One day FLN might get creative enough to have witty headlines like the New York Post… The season is either over or about to be over tonight for many.  Most seniors have college plans all set, but many of you are wondering what the future will bring. For uncommitted seniors, Team Florida is offering a showcase for you.  For the majority of underclassmen, you are still in the process of making informed decisions.  Is lacrosse part of that future?  It probably is in some fashion, from playing in college to quitting the game and being a fan or coaching a youth league down the line.

For underclassmen, you probably still have aspirations to continue.  If you love the game and want to play at the next level, there’s a home for you, and in most cases there is work left to see what your options may be.  If you already have a spot at Nike Blue Chip, Maverik Showtime, Prep School Lacrosse Showcase or one of the other top camps, you probably have a plan in place to get recruited.  For those who do not, there are plenty of avenues still open. The key to all of this is to find the best school fit.  Of course, nothing is perfect, but you do want to make the most informed decision possible.  No one wants to go to a school, hate it and then return home midway through freshman year after wasting time and money.  Be realistic.  And, gather as much information as you can.

How good are you?  Usually, there is no exact answer, but I suggest if you look at two teams playing where you do not know any of the players, it is pretty clear who the better laxers are.   By competing in a recruiting event, you can get some answers. Team Florida’s Showcase (yes, TF is a FLN advertiser) is, in this writer’s opinion, one of the best values available to every player in our state.  You may want to be chosen to play for TF at an elite recruiting event like The Battle of the Hotbeds at the University of Delaware or you may just want to get a good look from club, D1, D2 or D3 coaches.  If nothing else, it is an excellent two day camp during which you will be coached by new coaches and get to play with many good players from all over the state.  You will have a great time (see the picture above). Spanish River’s Adrian Franzone recently committed to Georgia Tech.  Adrian was noticed by Tech’s coach at the Team Florida Showcase and Tech turned out to be a great fit for Adrian because of the school’s academic offerings.  The Showcase was one part of Adrian’s puzzle.  Academics and endorsements from his coaches all were important, too.

Most likely you are not Paul Rabil or Rob Pannell or the like.  Most likely you are an athlete and a student who wants a good education, and a recruiting event such as this one can help you get there. The Showcase and The Battle of the Hotbeds are bookends to the summer travel and recruiting season.  While it offers additional recruiting events, Team Florida was designed as a compliment to your club team, to be an additional opportunity for you to be seen.  One high school coach recently told FLN he received a call from a college coach asking if there was anybody still available in Florida who could play for that college.  The high school coach mentioned a couple of names and then followed up with the families.  These guys all talk and the success of the Team Florida business is found totally in the success of the players who are placed in college.  Helping a player from a lesser known school is very important to the Team Florida staff. The lacrosse recruiting world is more grey than black and white.  The answers are not always clear and you have to keep at it to find how to put together your personal puzzle.  Good luck with the journey!