<p>Hopefully another lax parent or player can weigh in on what a talented 14 year old defensive player can do to get ready for the (ever increasing) recruitment process. He already: is playing on elite travel teams, going to age-appropriate camps and getting recommendations to the showcases for summer 2013.</p>
<p>It still strikes me as slightly bizarre to initiate contact with D1 coaches, but I gather it's what you have to do at the end of 9th grade as you head to the rising sophomore showcases.</p>
<p>How far in advance do you send those initial emails? Before winter camps? A few weeks before the Spring/Summer showcases themselves?</p>
<p>We have a few well-respected high school level coaches advising us, but I have more questions than I can reasonably ask them (plus we don't want to be high-maintenance at this early stage).</p>
<p>It's hard not to take one coach's word as the bible at this point. I'd be very appreciative of some rough timelines of what other serious lax students/parents did during their 9th grade year.</p>
<p>There is nothing wrong with sending some emails to potential coaches, just realize that they will not be able to answer those emails for a few years. It puts him on their radar if nothing else. The issue really lies in that does he really know where he wants to go to school and what he wants to major in now? That list will change, a lot, between now and senior year.</p>
<p>Lax recruiting is ridiculously early, but I suspect you still have quite a bit of time. I don’t know what to tell you about when to contact coaches at this stage. I guess let them know you are interested and let them know where to see you and if they like what they see, they will let your coaches know. You are doing what you need to do by getting him good exposure at important camps and tournaments. While there are several top level kids committing to D1 programs in their sophomore year, there are still many, many more committing in their junior year. Good luck.</p>