When families invest in travel or club sports, there’s often an expectation that these programs will be a direct pipeline to college scholarships. While travel and club teams can absolutely elevate an athlete’s playing time and competition level, it’s crucial to understand the actual role of the coach in this environment. The primary responsibility of a travel or club coach is player development, not recruitment.
Travel and Club Coaches Develop Players
Travel and club coaches are there to teach the game, improve skills, and prepare athletes to compete at a higher level. Their job is to help players grow mentally, physically, and tactically so they can succeed on the field or court. A good coach will push an athlete to be better, teach them how to be coachable, and help them perform in pressure situations. While some may have college connections or offer limited recruiting help, their focus should, and typically does, stay on developing complete athletes and strong teams.
It’s also important to realize that most travel and club coaches have full-time jobs outside of sports. They’re business owners, teachers, engineers, service workers, you name it. Coaching is something they do in the evenings and on weekends because they love the game and believe in giving back to youth sports. With their limited time, they simply can’t take on the full-time responsibilities that come with the recruiting process like researching schools, writing emails, editing highlight reels, or following up with college coaches.
Who Plays the Biggest Role in Your Recruiting?
Travel and club coaches play a key role in the athletic development of a player but they are not recruiters. Athletes who take ownership of their recruiting journey and seek out the right guidance have a much better chance of finding the right college fit.
Who Is The Right Person To Help?
NSR scouts are fully committed to the athletes they choose and select to offer. They understand the recruiting landscape, stay updated on NCAA rules, and maintain active relationships with coaches at all levels across the country. Their daily focus is on making sure athletes don’t get overlooked and that each one gets the opportunity to be seen, recruited, and ultimately find the right college home.
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.