Recruiting within your own high school

High School Running Distance

7 years ago 02/21/2017 11:53am EST

Does anyone have language or rules regarding recruiting athletes within your own high school?

Long story short, I started coaching a few years back at a small high school and have basically asked every student I come across if they are in a spring sport. If they say no, I suggest they give Track and Field a try. If they say tell me they are in other sports, I wish them well in their current sport but have never been critical of their sport or tried to persuade them away from what they told me they are doing.

I now have some kids that have played baseball, softball, soccer, and golf that are leaving those sports and giving Track a try, which has set off a fire storm within the athletic department as I'm now accused of "illegal recruiting" and "stealing athletes". Most weren't playing much, weren't competitive, weren't enjoying themselves, or didn't care for the other coaches.

Does anyone have school policy regarding kids switching sports and how to handle accusations of recruiting?

7 years ago 02/21/2017 12:11pm EST

re: Newly Hated Track Coach

That's just stupid. What? The AD doesn't want more kids coming out for sports? Or he doesn't want them to do something different if they don't like the sport they're doing?

My high school had a girl who had played softball for three years. Senior year, with a D1 college scholarship in her pocket for another sport, she goes out for track. School record in the shot, state champion. In college, All American in the jav. So, would your AD have wanted you to tell her that she had to play softball her senior year?

If it's other coaches complaining, too bad. Make nice with your AD, so he knows what you've been doing and that he's okay with it. If he isn't, then ask him how he recommends that you get kids out for track. What you're doing is pretty much SOP at my school and over 1/3 of the student body is on the track team. And the other spring sports aren't short of athletes, either. Ilegitimi non carborundum.

7 years ago 02/21/2017 12:15pm EST

re: Newly Hated Track Coach

Before a season a kid can do whatever he wants. Now the big big rub with us was the fball coach always wanted his kids for spring football and threatened that if they ran track they wouldn't start the next year blah blah blah..

If a kid chooses to run track instead of play baseball then the baseball coach should have made his sport more attractive. Grown up should be able to talk this stuff out on an athlete by athlete basis. I'd avoid looking for a big sweeping rule because that could come back to bite you.

7 years ago 02/21/2017 12:27pm EST

re: Beastie

Many schools start their team sports as early as K-3rd grade with introductions to sports like t-ball, flag football, soccer, etc.

Track and CC Coaches always seem behind with gathering bodies since TEAM sports have already "built" funnels to their sports with these youth programs and then parents and coaches will say - "she has been playing soccer for years" when she may be way better at just running, than soccer, but may never try because of her early introduction to and her parents' investment in soccer...sad!

7 years ago 02/21/2017 4:35pm EST

re: TEAM Sport Coach

It seems like anytime kids switch sports someone will always say they were "recruited" by another coach. This may or may not be the case, but having the new athlete and their parents speak with the Athletic Director on why the switch was made would go along ways unless they say it's because you promised them playing time, a letter, free shoes, a scholarship, a car, etc.

I wish you the best with your situation!

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