Preparing for Lacrosse Tournaments and Showcases: A Before, During and After Checklist

Two to four weeks before

• Check which programs on your list may attend, using event announcements or your club.
• Send individual schedule emails to coaches you hope will watch.
• Confirm registration, travel, lodging and uniform numbers.
• Update your highlight video link and athletic resume.

The week of the event

• Save the field map and game times somewhere easy to reach offline.
• Pack equipment, extra sticks and a printed schedule.
• Plan sleep, hydration and meals. Performance matters more than visibility.

During the event

• Let your athlete focus on playing. Parents should not approach coaches on her behalf.
• Write quick notes after each game: what went well, any coaches you noticed, any conversations.
• Record what you saw separately from what you heard secondhand.

Within a week after

• Send short, specific follow-up emails where appropriate.
• Log every coach sighting and conversation with the date.
• Add new schools that caught your interest to your research list.
• Create tasks for next steps, such as sending updated film or registering for a camp.

Example: a one-page event plan

Event: [Event Name], [City], [Dates]
Goal: play well and learn about three schools on our list.
Programs we hope will watch: [School A], [School B], [School C]
Schedule emails sent: [date] to each program, individually.
Games: [Day/Time/Field] x [number]
After each game, note: one thing that went well, one thing to work on, any coach we saw.
Follow-up by [date one week later]: thank-you or update emails where appropriate, new tasks created.

Deciding whether an event is worth it

• Does it fit her development, not just her exposure?
• Are programs she has genuinely researched likely to be there?
• What is the full cost, including travel and missed school?
• Would a school's own camp or a local event teach her more for less?

Packing list

• Stick, backup stick, goggles, mouthguard, cleats and turf shoes.
• Both uniforms, plus layers for changing weather.
• Water, electrolytes and simple snacks for long days between games.
• Phone charger and a printed schedule in case of poor signal.
• A small notebook or a notes app for quick post-game entries.

Questions to talk through as a family afterward

A calm conversation a day or two later is often more useful than one in the car right after a game. Let your athlete lead it.

• What did she enjoy most, and what does she want to work on next?
• Did any school feel more or less interesting after the weekend?
• Were there conversations or sightings worth logging accurately?
• Is the next planned event still the right one?

Keeping cost and energy in check

Events add up quickly. Choose fewer events with more purpose, and protect rest and schoolwork between them. A well-rested athlete who plays her game is better served than one who attends every weekend.