- Jun 22, 2015
- 12
- 1
What role should travel coach, player, and parent play in the recruiting process? What should each be doing to be proactive in the process? 2024
What role should travel coach, player, and parent play in the recruiting process? What should each be doing to be proactive in the process? 2024
Expectations should be laid out during the team meeting at the beginning of the season. The recruiting coordinator should be allowed some time to discuss what is expected of each player/family. We have had players leave the team to go to a Hittin' Kitten team because their perception was that team was doing more "stuff" as it pertains to recruiting. This player couldn't tell me one school they were interested in or show me any emails they sent to college coaches. But they wanted college coaches to be interested in their kids! In all reality, the team was not a good fit for the family. One of their DD's told me she wants to go to cosmetology school. I don't know how to help with that. The family has to come up with a list of viable schools that works for the family; academically, skill set, distance, financial, size, location, etc. I have found that families are ignorant of what is a good fit for them. We can give them resources or websites to help them figure out what schools to begin targeting. NFCA, niche, DFP, fill out recruiting questionnaire, college EFC calculator, etc. Start with a list of 10 schools, then we can talk! It's hard to steer a parked car. Gotta get moving.In general:
Player: Owns the process; research, comms, promotion & marketing, following up, doing the work on the field and in the classroom, etc, etc.
Parent: Supporter, Cheerleader, Advisor, Mentor: Spellchecker and proofreader, helping with research, advising on questions, etc, etc. Oh - and ensuring the financials work out. What parents should never do, is do it for the player. That rarely ever works out in a good way.
Travel Coach: Promoter, Cheerleader, Advisor. Should be talking up players, calling college coaches that players are targeting (if they are doing their work), discussing players with their network (and expanding their network)
In the end, the PLAYER has to own this.
Start with a list of 10 schools, then we can talk! It's hard to steer a parked car. Gotta get moving.