Recruiting
The Recruiting Process + Q&A + Tips on Reaching Out
Can good become too good?
Isn’t it interesting how professional benefits trickle down to the NCAA then that trickles down to high school? The NFL and NBA started using Normatec Recovery Boots that cost $$$. Next season, NCAA DI Football teams used the machines on the sidelines during games. Now, high school student-athletes buy and use them at home. Everything trickles down, but when is too much just too much?
The more universities and coaches give, the more recruits—and their families and high school/club coaches—expect. This includes scholarship money, NIL Deals, luxury locker rooms, apartments, shoes & more shoes, a new wardrobe, Alston money, photoshoots, dining halls, and the list keeps growing. NONE of these desired things actually help an athlete run faster.
High-level performance doesn’t require high-level extras.
Some coaches will take away athletes’ scholarships if athletes don’t perform to the coach’s standards. So then what? The shiny, fancy stuff isn’t as fun now, right?
High School Coaches
Conversations to have with your athletes.
1. Men’s collegiate teams have less scholarship money so very few athletes get full scholarships, especially at high-level programs.
If you want a good school, good track program, good coach, in a good area, then there will be a price tag.
2. Top-level money (full scholarships and COA stipends) goes to top-level recruits. Typically, those who dominate the conference and are NCAA Championship caliber. Educate your athletes so they know the difference between potential walk-on, partial scholarship, and top-level scholarship.
3. Help athletes not be offended by good package offers. Academics stacked with athletic aid and other state/federal grants can feel like a full scholarship. Be proud of it!
4. Help athletes know and communicate true performances. We don’t need lofty projections, practice PRs, and next season's goals as the data. We need the official, legal performances that can be found and confirmed.
Tips for reaching out to college coaches:
- Know who you’re talking to. Simple things like contacting the correct coach for the event area and spelling names correctly are appreciated, and it goes a long way in the first contact.
- If you send a video of your athlete then tell me what lane they're in and the uniform. I don’t know what they look like.