Equity IX - SportsOgram is digital media company focused on women's sports by Leigh Ernst Friestedt

EARLY RECRUIT

THE ROLE OF SPORTS IN EDUCATION

New NCAA Recruiting Rule

The NCAA approved landmark early recruiting legislation for men's and women's lacrosse in April 2017 to limit contact and communication with college coaches before September 1 of a prospective student-athlete's junior year in high school.

"STUDENT-ATHLETE"

Female lacrosse players from Skywalkers and South Jersey Select showcasing in front of college coaches at the Nike Elite G8 Girls Lacrosse Club tournament (2015) as part of the early recruiting process for women's lacrosse.

Early recruiting undermines the NCAA intercollegiate athletic model and the importance of being a "student-athlete".

"WELL-BEING"

Taped left knee of female lacrosse player signifies the injuries prospective student-athletes play with to showcase for college coaches at the Nike Elite G8 girls lacrosse club tournament (2015) which is part of the early recruiting process.

Early recruiting is detrimental to the physical, emotional and mental "well-being" of a student-athlete.

TRANSPARENCY

Maryland women's lacrosse coaches are sitting in their chairs texting on phone as they watch prospective student-athletes at a club tournament for girls lacrosse as part of the early recruiting process.

Early recruiting lacks transparency with student-athletes "committing" years before the college admissions process.

WEALTH DISPARITY

Early recruiting creates a wealth disparity barrier that disadvanatges student-athletes who cannot afford to be recruited.

Women’s lacrosse is breaking barriers by pressuring 8th-grade girls to “commit” to one of the most accelerated early recruiting processes in college sports today. Lacrosse recruiting starts in middle school and requires year-round training to showcase for college coaches. Early recruiting undermines the role of sports in education and prioritizes a student’s athletic ability over academics, years before the college admissions process.

Enabled by loopholes in the NCAA rules, student-athletes can verbally “commit” at any age. This unregulated process lacks transparency and often consists of an exploding “offer” which pressures a student-athlete to make a premature decision about where to attend college. College counselors who traditionally provided guidance on this important decision have been replaced by club coaches who often act as agents and operate outside the boundaries of educational institutions.

Girls club lacrosse player wearing red jersey #45 TLC Maryland - Early Recruiting Tournament © Equity IX - SportsOgram - Leigh Ernst Friestedt

Driven by the continued expansion of women’s lacrosse teams to comply with Title IX, a university arms race to showcase prestige and wealth, female athletes are in demand by even the elite academic institutions. While parents, coaches and administrators acknowledge early recruiting is detrimental to the “well-being” of student-athletes, they all actively participate. Parents make a significant investment in their daughter’s athletic career and they expect a return. But the reality is that only a low percentage will be recruited and even fewer will receive any scholarship.

Sports is a business that is destroying amateurism. When lacrosse, a non-revenue generating sport, is showcasing early recruiting with teenage girls, the intercollegiate model and ideals of a “student-athlete” have broken down. It is no secret that sports can help with college admissions, but early recruiting disadvantages student-athletes who cannot afford to participate in the process or afford the high cost of education. For universities who value diversity, wealth disparity is a compelling reason to evaluate their internal recruiting policies and support the pending NCAA legislation.

The NCAA is currently reviewing early recruiting and will vote on this issue in April 2017. While multiple sports have submitted different proposals, women’s lacrosse has set forth the most comprehensive legislation which if approved could help to mitigate the problem and begin to address the role of sports in education.