Post by Coach J Campbell on Nov 28, 2007 21:17:10 GMT
Recruiting Mistakes to Avoid
A few ways to help ensure that someone else instead of you gets recruited:
I must be a top recruit, coaches send me letters. Don't assume that because you receive form letters in the mail mean that a coach considers you to be a prospect. Any high school player that expresses interest in a college program, regardless of ability, will receive letter requesting more information. In fact, most DI colleges send out as many as 10,000 letters each year! Understand that this is only an initial request for more information. Answer the following honestly:
1. Do college coaches call me?
2. Is my mailbox overflowing with hand signed letters from coaches?
3. Do recruiters attend my games to watch me play?
If you are one of the few fortunate ones who can answer "yes" to the above questions, then consider yourself a blue chip prospect. If you are like most high school athletes and answered "no" to all or most of the questions, you need to take a pro-active approach to recruiting.
My high school coach is going to get me a scholarship. Do not rely on your coach to contact colleges on your behalf. Most coaches are unwilling or unable to devote the time required to help their players find the right college. If your coach has the time and demonstrated a commitment to help you, consider yourself lucky.
All to often, we hear from players and parents that their high school coaches don't do anything to help them. Most of the time these complaints come in the spring of a high school athlete's senior year when it is too late. Some coaches do not believe college recruiting is their responsibility. Others are simply too busy with work and family life to help. Others are unfamiliar with the recruiting process and don't know where to begin. Others focus on the "star athlete" because he or she is the easiest to promote. Remember; what's on the line is your future, not the coaches. Ask your coaches for their help - they are great resources. Just don't sit back and wait for someone to carry you over the finish line.
Coaches will scout my games. If more than a handful of coaches ever watch you play throughout your high school career, you are in a select group. Even if they do attend your games, chances are they represent nearby schools.
Most recruiting budgets do not allow coaches to travel around the country evaluating prospects. Coaches will typically scout regional games within a few hours of their school and rarely travel further. It's also not unusual for college coaches to spend a majority of their time scouting a select few blue chip athletes. Whatever recruiting money is left is used to attend high profile tournaments and national showcases where a lot of talent can be evaluated in one place.
I have great stats, college coaches will be knocking on my door. Stats are only a small part of how a college coach will evaluate you. Here is why; stats are a direct result of the competition you play against. Coaches are more interested in you skills than numbers. When coaches evaluate you, they are projecting where you will be in two or three years at their competitive level.
I'll get noticed when I have a big senior season. If you are not on a coach's radar screen by your senior season, it's probably too late - especially if you play a winter or spring sport. While your senior year is important, it is your junior year that is most important. Does this mean that if you wait until your senior year you won't be recruited? No, but the truth is you are way behind the eight ball and you really need to kick your recruiting campaign into gear as soon as you begin to accumulate varsity stats.
I'm only interested in schools on my target list. This is a mistake that many high school athletes make. A college that you dismiss now may look a lot more attractive down the road, especially if no offers come from your target list. It is vitally important to have a lot of colleges in on your target list because there are so many variables that can come into play that have nothing to do with your athletic ability. For example, you might not have the academic credentials to play at a Division 1 college. Or, they might not be recruiting for your position. Would you rather be one of four quarterbacks and not suit up for two years on a Division I program or be a starter on a Division II or III team?
A few ways to help ensure that someone else instead of you gets recruited:
I must be a top recruit, coaches send me letters. Don't assume that because you receive form letters in the mail mean that a coach considers you to be a prospect. Any high school player that expresses interest in a college program, regardless of ability, will receive letter requesting more information. In fact, most DI colleges send out as many as 10,000 letters each year! Understand that this is only an initial request for more information. Answer the following honestly:
1. Do college coaches call me?
2. Is my mailbox overflowing with hand signed letters from coaches?
3. Do recruiters attend my games to watch me play?
If you are one of the few fortunate ones who can answer "yes" to the above questions, then consider yourself a blue chip prospect. If you are like most high school athletes and answered "no" to all or most of the questions, you need to take a pro-active approach to recruiting.
My high school coach is going to get me a scholarship. Do not rely on your coach to contact colleges on your behalf. Most coaches are unwilling or unable to devote the time required to help their players find the right college. If your coach has the time and demonstrated a commitment to help you, consider yourself lucky.
All to often, we hear from players and parents that their high school coaches don't do anything to help them. Most of the time these complaints come in the spring of a high school athlete's senior year when it is too late. Some coaches do not believe college recruiting is their responsibility. Others are simply too busy with work and family life to help. Others are unfamiliar with the recruiting process and don't know where to begin. Others focus on the "star athlete" because he or she is the easiest to promote. Remember; what's on the line is your future, not the coaches. Ask your coaches for their help - they are great resources. Just don't sit back and wait for someone to carry you over the finish line.
Coaches will scout my games. If more than a handful of coaches ever watch you play throughout your high school career, you are in a select group. Even if they do attend your games, chances are they represent nearby schools.
Most recruiting budgets do not allow coaches to travel around the country evaluating prospects. Coaches will typically scout regional games within a few hours of their school and rarely travel further. It's also not unusual for college coaches to spend a majority of their time scouting a select few blue chip athletes. Whatever recruiting money is left is used to attend high profile tournaments and national showcases where a lot of talent can be evaluated in one place.
I have great stats, college coaches will be knocking on my door. Stats are only a small part of how a college coach will evaluate you. Here is why; stats are a direct result of the competition you play against. Coaches are more interested in you skills than numbers. When coaches evaluate you, they are projecting where you will be in two or three years at their competitive level.
I'll get noticed when I have a big senior season. If you are not on a coach's radar screen by your senior season, it's probably too late - especially if you play a winter or spring sport. While your senior year is important, it is your junior year that is most important. Does this mean that if you wait until your senior year you won't be recruited? No, but the truth is you are way behind the eight ball and you really need to kick your recruiting campaign into gear as soon as you begin to accumulate varsity stats.
I'm only interested in schools on my target list. This is a mistake that many high school athletes make. A college that you dismiss now may look a lot more attractive down the road, especially if no offers come from your target list. It is vitally important to have a lot of colleges in on your target list because there are so many variables that can come into play that have nothing to do with your athletic ability. For example, you might not have the academic credentials to play at a Division 1 college. Or, they might not be recruiting for your position. Would you rather be one of four quarterbacks and not suit up for two years on a Division I program or be a starter on a Division II or III team?