Originally Posted by Anonymous
My son started playing club lax in 6th grade. He is a current senior in HS (2019). Committed and accepted to a top 10 liberal arts school for next year. He did all the summer/ fall tourneys and showcases in 8th and 9th grade (Philly Freshman (when it meant something), Maverik Showtime and others) and tons of prospect days (Princeton, Yale, Georgetown, UNC, West Point, Penn) He thought he was going to Duke or Hopkins or Ivy. Then reality set in that he wasn't good enough to play high level D1 lacrosse. He stopped playing club lax after freshman year. He focused on high level academic D3 prospect days and camps (elite 180, good to great, D3 showcase) where his target schools were attending. And we hired an SAT tutor with money saved from club lax. This summer he chose between Bates, Bowdoin, Haverford, Amherst and Swarthmore. many kids on his path still played club throughout last summer but a few stopped after 9th/10th grade. Maybe we were lucky. Spots for high level D3 academic schools are tough but strong grades, excellent SAT scores and good lacrosse get you a look. Hope that is helpful.


My son had a very similar experience. Committed to a top 25 D1 school early, older teammates began telling him D1 lacrosse was too intensive, way too many hours and many were transferring. He started getting burned out from year round lacrosse and decided he didn't want to keep it up in college. Grades good not great so the lacrosse helped him get into a fantastic D3 school and he can't wait to get there.