Football Scholarships and Football Recruiters
If you're a high school football player and you're thinking about getting a scholarship, you'll want to read this. This is an introduction to a blog post about football scholarships and what your family needs to know before contacting recruiters. It will help answer questions about the recruitment process, provide tips for identifying the best coach for your athlete's needs, and how navigate NCAA eligibility requirements. Additional topics include the role of letters of recommendation in the recruitment process, how travel teams affect eligibility, and what parents can do when they disagree with their school's head coach.
No matter how old your player is, the recruitment process can be overwhelming. You'll feel pressured to make the right decision about who to contact and when. On top of that, you have to figure out a lot of complicated information. How do you know what colleges are recruiting your player? What do coaches expect when they request videotapes? When is the latest time you should be applying for an athletic scholarship?
Most parents make it more confusing than it needs to be. Here's some guidance that will help you stay on track and make the best decisions for your athlete.
Accessibility Tip. The first thing you should do before you approach a coach is make sure it's accessible to the athlete. A coach's availability and willingness to meet with your child will help determine which school is best for your son or daughter. If you need to contact the coach, set up a time when both you and your child can be available for a meeting.
Find the Coach that's Right for Your Player. When you're searching for a football coach at any level, there are a few things to keep in mind: number of wins, coaching philosophy, and hours of operation (if applicable). To help you identify the best fit for your player, I've included a brief introduction to each of these topics.
Number of Wins: A great coach will have a proven track record of success at the high school level with multiple wins and a winning percentage approaching or exceeding 50%. The more wins and postseason accolades the coach has earned, the more teams he's coached and likely recruits he can bring to his program.
Coaching Philosophy: Coaches differ in what they preach and what they actually practice. Every coach is different in his approach, but there are certain traits that you should look for as well.
Youth-Friendly Coaches. Coaches who take pride in working with young athletes and aren't content with dominating on the field will be more likely to have success at the high school level. An example of this is a coach who has more than one program to fulfill, such as a travel team, club team and/or high school team. If coaches are unable to meet their responsibilities in multiple programs, they won't be able to offer much in terms of development or recruiting opportunities.
Athletic Coaches. Some coaches are better at one sport than another. If your player plays another sport, you should look at that coach's ability to work with other athletes. Some coaches are great having multiple programs, but don't know how to work with wrestlers, golfers and soccer players.
Winning Programs. To gauge the quality of a coach's program, look at the school's overall record and number of wins in recent years. Winning seasons not only indicate success on the field but also indicate a winning reputation in the community and high standards for graduate achievement as well. A coach who has winning teams is more likely to recruit quality athletes and help them find acceptance in higher education institutions across the country.
Hours of Operation: Always ask about a coach's schedule. Most coaches will answer this question, though some may not tell you the truth. If you don't know how many hours your athlete's coach is available in the week, call the coach and ask if he is willing to meet with you to discuss your son or daughter. You can also ask him directly on the phone if he plans to be in contact with other athletes on his team. Even if they don't have a set time listed in their schedule, coaches usually work hard to make time for their athletes.
Family Issues: Too many parents make the mistake of dealing with college coaches without first discussing possible issues with their own school's head coach. A coach won't be able to give you as much time in your son or daughter's life if he or she is still learning about their record, academic status and athletics interests at the high school level. Do some research before approaching the coach to ensure you want him to be a part of your child's life.
Schedule: If your son or daughter wants to be recruited by a college football team, there are several things you should look at before contacting a coach. After you know the number of wins, the coaching philosophy and whether or not a coach is athletic and youth-friendly, consider the hours of operation. Football coaches often have very busy schedules. They must manage practice plans, offseason workouts and regular season games in addition to meetings with parents, study halls, meals and other on-campus responsibilities.
If you want your player to be recruited by a college football team, make sure he's an athlete who won't need too much help from his coach during high school. It's also important that your student-athlete is dedicated to his schoolwork because he may have to handle his own off-season training during the summer. This can be a time in your child's life that he is accepted on his own, without the help of a coach.
College Recruiters: College recruiters often play an important part in your son or daughter's high school career. They're the people who get players noticed by college football coaches and can turn their dreams into reality.
The first step towards contacting a college recruiter is to determine which schools are recruiting your student-athlete. One of the easiest ways to find this information is to look at the list of athletic scholarships available at each school and see which ones are being given to your athlete's position.
If you're not sure where your son or daughter is right now in terms of signability and ability to compete at the college level, I urge you to contact the college football coaches of the schools your student-athlete has an offer from. Request information about their program and what it's like to be a part of their team. Most coaches will provide this information if you ask them.
Identify Your College Recruiter: On most college football team websites, you'll find a list of recruiters who are responsible for recruiting players during each season. Some teams organize their recruiters by position or position group, and others use alphabetical order by last name to locate the recruiter for a particular player.
Conclusion: College football recruiting can be a long, arduous process that involves a lot of people, but it's worth the time and effort. You'll find your student-athlete at the right school with the right coaches and teammates to help him reach his athletic potential. If you're still unsure about how to proceed, contact your son or daughter's school counselor or principal for some guidance on how to approach a college coach. Making sure you know all of your options may save your student-athlete from making a wrong decision when trying to choose where he will go to college.