It’s Not Always How High You Can Go, but Where You Fit Best in College Athletics Which Really Matters

Being Happy is More Essential Than in Which Division You Play

In America, our competitive nature is constantly shoving us upward.  Play on a better team…find a better coach…make better grades…find a better job…make more money…live in a bigger house…buy better equipment.  In sports, those influences are undeniable, too — the relentless pursuit to be better off today than we were yesterday.  It’s the American Way. 

In recruiting, though, bigger does not always translate as better.  After 30 years of working with high school prospects and college coaches, we know that better refers to fit — that is, which college campus, philosophical approach to life, facilities, amenities, cafeteria food, distance from home, social offerings, coaching style and team makeup.  Those are the things which determine fit. 

Transferring from one school to another is a disruptive annoyance.  Yet, it happens far too frequently to college athletes.  The biggest reason for a student-athlete transferring?  Fit, as in bad.  Second?  Money, as in not enough. 

The senior year of high school are heady days for prospects and parents.  but their thinking can get all screwed up in so many ways.  The kids give too much credence to what everybody around them says about this school or that school while their parents are focused on making their youngster’s first year away from home as perfect as possible.  Every once in awhile it all works out and everybody’s happy.  But, too many times it all crashes and burns after about three weeks into the college experience when the kid begins to realize something’s not right.  Well, it’s that “thing” that’s not right?  It’s the fit and it can’t be fixed by mom and dad during a weekend of soul searching discussions at home, or a one-on-one with the coach.  The fit’s just not right and the kid knows it. 

Solution?  As difficult as it is to take emotional momentum out of the recruiting process, you’ve got to try.  All the fluff and stuff have to be set aside when making the decision which will in many ways impact the remainder of your life.  Being dissatisfied with the college experience can all but ruin an entire year of a prospect’s life, not to mention a family’s.  It’s not always avoidable, but usually it can be predicted with a fairly easy litmus test which revolves around one word — happy.  As in:

1. Are you happy with the coach?
2. Are you happy with the team?
3. Are you happy with the campus?
4. Are you happy with the distance the campus is from home?
5. Are you happy with the athletic facilities?
6. Are you happy with the cafeteria food?
7. Are you happy with the academic reputation of the school, especially in the area you want to major in?
8. Are you happy with the academic classrooms and buildings?
9. Are you happy with the school’s philosophical approach toward education and the lifestyle it promotes?
10. Are you happy with the social activities the school offers students?
11. Are you happy with the amount of out-of-pocket money you have to spend to attend this college?

Answer these questions, honestly.  Take away other external factors such as if your friends are going to school there or will attend a school nearby.  Take away the level of competition.  Yes, really.  Remove the hype the coaches tell you.  Get down to basics of what will make you happy.  When you do this, your chances of being successful will be much more in your favor.  Do this for yourself.  Do it for your family.  You’ll be much happier with your decision in the end.