http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/frezza/2011/12/16/oltmans-makes-a-very-early-decision/

Montgomery (N.J.) rising senior attackman Kevin Wanke, who starred in the Philly Showcase, has committed to Lafayette

By Chris Goldberg Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/30/11

Montgomery (N.J.) rising senior attackman Kevin Wanke has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Lafayette College.

Wanke had 50 goals and 30 assists this year for Montgomery, which went 12-9 overall. [...]]]>

Montgomery (N.J.) rising senior attackman Kevin Wanke, who starred in the Philly Showcase, has committed to Lafayette

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/30/11

Montgomery (N.J.) rising senior attackman Kevin Wanke has made a verbal commitment to play Division I lacrosse at Lafayette College.

Wanke had 50 goals and 30 assists this year for Montgomery, which went 12-9 overall. Wanke, who was a Gait Fab 40 Game MVP last November at the Philly Showcase, was named First Team All-State and All-Skyland Conference.

“I chose Lafayette because of the great academics and because I felt really comfortable there,” he said. “I loved the campus, coach (Terry) Mangan , and the guys I met. The athletic facilities are awesome and the jumbotron scoreboard is sick.”

Wanke also plays ice hockey for Montgomery and was the team’s leading scorer and offensive MVP. The Cougars reached the state championship game this year, but fell, 1-0, to Randolph at the Prudential Center.

Wanke said competing in the Philly Showcase was a big boost to his recruiting process.

“The Philly Showcase was great for me,” he said. “I had a lot of fun. I got to play with some guys I competed against in the summer so it was cool to meet them. It was really helpful with recruiting.

“A lot of coaches that saw me in the summer wanted to see more in the fall and the Showcase was perfect for that. There were also a number of coaches who didn’t see me in the summer and contacted me after the Showcase. I heard from about a half dozen D1 coaches who referenced the Showcase and also from a few D3 schools that I was interested in.”

http://phillylacrosse.com/2011/06/30/mens-recruit-montgomery-n-j-rising-senior-attackman-wanke-commits-to-lafayette-was-philly-showcase-mvp/

I hope that this message finds you well and that are having or have had a successful season.  My name is Marc Graham and I have recently been named the first Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach at Defiance College in Defiance, OH.  Prior to coming to Defiance I had been the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator [...]]]> Coach Green,

I hope that this message finds you well and that are having or have had a successful season.  My name is Marc Graham and I have recently been named the first Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach at Defiance College in Defiance, OH.  Prior to coming to Defiance I had been the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Trinity College in Hartford, CT for 5 years.  Prior to Trinity I had been a high school head coach in Connecticut for 11 years where I led my team to many State Tournament appearances and one Division II CT State Championship.  I bring 16 years of coaching to the program here at Defiance College and I am excited to build this program from the ground up.

Defiance College is a small Liberal Arts College in Defiance, OH, in the Northwest corner of the state of Ohio.  We have an enrollment of about 1,100 students and offer a variety of Major and Minor study programs, as well as a healthy offering of Master’s level programs.  Defiance College is committed to being a Service Learning community and most of our students engage in volunteerism on a local, national, and international spectrum.  We offer a rolling admissions policy and are continually evaluating students for the admissions process right up to the start of classes. 

In addition to being very service oriented, Defiance is also a very athletically oriented institution.  We currently offer 21 sports that compete on the NCAA intercollegiate level, with Men’s Lacrosse being the newest addition.  Our program will compete at the Club level in 2011-12 and begin competing at the NCAA Division III level in 2012-13.  With the number of new programs being created throughout this area of the country, it is an exciting time to be involved in collegiate lacrosse here in the Midwest.

I am working hard to identify good lacrosse players to help build my Yellow Jackets Lacrosse program.  We have rolling admissions here at Defiance so I am continuing to recruit the senior class while also beginning to recruit the Class of 2012.  If you have any players in your program that are looking for a good education and an opportunity to contribute to a growing lacrosse program, please forward me their information.  I will need their name, address, email, phone number, position, and year of graduation.

Feel free to use the link buttons at the top of this e-mail to find out more information about Defiance College and our Lacrosse program.  If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me.  I look forward to hearing back from you and to contacting your players.

Thanks,
Marc Graham – Head Coach
Defiance College Men’s Lacrosse
GO YELLOW JACKETS!

The college search for athletes is an enduring process with a definite starting and ending point and just like a well run race, the successful student-athlete will remain focused until she breaks the tape. Below are some simple tips to consider when heading down the homestretch in the [...]]]> Creating Closure to the College Search for Athletes

The college search for athletes is an enduring process with a definite starting and ending point and just like a well run race, the successful student-athlete will remain focused until she breaks the tape. Below are some simple tips to consider when heading down the homestretch in the college recruiting process that will assist families in remaining diligent in “closing out” a very important life decision.

