Redefining Success in College Recruiting for Student-Athletes

Making the wrong step or misstep in the college recruiting process can be compared to navigating the treacherous obstacles in the classic Atari game Pitfall. In both scenarios, a single misjudgment can lead to costly consequences and setbacks.

If you've ever envisioned athletic scholarships being handed out as generously as Oprah's famous cars, it's time for a reality check. The journey to securing an athletic scholarship is far from the straightforward giveaway many imagine.

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HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETES, ARE YOU READY TO RISE TO THE OCCASION?

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How to Stay Top of College Coach's Mind

Wouldn't it be great if we could jump into our Delorean and go back in time to when the college decision was made by seniors. Believe it or not, 20 years ago High School senior student-athletes used to make their college decision. And then over time, it was juniors, sophomores, freshmen, and even some 8th graders who were verbally committing to a college. Crazy right? And then a few years ago, a couple sport specific coaching groups pleaded to the NCAA to try and slow it down by tightening restrictions on college coaches and their programs. And they complied, working together they adopted rules that would restrict any contact, incoming and or outgoing between prospective student-athletes and coaches prior to junior year, which in essence would prevent early commitments. But today, we are in a different world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many states have shut down youth sports, college seasons were cancelled, college programs cut, and recruiting as we know it came to a screeching halt. And for the classes of 2021 and 2022 that was a devastating blow. These student-athletes have had limited opportunities to be evaluated, visit college campuses, and have face to face interactions with college coaches. The 3 most important things to do in order to be recruited. There are actually high school seniors who have committed to schools without ever meeting their coach in person, only over a screen via face times and zoom meetings. But the hit that these two classes are taking might bring the recruiting cycle back to how it should be, when a senior, typically a 17 or 18 year old student will be making the biggest decision of their young adult life, rather than a 15-16 year old. I believe those two years make a world of difference. The responsibility a senior carries is much more than that of a sophomore. They might have a job and have their license. It only makes sense that a 17 or 18 year old is more equipped to make a decision about college than a 15 or 16 year old. In no way I am saying that the pandemic arriving and shutting down recruiting is a good thing for anyone but it just might relieve the pressure of the current 2023, 2024, and 2025’s who have aspirations of playing their sport at the next level. I am a proponent that high school freshmen should not have to start worrying about college and what they want to study, etc. They are just beginning to make the transition of adolescence to young adulthood. They should have some time for that adjustment. This is a time to enjoy getting to this part of their life, making new friends and experiencing new things and ideas. There will be many life lessons along the way that will prepare them for making this big decision in a couple of years. But not now! In their first couple years of high school they will begin to be molded into the person they are to become. They will begin to discover their interests academically, athletically, and socially. The kids don’t need the added pressure of thinking about college before they barely get their feet wet in high school. With all of that said, I am for student-athletes to be educated about the recruiting process before they jump right in. There are so many factors and aspects to consider. It is important to understand the intricacies of academic eligibility, the recruiting rules, what coaches are looking for, how to market yourself, and then how to stand out from the crowd. And these are things that can be taught and learned prior to starting the process. From a college perspective, being able to primarily focus on Juniors and Seniors might relieve some of the added stress and pressures a coach might face in the world of recruiting. The recruiting cycle is never ending for a college coach and his/her staff. They are inundated with hundreds, if not thousands of emails and videos to watch of potential prospects across a variety of recruiting classes. I can only imagine how relieved a coach might be if they didn’t have to focus on identifying freshmen and sophomores who aren’t fully matured yet, physically or mentally and could just focus on identifying and evaluating juniors and making final decisions on the seniors on their list. I bet life would be grand! In an ideal world what would my recruiting cycle or timeline look like for a prospective student-athlete. Spring of Sophomore Year Begin Recruiting Education Process Summer prior to Junior year Attend ID Events, Showcases, Camps, and Clinics Fall/Winter of Junior Year Build a List of Schools (20-30 minimum) Research School and Programs Contact College Coaches Attend College ID Events (Showcases, Camps, and Clinics, etc) Winter/Spring of Junior year Begin prioritizing communications with college coaches Narrow List of Schools (8-10 schools) Start setting up unofficial visits to top choices Attend ID Events Summer prior to Senior Year Narrow list of schools (4-5 schools) Attend college specific camps and clinics Make Verbal Commitment Fall of Senior Year (If not committed) Set up Official Visits Begin Weighing options The Decision We obviously do not live in an ideal world but there would be huge benefits to the next generation if the recruiting cycle returned to the way it was 20 years ago. Benefits of the Recruiting Cycle Returning to the 2000’s Relieve the amount of pressure on freshman and sophomores to perform at high levels to impress college coaches. Freshman and Sophomores can focus on learning ,loving their sport, and improving. Limit the burnout rate of elite level student-athletes. Allows more equipped young adults to make a life altering decision. Save parents time and money invested into the college process Allow college coaches to focus on 2 recruiting classes , not 4. College coaches will be able to identify and evaluate more physically mature athletes, rather than projecting where a student-athlete might be in 2 years. In the end, we need to do it for the mental health of the student-athletes. There are so many challenges academically, athletically, personally, and socially they need to deal with. We don't need to pile on the added pressure of college talk at 14-15 years old. It is hard enough just being a kid and making the transition from adolescence to young adulthood. They are not equipped to begin thinking about college and the rest of their lives. Let’s give the decision back to Seniors!

