RECRUITING STRESS ON MOM & DAD
While many feel the college football recruiting process is only stressful for the athlete, we know, parents have an even higher stress level as they work to help their son reach a goal many have had since first putting on a helmet.
Parents want what is best for their child and many companies play on fear in making you believe they can get your son a football scholarship.
Fact is, your son is one of a very large number of high school football players across this country that all believe they are the best and deserve an athletic scholarship for their football abilities.
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you go through the recruiting process.
YOUR SON IS ONE BEING RECRUITED
Many times the recruiting process is the first time your son will be asked to stand on his own in new situations dealing with adults (coaches). Don’t hover over your child. Especially, when your son is dealing with a college coach on a one-on-one basis. Coaches will take time to get to know you when the time is right and they have serious interest in recruiting your son.
You’ve been told a first impression can make or break any deal in life. The recruiting process is no different as the coach wants to know more about how your son stands on his own two feet than from having a parent work to sell why they should be offering their son.
I’ve seen plenty of situations where a college coach has interest in offering an athlete, only to back away because he never got a chance to speak with the athlete because a parent took control of the conversation. A coach wants to learn who your child is, not you.
THREE "A's" OF RECRUITING
I believe in three main components to the recruiting process from the very start.
Academics: We see more prospects miss out on scholarships from a poor freshman year. Make sure your son understands the importance of having high academic standards from the day he starts walking the halls of high school.
Depending upon the level of college football your son is able to obtain interest from, academics could play a huge role in just how much money they earn from a college.
Attitude: Coaches will quickly see or be told if a prospect has attitude problems. While some programs will take a kid they feel has issues, more shy away as they don’t want any bad light shined on their program. Character, along with a strong work ethic and the ability to make good decisions is a must.
Athletic Ability: In the end, college coaches have one goal. Find players to help their program win games. The more games they win, the better their job security and the more money they earn.
Many parents have watched their son grow up and dominate every level they’ve played. The recruiting process will place your son in direct competition against some of the best athletes you’ve ever seen. Be a realist as your son may be the best at his school or in his hometown, but might be just another prospect when placed against players from across the country.
THERE IS A PROCESS TO IT ALL
I’ve watched first-hand how the football recruiting process has changed since the late 90’s and understand the real world of the process.
Coaches are not sitting around scanning social media, YouTube or HUDL, for their next top recruit. Don’t be fooled into thinking anyone can get your son’s highlights or information in front of college football coaches. There is a process used by recruiting staffs in handling videos received, especially those that are unsolicited from even the biggest recruiting services in the country.
If you want to know more, contact me to find out how I may be able to help you and your son navigate the recruiting process. We are not a major corporation looking to sign every prospect that walks through our doors. But will give you an honest evaluation and the tools needed to work towards having success in the recruiting process.