02/01/2022
If I had a $1000 for how many times I have heard this in the past 2-3 months…I would be a millionaire….let me peel back some layers to the onion 🧅 in the recruiting world…
“Coach, we are not hearing back from a lot of coaches.” First, I ask grad year to see if coaches can even respond yet per NCAA rules. Then I ask to hear the list of schools their child has contacted & their GPA….
“…about 5-6 d1 & not even a 3.0 GPA…..”
here in lies the problem…
FACT: You need to cast a wider net…you need to be contacting at LEAST 20-30 schools, 5-8 each level….
FACT: GPAs matter as well…2.8 vs a 3.3 vs a 3.6 are a whole different scenario to a college coach. You have to be accepted to the college AND in many sports & levels there is more academic money available than athletic money.
FACT (many families do not have the perspective of this next one especially): There are TONS of kids to choose from who are equally as talented as your kid across the country. Just because your child is the best in their area doesn’t mean there are not others just like them somewhere else…with better grades.
EXPAND your list. INCLUDE 5-8 of each level. And the lower the GPA, even larger the net you need to cast.
Then I ask, “When did you start this process?”
“A couple months ago (as a senior).”
FACT: In many sports and across various levels, coaches are NOT waiting until senior year to identify players…
Then I ask, “Has their child sent a personalized email? DMs on social media to the coaching staff? Have they completed the recruiting questionnaires on their websites?”
FACT: While the media, especially in movies like the Blind Side (love the movie but…) do not portray the process of the typical kid…
They HAVE to put in the work to contact coaches to show they are interested….do NOT expect coaches are just going to come knocking at your door because they are talented…..
Please pass this info along to a freshman or sophomore in hs you know….
Coach Renee Lopez