Platform Prep
Platform Prep, from Dylan Donahue and Platform Lacrosse, is an application-only, year-long training program for offensive lacrosse players who want to play in college, now running in Syracuse and Rochester, with 40+ alumni playing college lacrosse. Every player's progress, stats, and at-home training lives in a custom app we built for the program.
What is Platform Prep.
Platform Prep is for offensive players who've outgrown their club practice schedule. It's twelve months with the same Platform Lacrosse coaches: position-specific skill work, a speed and shooting plan, quarterly progress reports across six performance categories, recruiting help when it's time, and a full Platform Lacrosse gear package. It's built on 9 years of position-specific coaching at Platform Lacrosse.
Dylan Donahue built it in Syracuse. He was a three-time All-American at Syracuse, and he designs the training calendar, runs the performance assessments, and signs off on every report. Platform Prep has since expanded to Rochester, where Jordan Evans runs the program. 40+ Platform Prep alumni are playing college lacrosse, at programs including Cornell, UNC, Syracuse, Army, and Towson.
Who gets into Platform Prep.
It's application only. Platform Prep takes attackmen and midfielders in 4th through 11th grade who already play club lacrosse, with Boys and Girls divisions by grade. 750+ players have applied, and the program runs 14 training groups at a 6:1 player-to-coach ratio, so every player gets real attention. Players still learning the fundamentals start in Platform's weekly skill training and apply when they're ready. Families can see the program and apply on the Platform Lacrosse site.
A year inside Platform Prep.
The program follows the real lacrosse calendar, so training fits around a player's school and club seasons.
Fall (September to November). Position-specific skill sessions, film review from the school season, and recruiting outreach for upperclassmen.
Winter (December to February). The heaviest development block of the year: small-group shooting, position-specific footwork, and strength work. Most of a player's measurable progress happens here.
Spring (March to May). The school team takes over the week, so Platform Prep shifts to mid-week support sessions, film review on school games, and recruiting coordination for spring showcases.
Summer (June to August). Club and showcase season. Coaches work with each player's club coaches, prepare athletes for prospect days, and run showcase simulations at home.
Recruiting runs through the whole year. Tyler Gale handles college coach outreach, showcase selection, and prospect day prep for every upperclassman, and performance director Josh Swearingen, the head strength and conditioning coach at Hamilton College, leads the strength side.
The Platform Prep App.
A program built on measurable progress needed somewhere to show it. So we built Platform Prep a custom metrics, training, and stats app at its own branded address, in Platform's colors and fonts, for players in both Syracuse and Rochester.
Every player's numbers, over time. Combine metrics like shot speed, shooting on the run, wall ball, catching, and finesse, charted from the first test through the end of the program.
A private link, no password. Each player gets their own link. No download, no login screen, and the player and parents use the same link on a phone or a laptop. Nobody sees anyone else's numbers.
At-home training. Links to Coach Dylan's monthly training and film playlists, made only for Platform Prep players, so the work continues between sessions. Each player's program schedule lives there too, with more features on the way.
Built for the coach, too. Dylan uploads results from a spreadsheet on his iPad, and every player's page updates. The coach view flags anyone who's missed recent testing.
What we set up.
Platform Lacrosse has been a client since September 2024, through its expansion from Syracuse to Rochester (the full story is in our Platform Lacrosse case study). For Platform Prep, we helped set up the whole path from first click to first session:
The program page. The Platform Prep page on HubSpot that explains the program and sends families to apply.
The application form. Every application lands in HubSpot, so Dylan and the staff can review players by group and grade.
Registration and the training schedule on Sprocket. Accepted players register and see their session schedule on Sprocket Sports.
The Platform Prep App. Built from the ground up, and now the place players and parents go to track progress between sessions.
Platform Prep, answered.
What is Platform Prep?
Platform Prep is a year-long, application-only lacrosse training program at Platform Lacrosse in Syracuse and Rochester, NY, built for offensive players who want to play in college. It was built by Dylan Donahue, a three-time All-American at Syracuse.
Who can apply to Platform Prep?
Attackmen and midfielders in 4th through 11th grade who already play club lacrosse, with Boys and Girls divisions by grade. It isn't for players still learning the fundamentals.
Where does Platform Prep run?
Platform Prep runs at Platform Lacrosse in Syracuse, NY, led by Dylan Donahue, and in Rochester, NY, led by Jordan Evans.
What does the Platform Prep App track?
Each player's combine numbers, including shot speed, shooting on the run, wall ball, catching, and finesse, and how they trend across the program. Players also get links to Coach Dylan's monthly at-home training playlists and their program schedule.
How do players log in to the app?
Every player gets a private link. There's no password or download, and players and parents use the same link on a phone or a laptop.
Does Platform Prep help with college lacrosse recruiting?
Yes. Recruiting director Tyler Gale handles college coach outreach, showcase selection, and prospect day prep for every upperclassman, and 40+ Platform Prep alumni are playing college lacrosse.
How does the Platform Prep application work?
The application takes about 10 minutes and asks about position, graduation year, current team, training history, and goals. Platform responds within two weeks, and accepted players get a call from a coach. Rosters are capped, so once a position group fills, qualified applicants go on the waitlist for the next cycle.
How do I apply to Platform Prep?
Apply on the Platform Prep page at platformlacrosse.com.