Question for HS coaches about helping athletes get recruited

Question from an athlete on the topic of recruiting:

So my coach is not going to give me any help in the recruiting process so I might need a little more help. I am going to be a junior this coming fall. I have already filled out some good D3 colleges forms, but have yet filled out any for decent D1 schools.

My times are not quite good enough yet but I hope to get closer this coming season (XC and Track). Should I fill out those D1 schools recruiting forms now or wait until I have better times and recognition that will compete with other recruits?

Here are my times if they help.

5k XC 16:03

800m 2:02.3

1600m 4:45.2

Off only one season of outdoor track.

Thanks

Everyone's experience is different, but ours has been basically #4, without the 'might'. I'm not really even talking about coaches who never replied to an email. I'm talking about coaches who initially were very enthused, but then are just too lazy for any follow-up at all. As someone earlier said, a lot of college coaches apparently have to be spoon fed...

Real Life Example: College X suggests we make an unofficial visit. We agree & show up. Coach is there on the front steps of the admissions bldg. to welcome us & make introductions. Coach spends a few minutes with us before handing us off to tour guide from admissions. After tour, we meet with Coach again for a few minutes. Coach follows up with email asking how kid enjoyed visit & reiterating they'd like to sign her.

Coach @ College Y replies to my initial email with very enthused reply. I reply that we'd love to make a visit (thinking from College X that this is the process). Coach Y then basically blows us off after sending a couple of 1 sentence replies..

Same for Coach at College Z. We get the same initial enthused reply, but then when we attempt to put the visit together, he acts bored & either just doesn't reply or gives a vague 1 sentence response.

So my question is why take the time to send the initial multi-paragraph email indicating a high level of interest, but then totally drop the ball when it comes to the obvious next step - a short, unofficial visit? Does the Coach just expect the kid to apply, be admitted & show up on signing day, pen in hand while the coach does nothing?

The original question involved the level of involvement from hs coaches. Their job isn't to get anyone a scholarship for running. If it happens, great but that isn't a requirement for being a high school coach.

If a college coach is lazy and doesn't seem interested in an athlete and that doesn't sit well with the athlete/family then I would suggest they not attend that school as it doesn't appear to offer the kind of experience that the runner is seeking.

Amen brother, I mentioned this earlier. However, a hs coach normally will at minimum offer to point the kid/family/counselor in the right direction because by nature they do want to see the student succeed. I'm also happy to field a call from a coach but careful to make sure I don't exaggerate about the athlete's ability to contribute or improve. A good point of coaches doing their homework and checking as many resources as possible for the kids they are actively recruiting. That's a big commitment on their part as well. And yes, they do rely a great deal on walk-ons. The point of recruiting for national points vs. conference points is pretty accurate, just look at a school's history under that particular coach.

This is a family choice and most of the legwork needs to be done by parents and student with assistance from coach & counselor. I had a great deal of help from my hs counselor and nothing from coach or parent. Filling out financial aid forms was pretty tough especially convincing parent to not claim me since I hadn't lived with him for over a year so I do understand that not all kids have parental input and need some help getting in a position to move beyond hs.

Nice excuses. I work all day at my day job, go to practice, deal with parents, keep kids motivated, drive/fly to meets on my own dime, spend time with my wife and kid, and shepherd kids through a recruiting process where college coaches are lazy bums. Oh, AND I DON'T GET PAID TO BE A COACH. Be a man, and do your job better.

Fred Gwynne wrote:

Broke Dad I think you are the problem. I am getting bad vibes just reading your posts. You seem overbearing. If these coaches sense the same thing I did they will not be interested at all. Why should a school give any money? What do they get out of it?

I agree with my brother Gwynne - Broke Dad, you sound like you have an unrealistic view of your athlete's worth. If a coach is not getting back to you then it's a sign that you should move on. I've worked with several kids over the years and they've always ended up at schools where the coaching staff was in regular contact. It's that simple: if they are not calling, then they are not interested.

here is what i don't understand about your tactic:

you keep mentioning "I" emailed, "I" contacted, coach suggests "we" make an unofficial visit.

they're interested in your daughter, not you. why are you doing all the things SHE should be doing?

i work extensively with high schoolers in a collegiate academic environment and, boy, nothing says "this kid is gonna be hard to deal with" more than a parent who does all of the questioning/contact. i honestly become a little embarrassed for the kid, and wonder if they're shy to a non-functioning level. it is not to your child's advantage that you do this legwork for her.

i don't mind awkward phrasing/questions from students. they're 16, and i know that. i love when i hear directly from the student throughout the whole process, with maybe one or two contact points with a parent near the end of the process. at that point, it's clear to me that this is what the STUDENT wants, not what her parent thinks will be good for her.

8 distance guys signing with a college team each year!!?? You must coach a state powerhouse team. I was the only guy to run in college from my graduating class, although I was probably the only guy that was serious about running.

sc runner wrote:

8 distance guys signing with a college team each year!!?? You must coach a state powerhouse team. I was the only guy to run in college from my graduating class, although I was probably the only guy that was serious about running.

This is boys and girls and includes some DIII runners and no, we don't have a powerhouse program. However, it doesn't include some that could have and wanted to run DIII, but went to a DI school due to the academics they were pursuing. This is what is getting the attention of many college coaches. We run low miles, primarily aerobic, with very few races particularly in track where many get over-raced. Our 4:25 boys and 5:15 girls are going on to accel in college when a lot of 4:15 & 5:08 runners have seen their best days from mileage, over-racing, and endless speed & VO2 work.

We are far from having it all figured out, but very proud of how we approach things which fits our community and mindset. It is not the best approach for all. We try to sacrifice some accolades now for potential college success and/or a lifelong love for the sport later.

