NSR scout, Cary Nadel, focus of local Web site article on college scouting and recruiting

During his 30-plus years in market research, Cary Nadel sometimes wondered how his life would have been different if his career path had instead sprung from his love of sports.  A few years ago, the recession gave him the chance to explore that other route.  After getting downsized from his job, Nadel began looking at new opportunities when his search for another market research position proved fruitless.

“I’m not sure you could call it a mid-life crisis,” said Nadel, a longtime Ridgefielder. “But I did start thinking about what I would really like to do, and I’ve always loved playing and coaching sports.”

While on a job board, Nadel came across NSR (National Scouting Report), an Alabama-based scouting service started in 1980.

“I liked their history and their approach,” said Nadel. “They also had a good reputation and seemed to offer better services than other scouting agencies I looked at.”

Nadel contacted NSR personnel and went to Alabama for a mandatory training program. With both sides sufficiently impressed, Nadel became NSR’s director of scouting for Connecticut and New England.

“NSR is the only NCAA-approved scouting service,” said Nadel, a longtime coach and co-founder of the Ridgefield Rebels travel girls softball program. “And it’s the only one with scouts on the ground. We don’t sign someone until we’ve seen them play.”

Nadel regularly attends showcase events for high school athletes in several sports. He also goes to tournaments, camps and games, either to get a look at athletes he has heard about or to watch athletes who have inquired about using NSR.

“We don’t sign everyone who is interested,” said Nadel. “We have to evaluate them and decide if they are skilled enough to play in college. We don’t take people’s money if we don’t think the athlete can play at the next level.”

Once an athlete signs with NSR, the company will prepare a personal brochure and Website and also edit an evaluation video. NSR will also contact college coaches and search for schools that match the athlete’s qualifications and goals.

“It’s important for us to make connections with college coaches and keep up with their programs.” he said. “For example, if a kid plays shortstop and one of the colleges he is interested in already has some good young shortstops in the program, we want to be able to pass on that information.”

For Nadel, who played football and baseball and swam at Mamaroneck (N.Y.) High School before swimming at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the new job is proving to be a labor of love.

“It’s a lot of work, and I’m constantly running around to look at players, but it is something I am passionate about,” he said. “The circumstances might not have been ideal, but I’m now getting to do something I always thought about doing.”

Editor’s Note:  TheRidgePress.com published this article on NSR scout, Cary Nadel.