Whether a prospect is looking for an athletic scholarship or support in admissions, it is important to remain committed to the relationship you have cultivated with the coaches. By the time you reach this point, you will have likely narrowed your college choices down to a select few and trust me…So have the coaches.

Review Your “to do” list

A key component of your college search organizing system will be a list of your target areas moving through each phase of the recruiting process. Heading into the final turn you want to “sharpen the tool” and review your final target points for clarity and accuracy. By this time, you have devoted yourself completely to a worthy and successful effort and now it’s time to close out the experience.

We have all heard coined phrases such as “dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s,” “polish the effort,” “sharpen the tool,” leave no stone unturned” etc. This is the time to execute. This is the time to begin your final kick to the finish line. Highlight important contacts you plan to make with the coaches and organize any additional information Coach has requested and mark it on your calendar and execute.

Student-Athlete Statement

One of the first things I attempt to get the boys and girls I advise to accomplish is to write a personal statement. This is not only a great way to get a glimpse of how you see the college experience playing out for you, it shows self awareness in the eyes of the college coaches and in the current recruiting climate, trust me…the best recruiters are looking at this component carefully.

It is a difficult concept to wrap your arms around but I suggest taking three simple steps to reach this end. Firstly, take 20 minutes to simply become “introspective.” The first few moments will be turbulent, but when you settle down, try to envision your interpretation of how you would like your college experience to unfold. From this point, simply write down “operatives” that define that experience. Moving forward, polish the statement into no more than a 1 page document you can share with the coaches.

Remember, there are 3 primary attributes college coaches are looking for in prospects: Good students, strong athletes and self-aware, high character kids.

Outside Connections

College coaches attempt to cover every base they can in evaluating every prospect they recruit and if they happen to be in a “grey area” with a grouping of recruits, they will be looking for a “tie breaker” to solidify the rankings.

Your high school and/or club Coach can make a difference here and as long as you have provided the college coaches with the tools he has needed to do a thorough and regular evaluation (updated transcripts, test scores, video etc.) of your talent as a student-athlete, this would be a prime opportunity for your current Coach to connect directly with the college coaches in an effort to support your commitment to a particular program.

Tough Questions

At this point in the process if you do not have a “firm” commitment from Coach to where you stand on his recruit priority list, I suggest you find out. There are several tough questions families and prospects encounter throughout the college search and the well prepared and organized prospect will have the best chance in reaching out to the coaches for straight answers.

If you practiced an honest, truthful and consistent recruiting effort, you can expect the same in return from the college coaches. Whether you’re hoping for that financial aid pre-read or feedback on where your application stands in admissions, do not be anxious about approaching Coach. It is his position and obligation to assist families. That said, coaches and good recruiters are brutally honest and there may be cases where the answer you receive is not the one you were anticipating.

In closing, the family that approaches the college recruiting process with integrity, persistence and an organized approach will build mutually strong and respectful relationships with college coaches and position themselves best to navigate the college search. And like a great race, game or competition, the best athletes remain focused and committed from start to finish. The brass ring is out there and it is different for every prospect. Focus on the process and remain diligent in your approach… Everything else will take care of itself.

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families on college recruiting. Tom is the author of “Reaching for Excellence, an educational guide for college athletics recruiting. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.Copyright © 2011 Victory Collegiate Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2011/02/13/recruiting-understanding-verbal-commitments

I recently had three athletes I am advising receive verbal athletic scholarship commitments from three different college coaches. Obviously the families were thrilled with the opportunity for their children to be recognized and awarded well before the senior year in high school.

As an advisor, I am asked many questions about the [...]]]> Tom Kovic February 13th, 2011

http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2011/02/13/recruiting-understanding-verbal-commitments

I recently had three athletes I am advising receive verbal athletic scholarship commitments from three different college coaches. Obviously the families were thrilled with the opportunity for their children to be recognized and awarded well before the senior year in high school.

As an advisor, I am asked many questions about the college quest and lately the area of verbal commitments seems to top the list. I would like to share my personal thoughts on what has become a popular recruiting strategy that is used by prospects and college coaches alike.

COMPETITION

College coaches have a much different job description compared to 25 years ago when I first became a college coach. Not only are they expected to run an efficient and successful college athletics program, they need to foster strong relationships with their alumni, grow strong loyalty within the team and regularly recruit and retain “impact” prospects to the program.

