Article on early recruiting...
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Don't forget that it's now also 2020's that are getting in on the act.
- Nov 29, 2009
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I do hope the NCAA has the guts to put iegislation in place to bring this mess under control.
- Dec 20, 2012
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"College coaches are pushing the N.C.A.A. to end a largely hidden practice that has become increasingly common: the recruitment of young high school and occasionally even middle school students."
Why are coaches looking to the NCAA to fix the problem they created and actually can correct on their own? I agree that 13-14 year old kids probably don't possess the maturity to make those decisions and their parents are not informed enough to even help. But at the same time the NCAA has too much jurisdiction as it is. By not allowing kids to take official visits until their senior year they put many, especially families with fewer financial resources, in bad situations. You have kids committing before ever stepping foot on campus. IF they want to help then use some of their $1,000,000,000 annual revenue to set up workshops or seminars to help inform for student athletes and parents of what actually goes on during the recruiting process. A little knowledge will go a lot farther than more regulations. Second let the athletes start taking their officials in freshman or sophomore year. Give them 4 at any time and 1 more during the senior year for a total of 5. And the fifth can be a school they have already visited. Kids are making a decision that will affect the rest of their life and the all caring NCAA does little to help other than restricting visits and communication. Let the kids talk to coaches as much as possible. There is a better chance of them finding something they like or don't like over the course of 4 years rather than the one that they are currently given.
Why are coaches looking to the NCAA to fix the problem they created and actually can correct on their own? I agree that 13-14 year old kids probably don't possess the maturity to make those decisions and their parents are not informed enough to even help. But at the same time the NCAA has too much jurisdiction as it is. By not allowing kids to take official visits until their senior year they put many, especially families with fewer financial resources, in bad situations. You have kids committing before ever stepping foot on campus. IF they want to help then use some of their $1,000,000,000 annual revenue to set up workshops or seminars to help inform for student athletes and parents of what actually goes on during the recruiting process. A little knowledge will go a lot farther than more regulations. Second let the athletes start taking their officials in freshman or sophomore year. Give them 4 at any time and 1 more during the senior year for a total of 5. And the fifth can be a school they have already visited. Kids are making a decision that will affect the rest of their life and the all caring NCAA does little to help other than restricting visits and communication. Let the kids talk to coaches as much as possible. There is a better chance of them finding something they like or don't like over the course of 4 years rather than the one that they are currently given.
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I see this as whining by mediocre programs who think by limiting "early recruiting" that they will somehow get a shot at a player that they have no chancing of getting to come play for them. Despite statements to the contrary nobody is forcing either party to do anything. It is ludicrous to think they need rules to prevent 2 parties from entering into a non-binding agreement.
- Jun 12, 2015
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Why do strong players commit so early? Is it fear that nobody else will want them so they better take it while they can get it? We haven't had to deal with any of this yet since they're not actually trying to get verbal commitments from 9 year olds yet...
Money generating sports like football and basketball drive the majority of the decisions the NCAA makes...and early recruiting has not been a problem for them because coaches wait until boys mature before making decisions. Football and basketball coaches also continue to recruit players who are verbally committed to other schools, unlike sports like softball where there is an unwritten "coach's code" to back off players that are verballed. Softball coaches also do not have the budgets to recruit players they are not confident they can sign.
I personally think eliminating the 14U brackets at showcases would be a good start. As showcases have become more popular, organizers are adding teams as fast as they can to increase revenue.
I personally think eliminating the 14U brackets at showcases would be a good start. As showcases have become more popular, organizers are adding teams as fast as they can to increase revenue.
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There were three kids from Madison recently who waited until very late to commit. It worked out really well for two of them.
One was a boy who went to HS with DS and DD 1. He was an extremely fast kid, very talented. Early on he concentrated on track and basketball. After his freshman year, the WR coach saw him play basketball, and asked the kid to try out for football as a WR. He was a star. Wound up committing to Pitt his senior year. The Pitt coach told him to go back to track as well, so he did. He won a couple of gold medals at state. He had also been on a state championship basketball team.
Another was a girl who played softball from when she was young. She was about 6' tall, and was all-conference 1B. One of the best softball players in the conference, but not D-1 material. However, she rowed in the fall for cross-training, and was one of the top female HS rowers in the US. Got a full ride to Wisconsin on a rowing scholarship. DS was in her HS rowing club, and knew her.
On the other side of the coin, there was a girl at another HS in town. None of my kids knew her, but Rubber Biscuit's DD was on a TB team with her once. Very talented athlete, 6'1" as a freshman, and stayed that height. She couldn't decide if she wanted a scholly in b-ball or softball. 4-year letter in both, state player of the year in softball her junior year. Has a deadly riseball. She would often get as many as 20 K in a game, including a perfect game with 20 K. (Some of the girls DD 1 played TB with actually beat her in a HS game. Once.) She waited to decide until her senior year, by that time all the top colleges were booked. Wound up at Drake. Got 175 K her freshman year, top pitcher in her conference. At least she wound up with a full ride in a D-1 school she liked, just not one of the really top ones.
One was a boy who went to HS with DS and DD 1. He was an extremely fast kid, very talented. Early on he concentrated on track and basketball. After his freshman year, the WR coach saw him play basketball, and asked the kid to try out for football as a WR. He was a star. Wound up committing to Pitt his senior year. The Pitt coach told him to go back to track as well, so he did. He won a couple of gold medals at state. He had also been on a state championship basketball team.
Another was a girl who played softball from when she was young. She was about 6' tall, and was all-conference 1B. One of the best softball players in the conference, but not D-1 material. However, she rowed in the fall for cross-training, and was one of the top female HS rowers in the US. Got a full ride to Wisconsin on a rowing scholarship. DS was in her HS rowing club, and knew her.
On the other side of the coin, there was a girl at another HS in town. None of my kids knew her, but Rubber Biscuit's DD was on a TB team with her once. Very talented athlete, 6'1" as a freshman, and stayed that height. She couldn't decide if she wanted a scholly in b-ball or softball. 4-year letter in both, state player of the year in softball her junior year. Has a deadly riseball. She would often get as many as 20 K in a game, including a perfect game with 20 K. (Some of the girls DD 1 played TB with actually beat her in a HS game. Once.) She waited to decide until her senior year, by that time all the top colleges were booked. Wound up at Drake. Got 175 K her freshman year, top pitcher in her conference. At least she wound up with a full ride in a D-1 school she liked, just not one of the really top ones.
- Jun 21, 2012
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I attended the "Be Your Best" coaches clinic in NJ a few years back and Mike Smith from Oregon spoke of this same practice. He stated that he hated the practice of seeking younger players to commit and wished that the NCAA would prohibit it. He felt forced to do as his peers to keep getting the "good talent" and remain competitive. His program is by no means mediocre. I would bet he is one of the many coaches who spoke out about this practice to the NCAA.
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