Do you want to continue your academic and athletic career in college? Do you think you have what it takes to be a college student-athlete? Playing in college goes well beyond your athletic abilities. Do you rest on your talents or are you willing to put in the time, effort, and energy to be the best you possibly can? Would you consider yourself lazy? Do you prioritize your academics? What kind of character do you have? Being recruited is about being a well-rounded individual. Taking the words from Shaquille O’Neal who borrowed them from Aristotle, “Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.” Leaving athletic abilities and skills aside, what are the habits of a highly recruitable student-athlete? Stephen Covey, the world renown author developed the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I have created my own 7 Habits of Highly Recruitable Student-Athletes: Habit #1: Identify Goals We also call this habit “Discovering Your Why.” This is very similar to Stephen Covey’s habit, “Begin with the End in Mind.” Before you start the college recruiting/college search process, you need to establish your motives and goals not only for playing college sports but attending college in general. What do you want to get out of your college experience, academically, athletically, and personally? Your answers to these questions will define your why. By developing this foundation you will have a much clearer picture of what you are looking for and how to find it. Habit #2: Self-Confidence Being a college student-athlete, you need to be confident in who you are as a student, an athlete, and a person. If playing your sport is important to you, then there is place out there for you. No matter what level you think you are capable of playing at, possessing self-confidence is an important habit. You need to be able to express to a college coach what value you can provide to their program both on and off the field. The only way you can do that is be confident in who you are. Having self-confidence mixed in with a little self-awareness will take you a long way through the college recruiting process. Habit #3: Prioritize Your Preferences What is important to you? When looking for schools that fit your academic, athletic, and personal needs, you need to figure what factors are most important to you in your college search. Mount St. Mary’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach, Jamion Christian, says that every recruit should write down five things that are important to them in their college experience and stick to the game plan when navigating through the process. Here are some of the factors you need to consider: Location (Distance from home, part of the country, climate) Size Academic Programs Athletic Program Level of Play Playing Time Program Success Habit #4: Understand the Process What do you know about the recruiting process? It’s important to have a grasp of how the process works: What are the differences between the various levels of play (DI, DII, DIII, and NAIA)? What do you know about athletic scholarships? When can you contact a college coach? When can a college coach contact you? How to use Social Media to enhance your personal brand? What are the best ways to communicate with college coaches? How do coaches identify and evaluate prospective student-athletes? Having the answers to these questions will help you navigate through the communication and exposure phase successfully. Habit #5: Be Proactive Nobody will accomplish anything by sitting on the sidelines and watching. If you want something bad enough, you have to take action. The recruiting process is no different. If you are part of the other 98% of high school student-athletes who are not being courted by a big time Division I school, program, or coach you need to do the work to be recruited. Practicing the previous four habits are useless if you aren’t willing to put yourself out there and be proactive. Being Proactive refers to more than the recruiting process but how you approach things in your life. In school, are you willing to go the extra mile to get a better grade on that final exam? Will you spend extra time on the court working on that 20 foot jumper, or more time in the pool to work on that flip turn? You cannot sit idly by and expect you will just magically improve those skills, and in the recruiting process, you cannot wait for college coaches to discover you. You need to contact college coaches directly via email, phone, or even social media. In order to be evaluated by a college coach you need to attend college showcase events or college ID camps/clinics. Being proactive is the habit of implementing and executing action items to achieve specific goals. Habit #6: Appreciate the Journey The opportunity to go through the college recruiting process is the pinnacle of all of the time, effort, energy, and commitment you have made to your sport. It is important that you not only enjoy the experience but appreciate the journey and where you are going. There have been many people who have supported you over the years and have helped you get to this point in your life make sure you appreciate what they have done for you. The coaches who have helped you refine your craft, the teammates you have played alongside, and of course your parents who have sacrificed so much for you to achieve your goals. You should be grateful for the opportunity you have been given. Never take anything for granted. Be thankful for every letter, email, text, social media message you receive from a college coach. There is no better feeling than being wanted and loved by a college coach no matter what division it may be. Coach Christian says, ” go to the place where you are not only loved but wanted and needed. I’ve seen it too many times where student-athletes choose a school where they don’t really want to go but do because of the level. Happiness cannot be measured if you have a burning desire to play. ” You need to keep the big picture in mind, playing college sports is an opportunity to play a sport you love while building an educational foundation for your future. Habit #7: Refine Your Craft Don’t ever be content on where you are with your overall development as a student, an athlete, and as a person. Refining your craft means more than just working on your game, it means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have–you. In order to be the best version of yourself by the time you step on campus for the first time, you need to create a balanced program for self development in all aspects your life: physical, social, mental, and spiritual.