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College Lacrosse Recruiting

Forge does not treat recruiting like a local college list. We help boys and girls build a national, division-specific plan across NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III β€” then match the athlete's skill, academics, position, film and family goals to the right level.

M/W
Men's & Women's Pathways
DI-DIII
National NCAA Fit Board
Sept. 1
DI Lacrosse Junior-Year Contact Date
48/38
DI Men's/Women's Roster Limits*
The Forge Recruiting Standard

Fit Beats Fantasy

The goal is not to chase a logo. The goal is to find the right competitive, academic, financial and cultural fit. A good recruiting plan includes national options, realistic division targeting, rules awareness, strong film, and position-specific training that translates when a coach watches live or on video.

Doug Steele brings recruiting insight from both sides of the process.

In addition to his playing and coaching background, Doug also served as the Director of Admissions and Athletic Recruitment at Sacred Heart University. That experience gives Forge families practical perspective on admissions strategy, athletic recruiting communication, compliance awareness, academic fit, roster needs, and how coaches and admissions offices evaluate prospects.
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Division-Specific Targeting
Forge helps families build a working list across Division I, Division II and Division III β€” not just nearby schools. We evaluate roster needs, academic selectivity, playing style, geography, cost, and the athlete's real competitive profile.
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Admissions Strategy
Recruiting is not separate from admissions. Forge helps families understand academic readiness, transcript strength, school fit, coach-supported admissions conversations, and why the right academic profile can expand or limit a college list.
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Film That Answers Coach Questions
Highlight clips should show position IQ, decision speed, athletic traits, off-ball value, weak-hand ability, pressure moments, and repeatable skills. College coaches need proof, not just music and goals.
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Outreach with Rules Awareness
Athletes can prepare early, but coach responses and direct interaction depend on NCAA division and sport-specific rules. Forge helps families communicate professionally while respecting compliance boundaries.
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Showcase & Camp Strategy
Not every event is worth the money. We help athletes choose events that match the target division, gender, position, school list and recruiting stage β€” then prepare them to perform when someone important is watching.
National Recruiting Map

Men's and Women's Pathways

The national lacrosse landscape is different for men's and women's players, and each division recruits with a different rhythm. Forge helps families understand where an athlete fits now, where they could fit after development, and which schools deserve real outreach.

Men's Lacrosse

NCAA Division I

Highest Visibility, Tightest Rules

DI men's lacrosse is the most visible and selective pathway. Coaches evaluate athleticism, position specialization, speed, film quality, summer circuit performance, academic profile and long-term roster needs. The House settlement era also makes roster management more important, with a men's lacrosse DI roster limit of 48 at participating schools.
NCAA Division II

Scholarship Opportunity + Strong Fit

DII men's lacrosse can be an excellent fit for athletes who want a high-level playing experience with a different academic, geographic or financial profile than DI. DII rules are generally more flexible than DI, and athletic aid may be available.
NCAA Division III

Academics, Culture and Coach Support

DIII men's lacrosse is deep and highly competitive. There are no athletic scholarships, so fit is driven by academics, admissions support, merit/need-based aid, campus culture and whether the athlete can impact the program.
Forge Lens

Position Value Matters

Men's recruiting can turn on positional needs: close defense, LSM, goalie, FOGO, left-handed attack, two-way midfielders, shooters and clearing ability. Forge trains athletes to show a clear position identity while still developing complete-field value.

Women's Lacrosse

NCAA Division I

Speed, Skill and Specialization

DI women's lacrosse recruits nationally and values pace, stick skill, decision-making, transition ability, defensive versatility, draw impact, game IQ and academic readiness. The DI women's lacrosse roster limit is 38 at participating schools, so fit and roster need matter.
NCAA Division II

Competitive Play + Financial Possibility

DII women's lacrosse offers strong national competition, regional variety and potential athletic aid. For many athletes, DII is a serious path where development, grades, coach communication and live evaluation all matter.
NCAA Division III

Elite Academics + Strong Lacrosse

DIII women's lacrosse includes many academically selective programs and high-level teams. The pathway is admissions-driven, but coaches still recruit, evaluate film, track academic readiness and support strong-fit prospects.
Forge Lens

Versatility Wins Attention

Women's recruits should show more than goals. Film should reveal riding, defensive footwork, off-ball movement, draw circle value, transition decisions, weak-hand ability and coachability under pressure.

*Roster limits apply to NCAA Division I schools participating in the House settlement model. Individual school policies, scholarship budgets and roster management may vary.

