For thousands of high school athletes across the country, the dream of playing sports at the college level is both motivating and daunting. The recruiting process is not just about talent, it’s a complex journey that unfolds over several years, involving decisions that shape an athlete’s future.
From the outside, recruiting may appear as simple as playing well and getting noticed. But for those walking through it, it’s an emotionally demanding process filled with uncertainty, waiting, and hope.
How Early Does the Process Begin?
The process often begins earlier than most people expect. For some athletes, it can start as early as middle school, especially in sports like softball, volleyball, or soccer. At this point, college coaches begin identifying potential prospects. However, being identified as a potential recruit by college coaches is more difficult than one might think. Simply playing your sport and working hard will not just automatically crack the code of recruiting. College coaches need to know about the potential athletes well before the NCAA contact periods. A prospect being identified is only the beginning and it must start early.
How Do I Get Evaluated?
Once athletes are on the radar, coaches begin the long process of evaluation. They watch video and speak with college scouts to get a better sense of an athlete’s skill, attitude, and potential fit for their program.
College coaches have limited time and resources, and they’re evaluating dozens if not hundreds of athletes at once. Coaches can only evaluate players that have been properly identified as potential prospects. But, evaluation includes more than just skills on the court or in the field. Coaches evaluate all aspects of the student athlete. Academics, attitude, character, work ethic and parents are a few of the aspects assessed during this process.
While coaching staffs are extremely busy during this evaluation time, athletes are busy juggling school, training, games, travel teams, and their personal lives – all while trying to stay focused and confident. Some athletes see steady interest build; the vast majority feels invisible.
What Comes Next?
Perhaps the most challenging part of recruiting is the comparison stage. College coaches aren’t just evaluating athletes, they’re comparing them. You may be a strong player, but how do you compare to another recruit who’s fighting for the same spot? How do you compare to an athlete in the transfer portal that already has college experience?
This stage is where many athletes feel the weight of competition. It’s no longer about being good, it’s about being chosen, selected and being better than someone else. Coaches look at athletic ability, but also grades, attitude, coachability, injuries, and character.
For some, this stage leads to frustration. Offers can stall. Promising conversations suddenly stop. Schools that once showed interest go silent. It’s hard to know why, and often, you never find out.
Will I Get Offered?
Eventually, some athletes receive the call or the email that makes it all feel worth it… an offer to play at the next level. For others, it doesn’t happen. There are no participation trophies when it comes to the recruiting process. It takes real conversations and real relationships to have real results. A college coach may have had as many as 30 athletes in the comparison stage, as mentioned above, only to give one offer to the athlete that is chosen and selected.
How Do I Get Started?
Take the first step in your recruiting journey today by getting evaluated by a college scout. Your recruiting is too important to wait. Click here to get started and to see if you have what it takes to be chosen and selected.
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