If there is one area that creates a trickle down effect that improves each specific area of a coach’s program it is measured by the annual success of the team. In short, a coach, no matter the tier of the sport within the department, is expected to win regularly, especially within the conference.

RECRUITING STRATEGY

As the coaches roles have changed over the years, so has recruiting in general. The competition, especially for the blue chip athlete has been raised exponentially among college coaches and although they are restricted by well defined NCAA contact rules, they utilize early evaluations, unofficial visits and proactive communication by the prospects to “advance” their recruiting timelines.

A good college recruiter will begin to build a recruiting base of prospects as early as the 9th grade in an effort to “look further out” at kids that will fill important program gaps. When college coaches evaluate a prospect, they are often not just looking at the primary athlete they drove to see. The are evaluating a “grouping” of kids from a club or team where, in many cases, the college coach has developed a “pipeline” where prospects from that organization or school have a good chance in getting strong and regular attention.

THE VERBAL: A LAYMAN’S DEFINITION

Simply put, a verbal commitment is one where a Coach and a prospect agree there is a proper and mutual fit scholastically and athletically with the prospect and the institution. In many cases, there is an offer of athletic aid (scholarship), or in some cases, support by the coach in admissions. The verbal commitment is a “gentleman’s agreement.” An old fashion handshake where both party’s offer their word to remain committed through either the signing of The National Letter of Intent or offer of admissions.

The verbal offer is “open ended” and a common question that prospects and parents have is “Can we back out of the agreement?” And the answer is yes. That said it is important to realize the flip side of the coin and although it is less likely, college coaches can back out of a verbal commitment, especially if the prospect shows a lack of progress on the field or in the classroom.

TIMELINES

Coaches will typically give families time to think about the offer, but they will also give them a deadline to make a decision. The prospect, in most cases, is one of several athletes on a short list of kids that the coach is prepared to offer. If you decide not to accept, coach will simply work down the list and make an offer to the next prospect in line.

The verbal commitment is a tremendous tool that can assist both the prospect and the college coach in making an early decision during the college recruiting process. If your child is not a blue chip athlete, it is a process that begins much earlier than most families realize and therefore a proactive approach to organizing early for the college search becomes essential in reaching your goals.

Tom Kovic is a former Division I college coach and the current director of Victory Collegiate Consulting, where he provides individual advisement for families in navigating the college recruiting process. For further information visit: www.victoryrecruiting.com.

Copyright © 2011 Victory Collegiate Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

from press release TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa athletic department has announced the addition of a men’s lacrosse program, which will begin competition in the spring of 2012. The team will compete at the NCAA Division II level, increasing UT’s number of varsity sports to 18.

“We are excited [...]]]> Tampa Announces Addition of Men’s Lacrosse

from press release TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Tampa athletic department has announced the addition of a men’s lacrosse program, which will begin competition in the spring of 2012. The team will compete at the NCAA Division II level, increasing UT’s number of varsity sports to 18.

“We are excited to announce the addition of an exciting sport,” says athletic director Larry Marfise. “Lacrosse will bring additional enthusiasm to UT Athletics and the University. This is a sport that continues to grow in popularity and I look forward to making this a part of our rich tradition.”

The Spartans will compete at Pepin Stadium, an on-campus facility that also houses its men’s and women’s soccer teams. There are currently 37 schools in NCAA Division II competing in men’s lacrosse.

Tampa joins fellow-Sunshine State Conference schools Florida Southern College, Saint Leo University and Rollins College along with Florida Tech, who also begins competition in 2012.

This marks the second new sport for The University of Tampa during the 2010-11 season, with men’s lacrosse joining women’s golf as the newest Spartan programs.

A number of New Jersey coaches responded to my last letter and it was great to hear from many of my former colleagues. I want to thank you for taking the time to help Rosemont Lacrosse as we build towards a new era of Collegiate Lacrosse. Division 3 Lacrosse is exploding right now and the [...]]]>

A number of New Jersey coaches responded to my last letter and it was great to hear from many of my former colleagues. I want to thank you for taking the time to help Rosemont Lacrosse as we build towards a new era of Collegiate Lacrosse. Division 3 Lacrosse is exploding right now and the opportunities are endless. We have plenty of them at Rosemont and we want to maximize them with your players.

I would like to ask you to please pass along some information to your players. Rosemont will be holding our spring Athletics Open House on Saturday, February 19 beginning at 9:30 am through about Noon. All those interested in attending are asked to please register using the link below. Please send this information to your players.

Register here:

Rosemont College Athletics Open House.