Rules That Matter

DI, DII and DIII At a Glance

Recruiting rules change, and every family should verify current NCAA guidance and school compliance policies. This is the practical Forge overview families need before they start sending film and scheduling visits.

Division I

Most Restrictive

  • Men's and women's lacrosse have a September 1 junior-year recruiting-contact rule.
  • Coaches follow sport-specific recruiting calendars with contact, quiet, evaluation and dead periods.
  • Official and unofficial visits with athletic-department involvement are restricted before the allowed date.
  • DI can involve athletic aid, roster limits, revenue-sharing considerations and highly selective roster needs.
Division II

More Flexible, Still Structured

  • DII recruiting has become more flexible after NCAA modernization, but in-person/off-campus contact and official visits still follow timing rules.
  • June 15 immediately preceding junior year is a key date for official visits and off-campus contact.
  • Athletic scholarships may be available, but aid packages vary by school and roster need.
  • DII can be a strong fit for athletes seeking serious lacrosse, development and balanced academics.
Division III

Admissions-Driven

  • DIII schools do not offer athletic scholarships.
  • Academic profile, admissions fit, merit/need aid and coach-supported admissions matter heavily.
  • Communication is generally more flexible than DI, but rules and school policies still apply.
  • DIII lacrosse can be highly competitive and should never be treated as a fallback.
Forge Rule

Prepare Early, Comply Always

  • Families can research schools, build film, train, attend appropriate camps and organize profiles early.
  • Do not pressure coaches to break rules or respond before they are allowed.
  • Keep grades, transcript, test strategy and eligibility steps current.
  • Ask every coach: β€œWhere do I stand on your list, and what do I need to show next?”
The Forge Fit-List Process

Build a National Target Board

1. Start Wide
Build a broad list across DI, DII and DIII. Separate dream schools, realistic competitive fits, academic fits and financial fits. Do not eliminate programs just because they are outside South Carolina.
2. Filter by Reality
Position need, grades, geography, cost, admissions selectivity, team style, roster size, coach response, camp invites and live evaluation all matter. A good list gets narrower as evidence improves.
3. Match Film to Level
A DI clip package, DII clip package and DIII clip package may emphasize different things. Forge helps athletes show the traits that fit the target division and the role they are likely to play.
4. Communicate Like a Recruit
Short emails. Clean subject lines. Accurate measurables. Updated film. Academic info. Club/high school schedule. Clear ask. Professional follow-up. No spam, no inflated claims, no generic blast.

Forge recruiting is not β€œsend more emails.” It is train better, film smarter, target correctly and communicate with purpose.

Recruiting Timeline

When to Start & What to Do

The timeline is not the same for every athlete, gender or division. DI tends to move earlier and tighter; DII and DIII can remain active later. The best families prepare early without pretending every athlete is on the same path.

8/9
8th-9th Grade
Build the Player First
Train fundamentals, movement, stick skill, IQ and confidence. Start tracking grades. Learn the national landscape. Build video habits but do not obsess over offers.
10
10th Grade
Organize the Profile
Create or clean up recruiting profiles, collect academic information, build a first target list, attend selective events when appropriate, and start sending smart intro emails understanding coach responses may be limited by rules.
11
11th Grade
Make the List Real
Update film, evaluate DI/DII/DIII fit, schedule visits when rules allow, communicate with coaches, attend high-value camps, and narrow the list based on feedback, academics, finances and role opportunity.
12
12th Grade
Finish the Process
Finalize visits, applications, aid conversations, admissions steps, roster conversations and commitment timing. Many DII and DIII opportunities are still active senior year, so stay organized and keep improving.
Tools We Recommend

Recruiting Resources

Families should use platforms for organization, but they should still understand the rules and verify information through official NCAA and school compliance sources.

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NCAA Resources
Use NCAA recruiting calendars, eligibility resources and division-specific materials to verify dates, visits, signing rules and compliance requirements.
NCAA Calendars β†’
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SportsRecruits
A useful platform for profiles, video, communication tracking and organizing outreach to college programs across divisions.
SportsRecruits β†’
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USA Lacrosse
The national governing body for lacrosse. USA Lacrosse is a helpful source for development, membership, events and broader lacrosse context.
USA Lacrosse β†’

Build the Right Recruiting Plan

Forge recruiting preparation helps serious boys and girls understand national division fit, train the skills college coaches evaluate, organize film, build a real school list and communicate with purpose.

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