College recruits are looking for youth athletes that meet the needs of their roster. The recruitment process is anything but simple. If you are well-versed in the athletic world then you know the process revolves largely around an athlete’s stats in the beginning.
Recruiters start their process by creating a list of athletes that meet the requirements they are looking for. This can include age, weight, height, position, and academics. This list is built through online sources. Here are a few of the sites your child should be registered on to give them the upper hand when recruiting starts
Your child can still get recruited if they haven’t registered. You will likely have to reach out to the coaches and schools your child would like to attend to put yourself on the list manually.
Most of the recruiting lists are developed when your child is in their sophomore year. Recruiters aren’t allowed to officially reach out until June 15th of that year. It is common for them to reach out closer to the beginning of their junior year.
What Are Scouts Looking For
Each coach, school, and sport will be different but there are a few common traits recruiters are looking for in an athlete.
- Skill
- Academics
- Character
- Work ethic
- Team player
- Sports IQ
- Maturity
- Competitiveness
- Honesty
- Ambition
These may seem like general skills but it’s important to remember them. When you are speaking to a recruiter it is your job to showcase these skills. Follow-up emails, calls, or conversations should revolve around how your child possesses or has improved on one of these skills.
A recruiter will use academic and character-based traits to decide between two athletes who have relatively similar skills and statistics.
How do You Invite Recruiters to Your Games?
It seems almost too simple but the best way to get a recruiter to come to your game is to reach out and ask them simply. It is best to invite recruiters who are close to you. It is unlikely that a recruiter will travel to view a game. But it never hurts to ask.
If you know the recruiter is unlikely to attend an in-person game you can follow up your contact with a recording of the game or a highlight reel. This will showcase your desire to get recruited and make an impact on the recruiter.
How Does Your Athlete Get Noticed?
There are four ways to get noticed by a recruiter.
- Attend events
- Register for all online opportunities
- Ask your coach to reach out to the recruiter
- Email, call, or visit a recruiter
While it is great to get noticed by a recruiter they have to sift through hundreds of players and applicants to find someone that will suit their needs. Take the time to find the school and programs you are interested in and reach out to the recruiters. They will like that you re interested and may even create a bond with you.
It is suggested that you follow up with a recruiter that has not sent an offer every 2 – 3 months in your athlete’s junior year and every 2 – 3 weeks in your athlete’s senior year. Continue to reach out to the recruiter showcasing the skills they are looking for. Outline how skills, academics, or character have improved. You can also ask the recruiter what your athlete needs to do to further improve their skill. Show them that you are invested in their program.
What Should You Do if You Don’t Get a D1 Recruit Offer?
There are three divisions in college sports. D1 is the large or university level. Most large schools and universities are division 1. D1 schools have more scholarships and larger budgets to offer athletes spots on their teams.
If your child is not chosen by a D1 school (or you are concerned they won’t be selected) you can set up meetings with D2 schools. Division 2 is commonly held by colleges and smaller programs. These programs still compete in college sports and can still offer some scholarships. It is best to always have a backup school chosen to make sure your athlete gets in. An athlete that shows promise at a D2 school still has the opportunity to transfer to a D1 school.
A division 3 school does not offer scholarships. It is best to have this as a backup and consider schools in your local area or with an area of study that your child is interested in.
Training Camps
A great way to improve skills and get your athlete more confident on and off the field is to place them in skill-based training camps. Our facility offers camps focusing on an athlete’s speed, biomechanics, strength, and agility. Check out some of our current training camps