The other thing broke dad said is the girl is entering her senior season. So at this point a coach isn't allowed to call (July 1)and you can't make official visits till September. You are already talking money??? I am sorry to tell you this but you have scared away any interest with your behavior. Chill out.

Fred Gwynne wrote:

The other thing broke dad said is the girl is entering her senior season. So at this point a coach isn't allowed to call (July 1)and you can't make official visits till September. You are already talking money??? I am sorry to tell you this but you have scared away any interest with your behavior. Chill out.

Yes exactly, and no offers allowed until Aug1. So any talk of money, or money ranges, is bologna.

Those coaches are going for a quick sell most likely, trying to get you to sign/commit for little or nothing very very early on and move on.

Broke dad, I'm a D1 college coach, and I'll back up what's been said here recently, get your daughter involved, back off, let go. You're doing her no help. And I think you're seeing that. I'm very skeptical of a parent making contact, usually to the point where I will only reply to ask for the athlete's personal info and if I don't get that I'll move on. I want athletes who want to be at my school, working with me; not money hunters (which is what most parents look for first, and you're proof).

Also in reply to walk on times vs what's on the team. Think about factors like:

-- team size limits (too many kids or low roster limits means walk ons have to be GOOD to squeeze on)

-- few scholarships (if you have 4 scholarships that's only 1/yr available TO EVERYONE a coach is recruiting),

-- outstanding offers/better recruits (if they have 1 full, maybe they're looking at 2-3 studs/ringers before you're good/solid daughter, there goes all the money until one stud goes elsewhere)

-- recruiting is about getting the most out of what you have (it's very hard to make a promise of money and then not deliver, but if they find they end up needing to offer you something to sign you they will)

JK

TGI wrote:

Yes exactly, and no offers allowed until Aug1. So any talk of money, or money ranges, is bologna.

The word "baloney" just doesn't have the same power when it is spelled correctly.

I wouldn't worry about recruiting just yet. Since coaches can't talk to you till July 1, 2014; they will probably not pay attention to your information.

Work on increasing your summer miles (about 10 miles more per week than last summer). Add a little speed work toward the end of summer (the Summer of Malmo program is popular on this website). Also in track next year, run several distances in races (800, mile, 2 mile).

As for college, maybe visit a few schools in your area to see what you like (city vs. country, big vs. small, etc.). Also figure out what you would like for a major.

Congratulations on your success helping kids get recruited! I am grateful for your kind offer to share your guide. I am at a small college prep school, have excellent grades and a 34 Composite on ACT[35 in Math], elected to several leadership posts. Unfortunately, our young coach is not a happy or encouraging guy, and we do not have a recruit-successful HS running program. I research the internet for running programs and train all on my own in off season.

I'm a multisport athlete, ran XC but success in other sports kept me from track until Spring of my Junior year when I did 2 sports in same season. Running track [part time]for first time ever my PR mile is 4:23. I was very happy to realize my running potential and am now going to devote myself to running. I really want to run in college, and hope running helps me to get into top tier academic school. I could really excel under a great running coach.

broke dad:

You keep talking about 19:xx (assuming this is a xc time), but what are the track times for your daughter? This could be your dilemma (other than you're overbearing and no coach would want to spend 4-5 years with you hanging over every detail of your daughter's college career).

Your 34 will get you into a top school. Contact the coaches of your target schools. Be sure to inform them of your limited year-round background in the sport. Also be sure that they know of your ACT score. This will indicate to them that you should not be an academic risk and you should also garner a lot of academic aid. Work with your guidance counselor to apply for scholarships. Also, work with the coaches to apply and see what kind of financial package can be constructed for you at the various schools. Talk to the coaches honestly and determine which running/athletic program would be best for you. When the financial packages return, make a choice using everything in your decision. Good luck to you.

THANK YOU....

Also, I am an assistant at a Div. 1 school that was top 10 at the NCAA Outdoor Champs. 99% of the time people who have no college coaching experience don't have any clue what track and field college coaches do all day. They think we hang out at the track for 2 hours and just do nothing the rest of the day. There are days where I'm in the office for 12 hours at a time catching up on the never-ending paperwork that piles up when you're out of town almost every weekend throughout the year. Or when you have a 3-day long track meet so we are at the track or in the office from 8am-midnight 4 nights in a row.

I was in charge of recruiting for all events, travel logistics for every meet, gear inventory/ordering/distribution, budget, fundraising, not to mention the constant interaction with Compliance, travel agents, etc. I probably get about 300 emails a day.

When a high school kid emails one of our coaches and their email is completely incompetent (more than you'd think) it doesn't make us eager to reply, especially since most of the time they are no good. We simply do not have time and have to manage our energy in ways to help the program. We know who the good ones are before their Junior year.

If you are just looking for the most money a school will give your kid you can find plenty of small schools who will give your kid a full ride. If money is the driving force, they probably won't be that great in college anyway. We want the kids who are focused on getting to the top level and are willing to go to work, not just "happy to be on the team."

If your kid really wants to run make sure they are reaching out to programs that fit their ability/intensity as well. Sometimes it's difficult for 16-18 year olds to really know how much they want to invest into running because they simply haven't experienced it yet... Make sure both you (coach or parent) and the athlete are being realistic about their future.

+1

Thank goodness for the minority of coaches who pursue recruiting with pride & professionalism and rep their school well. Truly amazing to see the huge difference in 'style' from 1 coach to another..

This always mystifies me... What the heck is the head coach doing? For the amount of work you described, and I believe you, I just don't understand why assistant coaches recieve so little compensation relative to what the head coach earns. Please describe what the head coach is doing while you are doing all of these duties. Maybe they are doing the same??? How many other assistants are doing the same as yourself???