A guide to picking the right prep school for lacrosse

Duncan Vittands (left) and Logan McGovern celebrate during Austin Prep boys varsity lacrosse action.

This story is sponsored content, written by the Seamans Media Custom Content Studio

When families begin the process of choosing a prep school, the conversation often starts with lacrosse, but it should never end there.

The most important step is taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture.

This decision is not just about the next season or even the next year. It is about selecting a community and a foundation that will shape a student athlete’s long-term success, not only on the field, but more importantly, in life.

See the bigger picture

After more than a decade of teaching and coaching, I have learned that developing young people requires far more than drawing up plays or running drills. It requires being present in every part of the student-athlete’s experience. The right school understands that student-athletes need guidance academically, socially, and athletically, and that the adults around them must be consistent resources in all three areas. When a program embraces the teacher-coach model, where the same people who challenge students in the classroom also mentor them on the field, it creates a level of trust and accountability that brings out the best in them. I have seen it year after year. When a young person knows you care about who they are becoming, not just how they perform, they rise to a higher standard.

Build the complete student-athlete

It always begins in the classroom. Strong lacrosse programs are built on strong academic expectations. The best environments do not treat academics and athletics as separate tracks, but as interconnected responsibilities. Coaches stay engaged with what is happening academically, teachers understand the demands of the season, and student-athletes quickly learn that accountability carries across both spaces. Over time, they develop the ability to manage their time, respond to pressure, and take ownership of their responsibilities. These are skills that will serve them long after their playing days are over.

Families should also look closely at the support systems available to student-athletes. The right school provides resources that look after students throughout their entire experience. That includes academic support, wellness services, strength and conditioning guidance, and adults on campus who are invested in who these young people are becoming. When a school is structured to care for the whole student, athletes grow with confidence, knowing they are surrounded by people who want them to succeed in every area of their lives.

In my own work, I have always believed that a coach should be someone a student can turn to for help with a paper, advice about a friendship, or guidance on how to handle adversity. That is what real development looks like.

Match your game to the program

As conversations shift to lacrosse itself, many families naturally focus on systems, results, or style of play. But what matters most is not the scheme. It is the philosophy behind it. Programs have specific values, and a student-athlete should ensure their personal values align with those of the team to allow for the right fit. A strong lacrosse program is committed to developing complete student athletes. That includes stick skills, game understanding, and physical preparation, but just as importantly, it emphasizes communication, resilience, and accountability. When you watch a practice, you can feel it. The pace, the energy, the intent, these are reflections of what the program believes in.

The competitive experience is another essential piece of the puzzle. In the strongest environments, student-athletes are challenged every single day by the best of the best. It is not just about playing a tough schedule. It is about stepping onto the field knowing that every practice, every rep, and every matchup demands your full attention and effort. When players are surrounded by high-level competition, they learn quickly that growth comes from embracing those challenges rather than avoiding them. Facing elite opponents consistently builds confidence, sharpens decision making, and raises the standard for what players expect from themselves and from their teammates. The goal is not simply to compete, but to compete at the highest level possible, day in and day out, because that is where real development happens.

Equally important is what happens outside the traditional season. In the strongest programs, development does not stop when the games do. There is a clear emphasis on strength and conditioning, injury prevention, and long-term athletic growth. Players are given access to resources, but more importantly, they are taught how to take ownership of their development. Some of the most meaningful progress happens when athletes choose to put in extra work on their own, whether that is additional stick work, time in the weight room, or simply being around the game. When a program creates an environment where players want to be there even when no one is asking them to be, that is when development truly accelerates.

At Austin Prep in Reading, Massachusetts, what ties all of this together is culture. Our culture is something you feel the moment you step onto campus or watch the team interact. It reveals itself in how players communicate, how they handle adversity, and how they support one another. In the strongest programs, leadership is not assigned. It is lived. Older players guide younger ones, standards are upheld internally, and the team takes pride in how it operates every day. That kind of environment does not happen by accident. It is built intentionally and sustained over time.

Find the right fit and finish strong

For many families, the conversation naturally includes college lacrosse, and it should. But the process is most effective when it is grounded in honesty and aligned with academics. Not every player is headed down the same path. The goal is to find the right fit, one that supports both athletic and academic aspirations. A strong program does not leave this process to club directors. A strong program helps guide that journey with perspective, exposure, and honest feedback, all while keeping the bigger picture in focus.

Ultimately, choosing a prep school for lacrosse is about finding the right fit. It is about identifying a place that will challenge student athletes, support them, and hold them to a high standard each day. A place where the teacher coach model is lived every day, where student-athletes are shaped with intention, and where the commitment to developing respectful, responsible individuals is just as strong as the commitment to helping them reach their maximum potential on the field. A place where student athletes are surrounded by resources, supported by mentors, and prepared for lifelong after graduation.

Because in the end, the right program does not just develop better lacrosse players. It develops better habits, stronger teammates, and more complete individuals. And when that foundation is in place, success will continue long after the final horn.

Interested in playing lacrosse for Austin Prep?

Austin Prep is always seeking talented players to join our boys or girls lacrosse programs. To inquire, complete the form below or email Alfonse Femino, Austin Prep boys varsity head lacrosse coach, at alfonse.femino@austinprep.org.

Learn more about Austin Prep Lacrosse or submit the form below.

About the author, coach Alfonse Femino

Alfonse Femino is the head coach of varsity lacrosse at Austin Prep. He holds a master’s degree in athletic administration and brings a strong combination of collegiate playing experience and more than a decade of coaching at multiple levels. Femino played four years of men’s lacrosse at Wheaton College before moving into coaching. Over the past 10 years, he has coached at several programs, including Salem State University, Twisters Lacrosse, Pope John and BB&N. His background spans college, high school, and club lacrosse, giving him a broad understanding of player development and program leadership.

This story is sponsored content, written by the Seamans Media Custom Content Studio