LACROSSE
Technology Helps LAX Players Get Scouted
Web video gives players and coaches new help

By Christy Brothers/ info@longislandernews.com

College coaches will soon be able to use the Internet to find prospective lacrosse players thanks to technology that will give both players and coaches an edge. MSL Sports Measurement has designed an event, the All American Lacrosse Combine, that will provide a venue for players to be fairly evaluated and marketed to coaches.

A player is videotaped completing lacrosse drills, which are timed, positioned and one-on-one. A player’s measurements are taken, including height, weight, long jump, vertical jump and bench press. The measurements are not included on the video, but can be viewed from the website. A college coach can use the MSL search engine and specify a region and measurements. Then the coach can watch the video of the player completing drills.

The All American Lacrosse Combine was set to take place on August 6 at Hewlett High School, but the event was postponed due to lack of support from high school coaches and players. “It’s been very hard to gain momentum in the summer,” said Sara Ellison, account executive for MSL Productions. “Once school ends, it’s very hard to get in touch with high school coaches and they won’t see the kids until the fall.”

“I think that would be pretty cool,” said Tom Marchhat, a Huntington High School senior. “You would have to make sure coaches knew about it though or it wouldn’t work.” Marchhat has played lacrosse for eight years and this fall he will start his third year on the varsity team.

All coaches are invited to attend the combines for a $5 fee and there is a subscription fee for coaches to access the website. The fee is based on the schools recruiting needs and is between $250-$1,000.

The event has been tentatively rescheduled for October, but there is not a location on Long Island anymore. Now there will be three locations around the country that all players are welcomed to attend. The closest school that local players could travel to is Georgetown Prep High School in Maryland. The two other locations are in Houston, Texas and San Francisco, California.

West Islip High school boys’ varsity lacrosse coach Scott Craig said, “I’m not really sure I would recommend this.” On August 1, most lacrosse athletes stop playing lacrosse and switch to their fall sport. “We have many multi-sport athletes,” Craig said.

The cost to the athletes seems reasonable, but Craig added that the coaches would have to plan for this service in their budgets. “The coaches would really have to tap into this,” said Craig. By the end of the season many coaches have seen 90 percent of the kids they wanted to see, said Craig.

“I would mention it, but not recommend it,” said Craig. Most athletes and parents take a coach’s advice seriously, said Craig. “I’m not sure I’m ready to tell them this is the way to go. I wouldn’t push it,” said Craig.