4 Myths Parents Have About College Recruiting

Parents of college prospects can have some wacky ideas about recruiting.

We’re talking “Twilight Zone” kind of stuff, not just your ordinary, run-of-the-mill, off-the-cuff, get-the-hook stuff. We mean out there.

Let’s start by saying that if we at National Scouting Report, the nation’s oldest and largest college recruiting organization, had a nickel for each time a parent said, “Why do I need you?”, we all would be rich.

Most parents don’t know that the competition for athletic scholarships is outrageous. It’s not just those kids they see at summer tournaments. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of kids scrambling to gain an advantage with as many coaches as possible, which means being seen by as many coaches as possible. And that doesn’t happen simply by participating in tournaments, showcases or combines.

Modern recruiting is a race to the wire. Starting early is one key. Constant accessibility in a variety of platforms is another. And having an experienced, knowledgeable guide is another. With all of those things, prospects have a really good chance. If they’re missing even one, they are in danger of not getting a single scholarship offer, much less multiple offers.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the parental myths out there which almost always get no results.

Myth No. 1:  “Our friend knows the coach at the college.” Our response: So what? No coach wants to be leveraged into looking at or signing a kid. It goes against their nature — to be in complete charge of their program. To think this path makes sense is rather silly.

Myth No. 2:  “Our kid has been going to the school’s camp for years and the coach likes her a lot.” Our response: What does that mean? Nothing. That’s what it means. Of course they like her. You are paying them, $500 every summer. That’s half their monthly mortgage. College camps, especially at small schools, are what many coaches use to supplement their otherwise meager annual pay. So, any kid that keeps coming back to their camp is welcome. Oh, some coaches are genuinely in it for the fun of it and because they really want to help local kids, but the money part is a nice bonus for their time.

Myth No. 3:  “I can do what you do.” Our response: Go ahead, try it. Get up every day, read about recruiting and the NCAA, contact a few college coaches by email, phone call and text. Then work on your online resume. You know, where coaches can access it 24/7. Make certain that all your promotional efforts are lined up and scheduled, so that they hit the in-boxes of every college coach in America in your athlete’s sport. Do that every month. Send brochures to dozens of colleges. (You do have all their addresses, right?) But then, you work, right? Which means the only time you will have to do all this, and more, is when you get home after work or after your kid’s practices or games. Yep, it’s pretty obvious, you can do what we do.

Myth No. 4:  “He only wants to go to this college. Otherwise, he’ll just go there and not play.” Our response: Wait a few months and see how he feels. A competitive athlete has a fire inside which cannot be so easily extinguished. It’s there because it helps to define him. And when he finds out that his favorite school is not going to make him an offer, there’s a good chance that not playing will suddenly be an unacceptable option. He will want to compete.

Click HERE to learn more about the college recruiting process, or click HERE if you have what it takes to play at the next level.