RECRUITING GURUS: Can my son compete unattached while on his recruiting trip?

High School Running Distance

2 years ago 09/29/2021 2:29pm EDT

My high school son (senior) is traveling east for a recruiting trip. The university he's visiting will have a few runner competing at a small meet at a nearby university while he's in town. Can he compete unattached? In the past the meet has also hosted a Open race with many unattached runners (but most looks the be redshirt college athletes). Would there be any violations if he ran unattached in this meet? Especially since the university he's visiting will have a few (second tier) athletes competing there as well.

2 years ago 09/29/2021 2:35pm EDT

re: smittyone

If it is a college meet, he usually can't compete while in highschool usually. Most college meets spell this out in entries, although d3 meets, its not uncommon to see kids come in under the radar. I would shoot an email to the meet director just to avoid any incident.

2 years ago 09/29/2021 2:37pm EDT

re: smittyone

Your best bet is not to ask a anonymous message board, instead ask the coach that is recruiting him. OR contact the compliance office at the school that is recruiting him. They will know all of the specific. If you act based on the replies you get here, be prepared for the negative consequences of taking bad advice.

2 years ago 09/29/2021 2:40pm EDT

re: smittyone

Seems to me that you should be at least as concerned with your state's rules on out-of-state competition for individual high schoolers--assuming your son is on his high school's team.

IIRC most states would say ixnay to a HS student's competing out of state AND apart from his team while its season is underway.

Speaking as a college coach, I'd actually hate to be put in this situation, esp. if I would be at the meet with my college's second-tier athletes.

2 years ago 09/29/2021 3:30pm EDT

re: smittyone

Not sure why you would want him to. Presumably he has his season mapped out by the high schoolcoach in your home state, and I would guess that if he's out there on a recruiting visit the college coach is alreadty aware of your sons capabilities. Better to spend the time watching the team dynamic and reactions of the coach to success/disappointment.

2 years ago 09/29/2021 3:34pm EDT

re: lease

lease wrote:
Seems to me that you should be at least as concerned with your state's rules on out-of-state competition for individual high schoolers--assuming your son is on his high school's team.
IIRC most states would say ixnay to a HS student's competing out of state AND apart from his team while its season is underway.
Speaking as a college coach, I'd actually hate to be put in this situation, esp. if I would be at the meet with my college's second-tier athletes.

This is the big concern… What are the rules of your state high school governing body?

2 years ago 09/29/2021 5:41pm EDT

re: smittyone

https://www.recruitref.com/blog/can-a-recruit-practice-with-a-college-team

Sounds like a bad idea to me. With a few exceptions for tryouts that don't apply to this situation, highschool athletes are not allowed to practice with prospective college teams. The fact that he would run "unattached" would actually make it more likely to be viewed as a recruiting violation.

Additionally, there is little upside to running in a low level college meet as a high schooler. The most likely result for a 17year old running an 8k is a slow crash somewhere between 4 and 6k followed by a sufferfest to the finish line. Even if your son ran well hed just be burning a match he should save for state and national series events.

Your son has two months left of highschool cross country with 4-5 years of college to go.

Have him enjoy highschool while he can.

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