want to do some research on the rules and regulations of the whole recruiting process that is monitored by the NCAA (www.ncaa.org ). The NCAA has many, many rules regarding writing, telephone calls and other forms of contacts that all coaches must abide by. There is variation among divisions as well. Division III schools have different rules from Divisions I and II, and the NCAA website can clarify some of that for you.

If you are being offered scholarship money, check out the National Letter of Intent site (www.nli.org). That is the organization that regulates the scholarship contracts for colleges and universities. Even if you don't sign a National Letter of Intent (NLI), still apply for financial aid with each school you apply to. Many, many teams consist mainly of walk-ons, and even if you don't receive athletic aid, you still have the opportunity to become and integral part of the team.

Many programs begin the recruiting process as early as your freshman and sophomore years. How do we do this? Well, observing high school games and tournaments is one way. Quite often, contact through summer camps is a great way that both the student-athlete and coach can meet and start a relationship. We highly recommend that you attend as many camps as possible, especially ones where there are coaches attending from schools that interest you. It is also a great way to check out college campuses and begin building a base of experience for comparisons.

Coaches cannot write to you before September 1 of your junior year (they can send you basic information before that, but it is very limited). Your best first step is to write to a coach expressing your interest in the program. Include an academic and athletic resume along with your high school schedule and your summer lacrosse plans. This really shows a concerted effort on your part. Some coaches are very facile with email and prefer communicating this way - ask them what they prefer.

It can be helpful, especially when looking at schools outside of your region, to begin making a videotape of yourself playing. Coaches vary on what they like to see in these tapes, but generally show 10 minutes of game footage that is clear and obvious who you are. Most coaches prefer unedited versions - we don't expect you to be perfect. We also want to see how you react to mistakes and your demeanor on the field. Many players include a short segment highlighting their stick skills from shuttles and other drills. This also can be helpful if it isn't too long.

Coaches cannot call you or return your calls until July 1 after your junior year. We can also only call you once a week and if we end up talking to your parents that will count as our call that week. You can always call a coach but use this method sparingly - we are busy and if a coach has expressed interest in you, don't constantly call her or him. You want to build a relationship, not annoy people.

You are always free to make visits to schools at your own expense and it is important to start doing that during your summers. It can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. You are, however, limited to 5 official visits. What is an official visit? It is a visit where a college pays part or all of your expenses to visit a school. Official visits can only occur after the start of your senior year. Many colleges don't have official visits or have only limited resources to fund them. Just because a school does not offer an official visit, don't assume they don't want you. If you really want to see a school, you can always go on an unofficial visit - one that you pay all the expenses. Make sure you call ahead and schedule a time to meet with the coaching staff.

Another important piece of information to know is that if it seems like coaches run away from you or your parents at games or tournaments, it is because we are only allowed a "brief hello" with you (unless we knew you before the ninth grade). We also have to wait until the end of a game or tournament before we can contact you (and only then if you are old enough).Yes, it is odd but the rules are there to protect you.

There are a few simple guidelines to use when narrowing down college choices. We believe the four most important criteria are: academics, lacrosse, cost and the campus. The order of importance can vary drastically from school to school, but at Cal academics has to come first. In terms of the lacrosse program, one needs to consider not only the strengths (coaches, facilities, support and tradition) but also the fit for the student athlete. Position, playing time, number of graduating seniors and coaching philosophy are all good questions. Have a list of questions when you contact a coach and expect honest and thorough answers.

We hope this gives you a better understanding of the recruiting process. While this can be an exciting time it can also be confusing and overwhelming. If you have any questions, use the resources above or contact us and we will do our best to answer.