We have some spots still open for the 2011 class, even as we build our 2012 and 2013 classes and we want to give all your guys the opportunity to play a high level of lacrosse at a great school. Rosemont has a lot to offer and we invite everyone to come find out what that is.

I appreciate all the help you can give Rosemont Lacrosse and best of luck in your upcoming season!

Coach Zusi.

E-mail: bzusi@rosemont.edu

http://victorycollegiateconsulting.blogspot.com/2011/02/college-athletics-recruiting-verbal.html

I recently had 3 athletes I am advising receive verbal athletic scholarship commitments from 3 different college coaches. Obviously the families were thrilled with the opportunity for their children to be recognized and awarded well before the senior year in high school.

As an advisor, I am asked many questions about [...]]]> College Athletics Recruiting: The Verbal Offer

http://victorycollegiateconsulting.blogspot.com/2011/02/college-athletics-recruiting-verbal.html

I recently had 3 athletes I am advising receive verbal athletic scholarship commitments from 3 different college coaches. Obviously the families were thrilled with the opportunity for their children to be recognized and awarded well before the senior year in high school.

As an advisor, I am asked many questions about the college quest and lately the area of verbal commitments seems to top the list. I would like to share my personal thoughts on what has become a popular recruiting strategy that is used by prospects and college coaches alike.

Competition

College coaches have a much different job description compared to 25 years ago when I first became a college Coach. Not only are they expected to run an efficient and successful college athletics program, they need to foster strong relationships with their alumni, grow strong loyalty within the team and regularly recruit and retain “impact” prospects to the program.

If there is one area that creates a trickle down effect that improves each specific area of a Coach’s program it is measured by the annual success of the team. In short, a Coach, no matter the tier of the sport within the department, is expected to win regularly, especially within the conference.

Recruiting Strategy

As the coaches roles have changed over the years, so has recruiting in general. The competition, especially for the blue chip athlete has been raised exponentially among college coaches and although they are restricted by well defined NCAA contact rules, they utilize early evaluations, unofficial visits and proactive communication by the prospects to “advance” their recruiting timelines.

A good college recruiter will begin to build a recruiting base of prospects as early as the 9th grade in an effort to “look further out” at kids that will fill important program gaps. When college coaches evaluate a prospect, they are often not just looking at the primary athlete they drove to see. The are evaluating a “grouping” of kids from a club or team where, in many cases, the college Coach has developed a “pipeline” where prospects from that organization or school have a good chance in getting strong and regular attention.

The Verbal: A Layman’s Definition

Simply put, a verbal commitment is one where a Coach and a prospect agree there is a proper and mutual fit scholastically and athletically with the prospect and the institution. In many cases, there is an offer of athletic aid (scholarship), or in some cases, support by the Coach in admissions. The verbal commitment is a “gentleman’s agreement.” An old fashion handshake where both party’s offer their word to remain committed through either the signing of The National Letter of Intent or offer of admissions.

The verbal offer is “open ended” and a common question that prospects and parents have is “Can we back out of the agreement?” And the answer is yes. That said it is important to realize the flip side of the coin and although it is less likely, college coaches can back out of a verbal commitment, especially if the prospect shows a lack of progress on the field or in the classroom.

Timelines

Coaches will typically give families time to think about the offer, but they will also give them a deadline to make a decision. The prospect, in most cases, is one of several athletes on a short list of kids that the Coach is prepared to offer. If you decide not to accept, Coach will simply work down the list and make an offer to the next prospect in line.

The verbal commitment is a tremendous tool that can assist both the prospect and the college coach in making an early decision during the college recruiting process. If your child is not a blue chip athlete, it is a process that begins much earlier than most families realize and therefore a proactive approach to organizing early for the college search becomes essential in reaching your goals.

Copyright © 2011 Victory Collegiate Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

By Tom Kovic

Student-athletes bring a unique quality to the table when it comes to college admissions. They offer a special talent that can improve the institution’s visibility and raise the level of popularity among future attendees. College officials understand this and in many cases, offer strong support to student-athletes both in admissions [...]]]>

By Tom Kovic

Student-athletes bring a unique quality to the table when it comes to college admissions. They offer a special talent that can improve the institution’s visibility and raise the level of popularity among future attendees. College officials understand this and in many cases, offer strong support to student-athletes both in admissions and with financial aid.

The college recruiting process can be a daunting effort if it is not well planned and executed with organization and enthusiasm from start to finish. Below is a simple snapshot of terms and athletic recruiting rules and procedures you will run into as you navigate the college search for athletes.

Contacts

Recruiting contacts are essential for both college coaches and families to become familiar with each other. Whether contacts are made by phone, e-mail or face to face, the aim of the college coach will be to simply make an effort to cultivate a strong relationship with the prospect and family in an effort to determine the likelihood of a good match.

