Rankings Deep Dive, Event Scheduling & Being Recruitable + Why Youth Sports Matters

<p>Checkout The FCL Coaches Community: ⁠⁠<a href="http://1stclasslax.com/community%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1stclasslax.com/community</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Deemer Class and Matt Dunn run a parent-style Q&amp;A on the lacrosse landscape, focusing on rankings, recruiting events, and youth-sports value. They explain why rankings exist, how they can spark coach interest but rarely drive final recruiting decisions, and why late bloomers and less “flashy” positions are often undervalued; they urge families to prioritize controllables, long-term development, and goals over emotional fixation on lists. The episode then breaks down tournaments, showcases, high school team events, and college prospect days, including NCAA rules and how athletes should build summer schedules around generating “evidence” against quality competition. They also discuss rising costs and the “money grab” critique, arguing value varies by operator and sports provide rare real-world friction and accountability. Finally, they challenge messaging that sports are mainly for future careers, emphasizing fun, commitment, and emptying the tank.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Links Referenced<br /></p><ul><li>Brendan Winters on Youth Sports (<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/brendanwinters_youth-sports-are-getting-more-expensive-activity-7447255607797055488-STxb?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop&amp;rcm=ACoAAA4RiSQBuyv6RG4jolCS02elqEy5j5BqP2c" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a>)</li><li>Leslie Osborne Lewis on Girls In Sports (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reels/DXDTWFSCftJ/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a>)</li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Timecodes<br />0:00 - Do Rankings Matter?<br />20:00 - Events &amp; Being Recruitable<br />40:15 - "Money Grab" Fallacy<br />49:30 - Why Youth Sports Matters</p><p><br /></p><p>Checkout more from FCL!</p><ul><li>Coaches Corner: ⁠⁠<a href="https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fcl-coaches-corner.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>Weekly Thought: ⁠⁠<a href="https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://1stclasslax.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>On the Run: ⁠⁠<a href="https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://on-the-run.beehiiv.com/subscribe</a></li></ul>