Fall Sports Soph Year

[StuffedYa713]

I'm going to be a Sophmore this upcoming year and wil be going into my second season as starting varsity goalie (unless a new freshman comes in with sick skills, of course). I've watched the D1 games and gone to their camps and would love to get recruited to play at that level.

My summer team coach decided to start a fall lax program that includes going to some tournaments, because most girls on my team are rising juniors looking to be recruited. Last year I played Field Hockey goalie (though I don't really enjoy it) and was scheduled to do it this year when the oppurtunity to do Fall Ball came up.

My question is- even though I am going to be a sophmore, would it be worth it to do the fall lax program (at this point I will be playing lacrosse ten months out of the year) and get on some coaches radars early? Or should I take a different sport just to mix it up/(as my friend puts it) so that I don't get burned out?

I'd really appreciate your thoughts- thanks

:crazy: Dewi

[spanishriverlax]

im actually in the same boat as you, except for the fact that im a guy, but im still a goalie. I decided the opposite, instead im doing marching band. Say whatever you want about marching band, but I talked to the Nazareth coach this past summer, and he said its good to mix it up. Also the fact that marching band is physical AND a mental sport all in one, he thought it would really help. Thats just my two cents, but I think it should be do another sport in the fall.

[goalie08]

wow same here and i'm a girl. i play goalie for the field hockey team and i'm also a goalie on a travel lacrosse team so i keep playing both. its a lot of hard work though, and like you i'm not crazy about field hockey but its a good combination lacrosse and field hockey. i'd say play field hockey unless your team is absolute dirt and you wouldn't gain anything from it. =]

[lilaxgurl23]

If you can, I'd try to do both. It's really good and refreshing to have something other than lacrosse to do, but if you have the opportunity to play some more lacrosse with good competition every other weekend or so, I'd try to get in on that as well. It's really up to you, I think it's good to have a fall/winter sport in addition to lacrosse, but some of the fall lacrosse stuff can be pretty fun as well. Usually it's not near as busy as the summer or spring though, so that's why I would recommend both if it's an option. But if you have to choose one, I personally would probably go with the fall sport, but that's just me.

[StuffedYa713]

i'd say play field hockey unless your team is absolute dirt and you wouldn't gain anything from it. =]

Haha, thanks but its pretty much the exact opposite- my team is one of the best preps in the state (for FH, I mean), but like I said I'm not very good. So I play on JV and get a sickly low amount of shots each season. Last year there were 4 goalies and I got about ten minutes of playing time each game. I would rather play on a team that isn't that good- I mean, don't get me wrong playing on such a great team means great conditioning, but I get in the game and it's like- Now what? I condition and train- but theres no excitement in the game.
I can't do both, though- I would do it in a heartbeat- but my school is super demanding. Practice everyday afterschool until 5:30 then 2-3 hours of homework on a good night (which you can't get away with skipping) and if, and if theres a faraway game? study group is on the bus, lol.

Thanks for answering guys!

[SenzaNome]

To answer which sport to do, or whether to push to do both things, ask yourself this: Which option makes you smile?

There seems to be a sort of "arms race" in student sports these days to take a sport that used to last one season and stretch it out for a full year, sucking up your summer, fall, winter, and spring, without time for other things. There's lots of peer pressure to go along because you think you'll miss out on your big college shot. Maybe it's good to concentrate on what you do best, but don't forget to have some fun. Twenty or thirty years after high school, are you going to remember another grinding fall recruitment tournament or walking through school in your jersey after you upset your closest rival in ping pong, water polo, field hockey, or whatever?

Almost every college admissions office I can think of stresses having a broad experience, but sometimes they stress depth, too. As long as you're not sitting around playing video games, you're ahead of the game.

Seems to me that some college coaches actually want other sports -- Virginia allegedly looks for football players, probably because they take speed and hitting to a higher level. Whatever you do, do it with a smile.

[StuffedYa713]

SenzaNome- that is probably the best advice I've heard so far. And I've heard alot, haha. Thanks.