Added Time: Our Monthly College Search Newsletter

November Update:

Will Coaches “Find You If You Are Good Enough?”

This month we are revisiting an assertion about athletic recruiting and college searches that I hear all too often, even from folks who should know better. It was distilled down perfectly in this Facebook comment by an admissions professional:

THIS IS NOT TRUE. So many young people miss out on reaching their potential because they listen to folks expressing opinions like this.

In fact, coaches are unlikely to “find you” even if you are “good enough” – or at least the right coaches may not. There are a multitude of reasons, and they vary by sport, but some are universal!

1. There are literally millions of high school sports participants, competing against each other in an endless variety of leagues, state tournaments, “national” events, and other environments. Access to these events can be limited by money, social connections, geography, school size, etc. so there is no uniform standard to compare the pool of talent you are recruiting. On top of this, college coaching staffs are limited in size. There is no way to assess every prospect, and not enough quality data to rank all of them using analytics or technology. For example, in the NFL, the key is identifying a great Quarterback. They have a nearly infinite amount of money, large staffs of paid scouts, and high-quality film of every prospect at the high school level or beyond. And the most successful QB this century was drafted in the 6^th round.

1. We, as a species, are not very good at assessing potential! Think of all the big-time college coaches who passed on Jimmy Garoppolo, Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Allen, Trey Lance, and Carson Wentz, just to name quarterbacks who started in the NFL last season after being passed over by every single FBS football program. Just like any smart executive will tell you hiring is hard and littered with mistakes, recruiting is too.

1. You are more than just your athletic talent! It really does not matter whether “a coach” contacts you. You need to connect with the RIGHT coach. One who will inspire you to reach beyond the potential you can imagine… on and off the field. Also, one who is at an institution that fits your goals beyond athletics and sets you up for success. You are not signing a pro contract; you are choosing an educational institution to be your springboard to elevating your lifetime potential!

So, how do you make that connection with the RIGHT coaches? The first step is to put together your recruiting toolkit. You need an academic/athletic resume that puts your academic and athletic information at the coach’s fingertips with no additional clicking! You need video or your competitive data (track times? UTR? Whatever is appropriate for your sport!) accessible instantly from your initial email. You also need to reach out to coaches in a targeted, personal way. This means using the "5A College Search process" to identify coaches you want to connect with by name and doing at LEAST enough research to explain to THEM why the college is a fit for you beyond athletics.

Of course, College Athletic Advisor helps prospective students and families do this every day, but you CAN do it yourself. It is simply a matter of time and your goals. If you are looking to stay local and already know the coaches in your area – make the connection! For students aspiring to highly selective schools or who want to search for great fit institutions outside their home areas, expert insights can be well worth the investment!

As always, if you are looking for the individualized or institutional consulting help that puts you ahead of your peers, check out our services here! You can make an initial appointment through the link on our homepage! School administrators and counselors access our free resources, appointments and programs for school collaboration here.

For more information, contact Dave Morris, College Counselor & CEO, College Athletic Advisor, [email protected] or phone: (719) 248-7994

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