If your child dreams of competing at the next level, knowing the difference between Fake Recruiting and Real Recruiting can make or break their chances. Unless you work inside the college recruiting world every day, spotting the difference isn’t easy. But here’s the reality—Fake Recruiting drains families of years, energy, and thousands of dollars, often with nothing to show for it.
So what exactly is Fake Recruiting? Let’s look at the traps many families fall into:
Signs of Fake Recruiting
1. Thinking Club/Travel Ball Is Enough
Travel ball is great for development and competition. But don’t mistake exposure for recruiting. Coaches don’t attend events to “discover” talent—they go to watch athletes they already know about through trusted evaluators and relationships.
2. Paying for Online Recruiting Profiles
Plenty of platforms sell open-enrollment profiles to anyone willing to pay, sometimes signing up entire teams at once. Coaches know this, which is why most never look. If anyone can buy in, it carries no credibility. Remember: fewer than 5% of high school athletes will play college sports at any level.
3. Relying on Social Media
Coaches aren’t scrolling TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter looking for random prospects. They check athletes’ accounts after they’re already on their radar. Tagging coaches at random can actually hurt more than it helps—unless they’ve asked for it.
4. Believing Camps Equal Recruiting
Attending a camp does not mean you’re being recruited. Unless your athlete is specifically invited as a prospect, they’re just another camper. That’s a big difference.
What Real Recruiting Looks Like
Real Recruiting isn’t found in Google searches, online profiles, or endless weekends of showcases. It’s driven by people who live in the recruiting grind every single day, talking to college coaches, tracking NCAA rules, and understanding what those coaches are really looking for.
Here’s the truth: Real Recruiting begins with a proper evaluation.
A genuine evaluation doesn’t just measure athletic skills. Coaches want insight into:
• Athletic strengths and weaknesses
• Maturity and character
• Communication and leadership ability
• Academic performance
• Family background and fit
Why? Because coaches don’t recruit random athletes, they recruit players who fit their program. Just as important as knowing who to recruit is knowing who not to recruit.
Why This Matters
Families caught up in fake recruiting lose valuable time and money chasing opportunities that don’t exist. Families in the real recruiting process gain a clear plan, trusted guidance, and legitimate exposure to college coaches.
At NSR, our scouts live this every single day. We know the coaches, the rules, and the reality of what it takes to earn a roster spot.
If your athlete is serious about playing at the next level, start with step one: a proper evaluation. Fill out the form today to see if your child has what it takes to be among the few #NSRchosen1 athletes.
Because in recruiting, knowing the difference between fake and real makes all the difference.
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.