4 ‘Cool’ Lessons In College Recruiting

“What we got here is failure to communicate.”

Remember that famous line from an old, old movie, Cool Hand Luke, starring Paul Newman. The person who said it, Strother Martin, was a famous character actor who delivered the line to perfection.

That line also relates to college recruiting. Breakdowns in the recruiting process often can be traced back to poor communications between coaches and prospects.

Families are often confused after college coaches make initial contact via email, phone call or text and are never heard from again.  Stuck without any clue what to do, families can flounder around flummoxed.

It does not have to be that way. Families working with National Scouting Report can get assistance when they run into tough recruiting situations.  Those who try to do it alone often find themselves, well, floundering.

Here are four key lessons every family should learn about recruiting:

Lesson 1:  You are not the only fish in the sea.  Coaches are constantly on the lookout for the prospects that fit their needs. The first ones who meet their needs and show keen interest in their program and school go to the top of their recruiting boards. That kid, or those few kids, are the coach’s priority. If you aren’t on that list, you will know it because the coach is not paying much, if any, attention to you.

Lesson 2:  Coaches are not perfect.  Although generally held up to high standards by nearly everyone at the high school, club and travel levels, all college coaches are not perfectly organized, have lots of scholarship money to offer recruits, or time to stay connected to every prospect they reach out to initially. They are fishing in a very big pond, and when they get a strike from a big one, they hang in their until they land him or lose him. That can leave other prospects wanting, but not getting, regular or timely communications.

Lesson 3:  You have to work at it.  You may be one of the top dogs on your team or in your town, but don’t expect coaches to fall to their knees in praise. There are plenty of others out there like you. For a recruiting process to work effectively, prospects and parents must do their parts, including initiating contact and staying in touch until a coach tells you that he or she will not be making you an offer. Let’s call it being persistent but not annoying. There is a line in the sand and you have to sense where it is with coaches. Regardless, communication is not a one-way deal in recruiting. You have to communicate, too.

Lesson 4:  Tell the truth. Recruiting gives no one license to lie, including prospects and their parents.  Commit early only if you have every intention of living up to your word. If you are going on an unofficial visit, show up on time. When a coach tells you to expect a call at a certain time and you agree, be ready five minutes ahead of time and give the coach a half hour to call after the agreed-to time. Being honest and standing by your word during the process will open far more doors and get you far more offers than if you’re not.