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Get Scouted Scouting CareersWhile high schools and colleges will be dormant during the holidays, there will be lots of activity for college prospects and coaches.
College prospects will be participating in holiday tournaments, college exposure camps and showcases.
College coaches will be preparing their teams for bowl games, holiday tournaments and regular-season contests.
Recruiting will continue as usual.
“Recruiting never stops – even this time of year,” said Robert Cagle, National Director of Scouting for National Scouting Report. “Do college coaches take down time? Yes. Do they still read emails? Yes. Do they still evaluate prospects on film? Yes.”
Actually, the holidays are prime time for recruiting, Cagle noted.
“Depending on the sport, it’s a very active time,” Cagle said. “When athletes are off campus, it’s a good time for coaches to read [recruiting] emails, watch film and make contact with prospects.”
SOFTBALL
Because most college showcases and tournaments end in mid-November, the winter months are the hottest recruiting time of the year, said Robby Wilson, National Softball Director for NSR.
Softball prospects often attend camps at college campuses to be evaluated by college coaches. However, they must be on the coaches’ radar in advance, so they are treated as prospects, not campers.
“This time of year is a feeding frenzy for college softball coaches,” said Wilson, Area Director of Scouting in Arkansas. “However, the rest of the year is equally important in determining adequate level of play, general interest vs. real interest, etc.
“Keeping in mind the key word here is ‘process,’ the winter months of recruiting are an absolute necessity to a successful recruiting campaign for any softball athlete.”
FOOTBALL
While college bowl season receives most of the attention, college recruiting season is picking up steam.
With only six weeks remaining before National Signing Day, recruiting has shifted into high gear. Not only are coaches preparing their teams for bowl games, they also are evaluating talent and working the phones.
“Football recruiting is in its heyday right now,” said Cagle, Area Director of Scouting in South Alabama. “It doesn’t get any thicker than right now. There are dead periods and quiet periods coming up. But, once [recruiting] opens up, prospects start visiting schools in January, leading up to National Signing Day.”
SOCCER
There are lots of college showcases over the holidays, including the prestigious Disney Soccer Showcase later this month at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
“It’s a very hot time for soccer,” said Gil Barkey, National Soccer Director for NSR. “There’s tons of stuff going on.”
Soccer prospects need to take advantage.
“Christmas Day is basically the only day off for college soccer coaches. They recruit very hard this time of year,” said Barkey, Area Director of Scouting in Northeast Colorado. “College prospects shouldn’t stop for a second. They should keep those emails and phone calls going.”
LACROSSE
Because there are few, if any, tournaments right now, college lacrosse coaches make recruiting their top priority until mid-January or February, said Brendan Kennedy, National Lacrosse Director for NSR.
“All of the coaches carry [cell] phones,” said Kennedy, Area Director of Scouting in New England. “They can receive calls and emails anytime. They may not work on Christmas, but if it’s Dec. 23 or Dec. 27, they’re going to respond.”
That isn’t always the case during the season.
“During the season, the team is always their first priority,” Kennedy said. “Recruiting kind of takes a back seat.”
BASKETBALL
Although basketball season is in full swing, the holiday season is still a good time for recruiting, said Frank Gump, National Basketball Director for NSR.
“Recruiting doesn’t stop because of the holidays,” said Gump, Area Director of Scouting in Oklahoma. “Coaches may take a couple days off around Christmas and New Years, but that’s it.
“Basketball is kind of like softball. Winter, spring and summer are big for basketball recruiting. Fall is the only time it’s a little quiet.”
TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
This is not the busiest time of year for track and field and cross country recruiting. Summer is the busiest recruiting time for track and late fall for cross country, said Andrew Novelli, Track and Cross-Country Director for NSR.
Still, he said, recruiting doesn’t stop.
“For 2016 prospects, it’s still important to keep in contact with college coaches, who are finalizing their rosters,” said Novelli, Area Director in Chicagoland. “For 2017 prospects, it’s important to keep coaches updated as they head toward their spring season and start establishing relationships with them.”
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball is in a dead period, said Kari Chavez, Area Director in Eastern Washington. There is no off-campus recruiting or on-campus visits until mid-January.
However, it’s a good time for prospects to contact coaches.
“College coaches will be stuck in their offices for a few weeks,” said Chavez, former assistant volleyball coach at Gonzaga University. “So now is the time to do housekeeping stuff.
“Prospects should continue to communicate with college coaches. Because they can’t go out, coaches have plenty of time to read emails and watch videos.”
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.