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How Coaches Recruit Athletes

College coaches are always on the lookout for great athletes. There are more athletes out there than they can use on their team or have time to go and see, so they often share the names of good high school athletes with coaches of teams in other conferences. If you think a college coach sees your talent, keep in touch with him. Even if you don’t want to attend his school, he may pass your name on to another coach.

Coaches start creating their A-list of great high school juniors to-be. That means they’ll be looking at you during your sophomore year and the summer before you start your junior year. They’ll see you compete at meets and tournaments or they’ll hear about you from other coaches, former athletes, sports reporters, recruiting services, pro scouts, and occasionally from high school coaches, so make sure you get seen before your junior year. If coaches don’t come to your high school games or your team won’t play in the state finals, join a reputable league team, attend a showcase camp that the coach attends (call his school and ask for this information), sign up for an athletic camp at your favorite college, or tell the coach of your interest and qualifications. It’s good to be aggressive and get noticed.

If you make it onto a coach’s A-list, you’ll receive a questionnaire about your classes, grades, and sport skills. Make sure to include your Player Rating. If you don’t have a Player Rating contact us at info@athelites.com. Fill out the forms and send it back quickly. If you wait too long, the coach will see that you’re not as interested in his program as other athletes on his A-list.

From the questionnaire and Player Rating, the coach starts learning more about you. An athletic scholarship is a risk of time, money, and resources. He/ she wants to make sure he’s/ she’s spending his money wisely. He’ll visit you at home to meet your family. He’ll call teachers, coaches, and guidance counselors from your school, and any other contacts he may have.

When the coach does his checking, what will people say? If there is something about your life that needs changing, do it before he calls. If you’ve skipped a few classes, make attendance a priority. If you’re not doing your homework or have poor work ethic, start working hard in every subject. Make sure you’re a leader and a role model on the team, and don’t hang out with a bad crowd at school. Everything about you needs to say, “great person, role model, good teammate, leader,” to earn a place on a college team.

If the coach thinks you’re a good fit for his program, he’ll use a variety of methods – at allowed times – to recruit you to his program. Recruiting materials, including brochures and questionnaires may be sent, usually during the junior year of high school. Telephone calls and off-campus contact, during allowed times, allow the coach to show interest in you and ensure that your skills and personality will work with his program.

It makes little sense, except that perhaps the NCAA didn’t want to edit all of their rules, but they have decided that the term “telephone call” includes all electronic forms of communication, including text messaging, e-mail, and instant messaging.

Related articles:

How To Play Sports In a Division I, II, or III School
The Courting Process - A Junior Year Experience
Recruiting Terms
College Visits
The Clearinghouse and Initial Eligibility
Recruiting Regulations and Rules - NEW!!
How Coaches Recruit Athletes - NEW!!
Improve Your Chances - Coming Soon!!
Recruiting Your Own Help - Coming Soon!!
Sealing the Deal - Coming Soon!!

Learn more about the recruiting calendar, rules and terms like the dead period, click on one of the sports below:

Men's Basketball - Updated 12/11/08
Women's Basketball - Updated 12/11/08
Men's Lacrosse - Updated 12/11/08
Women's Lacrosse - Updated 12/11/08
Men's Soccer - Updated 12/11/08
Women's Soccer - NEW!!
Women's Field Hockey - NEW!!
Football - NEW!!
Baseball - NEW!!
Softball - NEW!!
Women's Volleyball– Coming Soon!!

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