***Important news about changes in the selection process for the Alcatraz Outlaws***
After a long and successful run with one team selection process, NorCal's high-profile Alcatraz Outlaws are making a process change; They are adding self-nominations – see their nomination webpage at:
http://alcatrazoutlaws.com/?page_id=893
Outlaws staff will then check with a player's coaches (and others) and respond to players with an evaluation. •••Now is the time to get those nominations in! •••
The evaluation response received by nominees will tell the players whether, or not, they are invited to tryouts, to be held on August 24th and 25th at Treasure Island.
In addition, the Outlaws are broadening the age range of the teams they'll coach. Here are the age/grade ranges the Outlaws will be coaching next summer. Players seeking to participate on ANY Outlaws team must fill out the nomination forms
On August 24th and 25th the Outlaw staff will be conducting an Invite Only Evaluation for the following teams:
- 7th Grade
- 8th Grade
- 9th Grade
- 10th Grade
- 11th Grade
My surmise is that earlier and earlier recruiting by college coaches is partly responsible for this expansion. However, younger Outlaws will also have an opportunity to learn the methods, offensive/defensive schemes, and systems used by the Outlaws. I suspect these learning experiences will prove beneficial to younger players.
The Outlaws are one of only a very few NorCal teams who travel to the East Coast to participate in what are, essentially, recruiting tournaments. Their team success on trips to King of the Hill and the Gait Cup have made them one of the top Club teams in the nation.
Of course, there are other methods to get recruited. Peter Worstell's California Gold is another example, in a different format. But, going to where the coaches live certainly makes life easier for the college coaches. I'm a fan of both enterprises.
The key takeaway for the Outlaws is: nominate yourself NOW.
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Disclosure statement:
My Son plays NCAA DI lacrosse at Yale. As his Mother and I planned out his recruiting activities, we relied on the assistance of the following entities: Matt Ogelsby at All West Lacrosse helped us assess the colleges where our Son would be a good fit. Peter Worstell, via California Gold, provided a vehicle for a large number of college coaches to evaluate him. The Outlaws took him East, where the Yale coaches, among others, evaluated him over several games. That's where he ended up.
From one parent to another, I'd happily recommend using any or all of these entities.
Having said that, in my opinion, there is no substitute for the Varsity Coach of a player's High School team being involved in the recruiting process. However, I believe there are only a handful of Varsity coaches who have the chops to cause college coaches to stand at attention when they hear from one of these coaches. Coaches Chris Packard of St. Ignatius and Peter Worstell of San Ramon Valley come to mind, though I suspect there are others. If your Son has such a Coach, you'd be well advised to involve him in the recruiting process.
Having said that, in my opinion, there is no substitute for the Varsity Coach of a player's High School team being involved in the recruiting process. However, I believe there are only a handful of Varsity coaches who have the chops to cause college coaches to stand at attention when they hear from one of these coaches. Coaches Chris Packard of St. Ignatius and Peter Worstell of San Ramon Valley come to mind, though I suspect there are others. If your Son has such a Coach, you'd be well advised to involve him in the recruiting process.
