Recruiting Process 101 - How do you stand out?
by Dena Petty
pettyfour@sbcglobal.net
1. GET YOUR GRADES UP!!
Scouts will go 1st to the counselor’s office for your transcripts before ever looking at you in person. You must qualify with grades first. No matter where you are now, you can improve your scores and could make a difference in getting an offer. With so much competition, if it comes down to you or another player to make an offer, grades may make the difference.
Take the ACT and/or SAT the beginning of your junior year. Take as many times as you would like, the scores will improve with each time taken.
2. Register with the NCAA
https://web1.ncaa.org/eligibilitycenter/student/index_student.html
This must be done before any coaches can look at you.
Registering is to make sure of amateur status and to make sure you qualify with SAT and/or ACT (the scores can improve with each time taken, register scores even if not happy with them)
3. Work hard on your skill!
Our coaches are great coaches and leaders that can and will improve an athlete with hard work. But if you think you have what it takes to make it after high school, get with a coach for private lessons one on one. Speed and strengthening coaches, your specific skill coach all can help you improve to give yourself a chance to stand out. This can get expensive, so this is a decision that you and your family will have to make. I think we waited a little late to start this, not realizing the importance.
After your 9th grade year, giving yourself a good idea of your talent, attend good skills camps during the summer. Do not waste your time on expensive NFL camps or high profile national camps for this. We have found that a lot of time and money was wasted believing the hype. There are some good local, quality camps that are available. Research online and ask our coaches and others players with experience what they think.
We have heard over and over again, the guys that start in college are 70% of the kids that are not high profile, but the hardest working. Start the process now!!
4. How do you get noticed?
Get with your high school coach and ask for a profile sheet of you, with personal information and stats of your past season. You will also need your last year highlight film with 5-10 minutes of highlights and your best game. (you can ask your coach to produce your film to this criteria…very important!) Our coaches are amazing!! Most programs have coaches that could care less about you after you graduate. We came from a program that the head coach sent scouts away. Not true at our school, we are so fortunate in that they will help you in any way possible.
Due to our school having D1 players, we have had many scouts come to our school. Most come to evaluate players during spring practices. NCAA has strict rules of when a coach can come to a school, approach and talk to a player. You can look online for the latest guidelines, as these change all the time. Scouts are evaluating the D1, but as in the past, have their interest peeked by an unknown prospect. Be aware of when a scout is around and always do your best to stand out.
We found that combines are a waste of time!! Only if you have a 4.4 40 or you are extremely strong can this help your chances in getting noticed. College coaches cannot attend combines and will only get the results of the leaders. The FREE Nike camps will have hundreds in attendance, you will not stand out…sorry! You can go for the experience and the free stuff though.
THE BEST WAY TO GET NOTICED!! Go the college camps during the summer of the schools you are interested in and that are showing some interest in you. After your 8th and 9th grade years you will have to attend mostly 3-4 day camps. After your 10th and 11th grade years many colleges will offer one day “showcase” camps. Even if they only offer 3 day camps, you can call and attend only one day. Coaches have said over and over they only need 3-4 hours to see what they want. All of these are a way for college coaches to evaluate you. They will evaluate you on the field (skill level), coachability, work ethic, in the film room, leadership, body type. They will measure you, weigh you, time you on the 40 and shuttle run and vertical.
5. When does it all start?
We found that after signing day of February 2nd of the 11th grade year is the most important. By this time, coaches should have film, questionnaires and profile sheets on their desk……on you!! So during the junior season, you as a parent need to be sending out film, profile sheets with up to date stats, and a cover letter explaining interest in their program. If you receive a questionnaire from a college, this is good! This means they have you on their radar of interest. Even if you have little or no interest, send back. We sent back with the questionnaire a copy of film, profile sheet and cover letter. (put on the front of envelope, “questionnaire enclosed”) Coaches get hundreds of letters per week with many winding up in the trash. You have to do something to have your name cross their desk and get noticed.
6. Tiers of recruiting
- First offers come from looking strictly evaluating film.
- Second offers come from spring practice and spring game evaluation.
- Third offers come from “showcase” camps on their campus.
- Fourth offers come from a great senior season.
I hope this helps you out. We made many mistakes, put in a lot of hard work, but it has paid off in the end. Contact me if you have any questions! pettyfour@sbcglobal.net
