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TOP-TIER WEEKLY ISSUE 03 • November 2026 Coach Emails, Campus Clinics & SportsRecruits: Your Pre-November Checklist The work you put in before an event matters just as much as what you do on the field. November is approaching, and for many athletes, that means another busy stretch of showcases, tournaments, and college clinics. While it's easy to focus on preparing physically, one of the most overlooked parts of recruiting is everything that happens before you step onto

TOP-TIER WEEKLY ISSUE 02 • OCTOBER 2026

TOP-TIER WEEKLY ISSUE 01 • OCTOBER 2026

September 1 has passed, but the recruiting process is far from over! For the Class of 2028, now is the time to evaluate where you stand, reflect on the feedback you've received, and make sure your next steps have a purpose. This exclusive Top-Tier Recruiting Reset Worksheet is designed to help athletes and families assess their current recruiting position, separate facts from assumptions, evaluate their recruiting decisions, and build a strategic 30-day action plan. Work thro

Featuring Coach Lauren Gunning, Associate Head Coach — USC Women's Lacrosse Hosted by Brooke Magnuson, Top-Tier Recruiting If the recruiting process feels like a black box, you're not alone. Athletes and parents constantly wonder what's actually happening on the other side of the email, the campus visit, the tournament sideline. What are coaches really watching? Which stats matter? And how do programs decide who fits? In our latest webinar, USC Associate Head Coach Lauren "Co

From Scouting to Recruiting: How College Coaches Actually Evaluate Film When athletes think about recruiting film, they usually think one thing: “How do I make the best highlight reel?” But what if that’s the wrong starting point? In our latest Top-Tier Recruiting webinar, we sat down with Coach Kateri Linville (Associate Head Coach, James Madison University) to break down something most athletes never consider: 👉 College coaches don’t just watch film — they scout it. And th

With Vanderbilt Head Coach Beth Hewitt We sat down with Beth Hewitt, Head Coach at Vanderbilt, to break down what really happens during the spring recruiting season. We covered what the high school season reveals about athletes, how college coaches evaluate players when games actually matter, and what coaches are truly looking for beyond stats and highlights. We also talked about smart (and not-so-smart) recruiting communication, the importance of role acceptance, academics,

If you are still uncommitted after September 1st, the first thing I want you to hear — really hear — is this: You are not late. You are just still in the middle. – Coach Mindy McCord shared. September 1st has become this artificial finish line that convinces athletes something is “wrong” with them if they didn’t get the call. I hear the same lines over and over: “Everyone is already committed.” “Coaches must be done.” “I missed my chance.” “If they wanted me, they would have

Your Mindset Will Decide This More Than Your Talent Will

One of the biggest mistakes recruits make is believing evaluation only happens when a coach is sitting on your sideline with a clipboard. The truth is — you are being evaluated long before and long after you ever see a coach in person. Coaches are not just assessing your skill. They are assessing your patterns, your habits, your communication, your maturity, your awareness, and your consistency over time. They are collecting data on you — even when you don’t know it’s happeni

One of the biggest misconceptions I see from athletes after September 1st is this idea that coaches have already made up their minds — that the list is final, the board is closed, and the door is essentially shut unless you were already in the conversation Coach Mindy McCord shares.

Your Division Does Not Predict Your Success — Your Environment Does. Coach Mindy McCord shared: I have coached at the Division I level, I have played and coached at the Division III level, and I have recruited athletes at every level in between — and I need you to hear this plainly: Your division is not the thing that makes or breaks you. Your environment is. Over and over, athletes obsess over the three letters — D1, D2, D3 — as if one of them guarantees success and the othe

A Top-Tier Recruiting Webinar Recap featuring USF Head Coach Mindy McCord

The recruiting process is exciting, but it’s rarely smooth. Every athlete hits obstacles that can feel overwhelming — but those roadblocks don’t have to stop you. Inside this exclusive Top-Tier Recruiting blog series, we break down the toughest situations athletes face and show you how to flip challenges into opportunities.

Introduction Parents are foundational in the recruiting process—financially, emotionally, and logistically. But there’s a fine line...

Introduction What makes one lacrosse team mesh instantly, while another struggles despite having a lot of talent? According to Coach...

Introduction For many student-athletes, balancing lacrosse and strong academics can feel like walking a tightrope. No wonder, since...

Introduction It’s easy to think that if you have the goals, the speed, the flashy plays, you’ll have college coaches calling. But in last...

Introduction For many young players, the journey to college lacrosse looks like a straight path: standout youth days → high school...

Introduction Watching friends and teammates commit early is exciting—but if you haven’t gotten an offer yet, it can also be...