Parents of college prospects have some weird, baked-in assumptions about recruiting. Some are founded on just enough info to steer them in the wrong direction. That is so dangerous when a child’s future is at stake. Some are really outdated to the point of making somebody in the recruiting business, such as a National Scouting … Read more
I don’t know how to put it any more bluntly: Parents are lousy at promoting their own high school athletes to college coaches. And once they start down that road, they put their children in a deep hole. Recruiting is far more time sensitive than parents have a clue about. Every day counts from the time … Read more
Want to increase your chances of playing college sports and earning scholarship money? Hit the books. College coaches are seeking good athletes with good grades and good character — the same qualities National Scouting Report scouts seek in prospects they hope to enroll with the nation’s oldest and largest college recruiting organization. Nothing is more … Read more
Want to be an on-the-ground area scout for National Scouting Report? You might want to think twice because what we do for a living takes a special person with a lot on the ball (pun intended). If I had a nickel for every time some sports fan, parent, coach or bystander said to me, “I … Read more
Want to be an NCAA student-athlete? Good luck! Regardless of how good you are — or how good you think you are — the odds are stacked against you. According to scholarshipstats.com, only 5.2 percent of boys high school athletes and 5.6 percent of girls high school athletes will compete in NCAA sports. Of those, … Read more
National Scouting Report scouts are constantly drawn to prospects with a “warrior mentality.” We know this from thousands of one-on-one conversations we have each year with college coaches. They tell us they love to see a prospect whose undeniable competitive spirit jumps out at them. The average prospect doesn’t have it. Their desire to compete, excel and win … Read more
The NCAA unceremoniously launched its new recruiting rules today. Aug. 1 is the start date each year for the implementation of new rules in all three NCAA divisions. This year we are seeing a larger number — 26 to be exact — of new Division I rules than in years past. We can attribute that … Read more
College coaches should not be toyed with by parents and prospects. Yes, there are some appropriate things parents can do and/or request from coaches, but every coach has a limit. Not knowing that particular point of no return can result in a coach backing off indefinitely if it is crossed. Recruiting can be going smoothly. A coach is … Read more
The way you win the college recruiting game is with a specific advantage. Most parents don’t think of this. Those who do, know what’s needed to secure it. Successful college coaches have a game plan going into a contest. In their minds, the plan is their competitive advantage. Recruiting works the same way. Parents who want … Read more
What’s the No. 1 downfall of college prospects? Thinking they are NCAA Division I talent. National Scouting Report scouts watch athletes perform every day. We are looking for youngsters who have the ability to play at some college level and the grades and character to proudly represent the school that recruits them. To verify that … Read more