Parents and prospects should understand the importance of initiating contact with the college coach. Coaches are bound by NCAA rules that prohibit them from contacting prospects and families during certain times. Families, on the other hand, can contact coaches at any time, with rare exceptions.

Evaluations

These are opportunities for college coaches to assess the academic and athletic ability of a prospect. Evaluations typically occur off-campus and coaches are permitted no more than 7 “recruiting opportunities” (contacts and/or evaluations), with no more than 3 opportunities resulting in face-to-face contact. (There are individual sport exceptions).

Evaluation timetables are sport-specific. Recruiting calendars for your sport of interest can be found in the NCAA Manual and are available to view at www.ncaa.org [1]. The evaluation offers the coach a chance to get an early read on future prospects. It is also used as a recruiting tactic by college coaches in order to create visibility. This “celebrity effect” can have a powerful impact on a prospect and the family, especially if the evaluation is timed and communicated properly.

NCAA Eligibility

The NCAA Eligibility Center is an organization that collaborates with the NCAA in the area of student-athlete eligibility. Basically, the job of the Eligibility Center is to determine eligibility for all incoming Division I and Division II freshmen student-athletes. This is achieved through the evaluation of high school academic records. Each division has individual standards for entering freshmen.

Student-athletes can register with the Eligibility Center either at their high school, or online at http://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/common/ [2]. It is suggested to begin this process soon after junior year grades are in. This will provide coaches with preliminary “reads” on eligibility. Final eligibility will be determined after the senior year grades are presented to the Eligibility Center.

Campus Visits

Unofficial Visit: The unofficial visit is a great way for prospects and families to begin to become familiar with a number of colleges and universities. It is a visit that is made at the expense of the family and can be taken at any time (with few exceptions), including before July 1 following the junior year in high school. Institutions typically offer information sessions and tours which can be very useful in gathering general information. (Before visiting, contact the Admissions Office to determine times and dates for information sessions and tours).

It is suggested you make unofficial visits to the colleges that are on your radar, beginning as early as the end of the sophomore year in high school. Alert the college coach to your impending visit and attempt to arrange a meeting. This will give families a perfect opportunity to begin cultivating a relationship with the coach and alert the coaching staff to your sincere interest in their institution. These visits impress the college coach, and reinforce the family’s effort to become familiar with the institution and learn more about the coach and his/her program.

Official Visit: The official visit is a wonderful means of narrowing down your college choices by spending quality time with the coaching staff, current student-athletes and college administrators. These visits differ from the unofficial visit in cost, time limitations and the total number permitted by the prospect and to each individual institution.

The official visit is one that is paid in part or in full by the institution, can be taken beginning the first day of classes in the senior year of high school and is typically the “clincher” when a prospect and family are narrowing down their final choices. These visits provide a great opportunity for the family to witness first-hand, how the entire process (social interaction with team, team practice, attending classes, living in the dormitories etc.) operates from a “production” standpoint.

Proactive Tips

Telephone contact: College coaches are bound by very strict rules to when and how often they are permitted to contact prospects (In most sports beginning July 1 following the junior year in high school). On the other hand, prospects and families have virtually no limitations here. My suggestion is simply this: If you plan to call the Coach, make sure you have a good reason and you are well prepared!

E-mail: Probably the most effective means of communicating with the college coaches. Coaches can begin initiating e-mail contact beginning September 1st in the prospects junior year in high school. I suggest not waiting until then to determine the volume of e-mail in your inbox…Get on the radar early!

Face to Face Contact: There is no better way to present oneself than through a face to face meeting. Remember, for this to happen before July 1 following the junior year, the family and prospect must arrange an on campus, unofficial visit.

Control the Field: As a former college Coach I remember clearly the edge I had over families and their children during the recruiting process. That said, I suggest making a concerted effort to continually grow an educational awareness of NCAA procedures and develop a clear plan to how your personal college search quest will proceed. Remember…This is a major “life decision” our children will make.

I have learned that when prospects and families are choosing between schools, the well-informed individuals reached their decision with relative ease. The decision was based not only on the information they gathered and the commitment to prepare thoroughly, but on a feeling of self-confidence that developed naturally after putting a well-designed plan into action.

This article is only the “tip of the iceberg” of information you should gather before launching your college search effort. An educational approach where we see the brass ring and understand how to bridge the gap between start and finish will not only give families “their” edge in college recruiting, it will make it an enjoyable and a memorable journey.

www.victoryrecruiting.com

by Tom Kovic