Recruiting Seminars…Sales Pitch or Valuable Resource?

Do recruiting seminars really offer helpful information to prospects and their families or are they sales pitches with hidden agendas?

The answer to this question lies in who is putting on, or sponsoring, the seminar. 

The primary purpose of recruiting seminars should be to educate prospects, parents, coaches, teachers and administrators about today’s college recruiting process.  The information offered should be on-point details which focus on how to more easily understand and navigate recruiting, key dates and fundamental rules. 

However, some organizations use so-called “seminars” as a means to sell their products and services.  Their message is typically slanted toward the need for their products and services.  The presentation is usually done by someone who is a professional speaker or someone with a recognizable name but who has limited knowledge of current recruiting.   This approach is little more than a disguised sales pitch to a captive audience.  To make matters worse, these organizations will charge $1,200 or more just to conduct the session.  Then, with a list of participants in hand, the company’s telemarketing division will do “follow-up” calls to the participating families attempting to sell them a “college exposure program.”

There is another way which is more about education than selling.  Knowing the difference between these two approaches is imporant as families contemplate which option better fits their needs and expectations. 

The American Coaches Federation has established as one of their primary goals to provide informational and educational recruiting seminars nationally.  These are free to participants.  And, the ACF does not allow services to be sold at their seminars.  To accomplish this goal, ACF has partnered with National Scouting Report to conduct recruiting seminars since NSR has professional, athletic scouts on the ground throughout the United States and in several foreign countries, all of whom have agreed follow ACF guidelines. 

Each ACF seminar speaker is tested on a variety of college recruiting rules, they must have a thorough knowledge of how recruiting works in every sport in today’s competitive college athletics, and they must have impeccable character and credibility.  After meeting these qualifications, the presenters are certified by ACF and allowed to conduct seminars in their name. 

Recruiting is more complex than most prospects, their families and most high school and club coaches realize.  Because college recruiting continues to change in significant ways every few years,  it is extremely important that families not only become familiar with the rules, but also know what they are up against when it comes to the recruiting competition and, moreover, how to qualify for an athletic scholarship and how to prepare for the rigors of college athletics.

When asked to attend a recruiting seminar, it is important for anyone considering attending to ask the following questions:  A) Will I be educated on recruiting rules and how the recruiting process really works?  B) Will the speaker try to sell me a “program?”  B) Will I have to pay to attend this seminar? 

With clear answers to these important questions, families can better determine if taking the time to attend a recruiting seminar is truly in their best interest.