HOF Insights- Handling the College Recruiting Process

As coaches, we have some of our athletes recruited by D1 schools, as well as D2, D3, and Juco’s. What advice would you have for players as they go thru this process of trying to draw interest, handling being recruited, and deciding on a school? What advice for parents? 

Thom Sigel- Rock Island

   

The recruiting landscape can be very confusing for players and parents.  And in many cases, it can be tough on coaches as well because it seems like we end up with a number of "tweeners".  I would add that now with the landscape of the Transfer Portal, I would almost always tell players who might be between options to take the "lower" option if you can tell they want you more.  There were times players could take the "higher" option and play their way into the rotation, but now if they aren't a priority recruit, there is a good chance they could get recruited over with transfers.

   I had a presentation I developed that we used in one of our Counselor presentations that we thought might help parents understand the process.  There are so many aspects to consider, but I will list some of the topics we thought were important in the process:

  - recruiting process is like a funnel; it can start with hundreds on a list and keeps getting narrowed down as the process gets more serious, so keep early contact. in perspective

  

- please keep us updated on recruiting contacts and check with us on invites to elite camps; most of those invites are computer generated and use to make money; we can help check to see the level of interest the staff has in a player

  

- while a social media post might catch a coach's attention, they are not offering scholarships based on a post about a random highlight or game 

  

- college coaches may have a specific stat or two they look at, but most don't  put much stock in stats in their evaluation of players

 

 - especially in the social media era, don't compare your recruitment to others

  - we discuss the questions to ask in order to figure out their interest and where they see you fitting in

  - we outlined levels of college athletics and which ones can offer full scholarships  or with Division 3 no athletic scholarships; that is more confusing with all of the  posts about "offers" from Division 3 schools

 

 - research websites to look at rosters to see how many players they keep and  what they have returning

  

- most importantly, make campus visits and find the right fit where you feel  comfortable; don't make a large life choice based on how you think it will look to others

Diane Lichtenberg- Bettendorf

Recruiting has changed a lot since I have coached.  There are still some very important points that I feel the athlete and the family need to think about when searching for a school.   There needs to be good communications between the athlete and the parents so they are both on the same page.  Here are some things I feel that need to be discussed.

Education should be at the top of the list.  What type of student are they?  Will they be able to meet the academic requirements at a four year college or should they be looking at a Junior college to bring their grades up.  What are the athletes’ interests?  Do they know what they are going to major in or have an idea of area of interest.  If so, look at schools that will offer the programs that they are looking for. 

What size and type of school are they looking for?  Big, small, private, Christian, D1, DII, DIII, Jr College, etc. 

Distance from home-  Is this important for the athlete?

Is playing time important to the athlete?  If it is really important that they play right away, that should guide their decision on selecting the perfect school. 

 

Some things to think about and consider for exposure…

Do you want to use a recruiter to help with this process?

If you are playing with a club, do they have a recruiter that can assist?

College websites have recruiting questionnaire’s that can be filled out to start a conversation with the coach.

Going to a sports camp at the school of interest is a good way to see the campus, meet the coaches, and let them see you in action. 

College recruiting showcases can get you seen by many coaches.

Put together a video to highlight your skills and talents.

 

Advice for parents-  The recruiting process is usually very stressful for the athlete and the family.  Make sure you are communicating with your son/daughter throughout the process. Be supportive, have them list the pros and cons of each school, help guide them in making their decision.  Remember that it is their decision of what feels the best for them.   One thing to think about is this-  If your child has an injury while at school and they were not able to participate in their sport any more, would they be happy at this school and would they get the education they need to be successful in the future.

Evan Massey- Galesburg

1- Understand the difference between D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and Juco. 

2- Realize that D3 CANNOT give athletic aid. Anyone who goes to a D3 school can tryout for the team, you do NOT have to be offered at D3. While D3 CANNOT give athletic aid, most of the D3 schools give very good academic and financial need packages. 

3- The object should not be to go to the “highest level,” rather go to the level you think you can have success and be happy. 

4- For Mom/Dad, you want your son/daughter to go where they will be happy and get a good education. The object of the college process should not be for you to be able to say, “My kid got an athletic scholarship.”

5- Doe the college have academic programs you are interested in? If you were to decide not to play college sports, would you still be happy at this school?

6- Your high school coach will never want to make a college decision for you. It is your decision as an athlete. Your high school coach is a resource that you will be wise to use. Your high school coach can talk directly with other high school coaches about their athlete’s experiences at the school you are looking at. College coaches will tend to be more honest with a high school coach than an athlete or a parent. 

My experience was that athletes and parents who chose not to involve the high school coach in the process, had a higher likelihood of not being happy with their decision. 

7- Initially don’t rule out an option. The process is long and you may in 3 months, 6 months, or 12 months see things differently.

8- Once you commit to a school, you should call and tell other coaches who have been recruiting you. In today’s world of transfers, you may want to go to a different school later.

9- If you get a chance to go on campus, observe a practice, and talk to the players informally. You don’t need to ask 100 questions, you will get a feel being around them if they share a similar passion for the game that you have. 

10- Be aware of AAU and Club coaches who give you lots of promises.