Recruiting Tips for Parents Just Starting the Process

Dos Equis said:
Before junior year, your club coach is her ambassador, advocate and essentially (though without the money talk) your agent. Your coach should let other schools know she has or expects to receive an offer soon, and ask the others coaches what you need to do for them to come to a decision. It may require them seeing her play again at a camp or a showcase, or it may require an informal campus visit. It likely will involve arranging another phone call with each school so the coach can ask your daughter some more questions, and better understand her priorities and desires.

But other than a handful of pretty unique players, the process does not usually involve a lot of offers coming in at the same time, and you having the opportunity to weigh each one, in my experience. Most players are choosing between a couple of schools at most, or deciding if the bird in the hand is worth risking by waiting for a dream school to come to a decision.
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Some players are going to be recruited no matter what the parents do to help or hinder it, and some will never be recruited no matter what the parents do. The value of recruiting services and the like is best felt by the ones in the middle, where the player does not have an established position and a publicity campaign may help bring the player's abilities to the attention of coaches who are looking to fill out their rosters.
 
espola said:
Some players are going to be recruited no matter what the parents do to help or hinder it, and some will never be recruited no matter what the parents do.
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This is one of the truest "recruiting" statements I've read here. Talent (or lack thereof) will always speak for itself.
 
Dubs said:
Thank you for that note. I was thinking her club coach could sort of reach out and create a little ground swell, but I've been reluctant to ask. We have a couple showcases over the next 2 months, so hopefully the coaches my daughter reached out to will come see her play. The getting on campus between now and July is the tough part.
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Don't be reluctant to ask her coach or the club's college liaison (if they have one)? The club should be helping with the recruitment process.
 
Appreciate the advice. My daughter has a fairly short list now and I want to help her with making sure those schools are in play as soon as possible.
 
One key note
Club coaches can be hugely impactful but can at the same time be detrimental. Does your kids coach have juice with college coaches? Are they willing to step up? Do they know what college coaches are looking for? The big time clubs tend to be connected. The midline clubs not so much
 
Dos Equis said:
Before junior year, your club coach is her ambassador, advocate and essentially (though without the money talk) your agent. Your coach should let other schools know she has or expects to receive an offer soon, and ask the others coaches what you need to do for them to come to a decision. It may require them seeing her play again at a camp or a showcase, or it may require an informal campus visit. It likely will involve arranging another phone call with each school so the coach can ask your daughter some more questions, and better understand her priorities and desires.

But other than a handful of pretty unique players, the process does not usually involve a lot of offers coming in at the same time, and you having the opportunity to weigh each one, in my experience. Most players are choosing between a couple of schools at most, or deciding if the bird in the hand is worth risking by waiting for a dream school to come to a decision.
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Although DE and I disagree often he is spot on here.
 
This question might be better as it's own thread, but there's lots of good advice here so ...

Curious to hear about anyone who had the experience of having college coaches (particularly targeted dream school) show up to your player's game for the first time, only to have said player or team lay an egg. Happened to the best player on our team this weekend in Vegas and she was pretty crushed afterwards. Usually the most dynamic player on the field, but just had one really rough day. Her mom said she'd had a fever when she woke up the morning of the game, but of course, she battled through. If you'd never seen her play, you might not have noticed, but all of us on our team knew she wasn't herself. Do you bring that up to the recruiting coach? Or does that just sound like making excuses? If that was my first exposure to the player, I'd probably just move along to the next prospect based on that performance. With so many good players out there, it feels sometimes like you might only get one shot to make your mark.
 
One of the huge disadvantages to the DA as it relates to college exposure. If you lay and egg, they likely move along. It is not like the ECNL when you know there is another showcase in a few months and/or your team will be playing in surf cup, etc.

Also, since the kids know they only have the one chance to impress the nerves can get to some kids. It is a ton of pressure. Girls play best when they are having fun. Hard to have fun and be stressed out at the same time.
 
push_up said:
One of the huge disadvantages to the DA as it relates to college exposure. If you lay and egg, they likely move along. It is not like the ECNL when you know there is another showcase in a few months and/or your team will be playing in surf cup, etc.

Also, since the kids know they only have the one chance to impress the nerves can get to some kids. It is a ton of pressure. Girls play best when they are having fun. Hard to have fun and be stressed out at the same time.
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There are multiple DA showcases. DA has its own flight at Surf Cup.
 
DA is real soccer because it uses FIFA sub rules (more or less), and college is a dead-end for prospective pro players because they don't, but the DA Showcases are set up as opportunities for college coaches to observe players.

A little bit of DA schizophrenia there????
 
espola said:
DA is real soccer because it uses FIFA sub rules (more or less), and college is a dead-end for prospective pro players because they don't, but the DA Showcases are set up as opportunities for college coaches to observe players.

A little bit of DA schizophrenia there????
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.......the showcases are only scheduled to con (and make $$) koolaid drinking parents (like Mark) into believing the DA cares about college and their kid is being scouted for the national team, unicorns excluded.
 
Mystery Train said:
This question might be better as it's own thread, but there's lots of good advice here so ...

Curious to hear about anyone who had the experience of having college coaches (particularly targeted dream school) show up to your player's game for the first time, only to have said player or team lay an egg. Happened to the best player on our team this weekend in Vegas and she was pretty crushed afterwards. Usually the most dynamic player on the field, but just had one really rough day. Her mom said she'd had a fever when she woke up the morning of the game, but of course, she battled through. If you'd never seen her play, you might not have noticed, but all of us on our team knew she wasn't herself. Do you bring that up to the recruiting coach? Or does that just sound like making excuses? If that was my first exposure to the player, I'd probably just move along to the next prospect based on that performance. With so many good players out there, it feels sometimes like you might only get one shot to make your mark.
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If the performance was poor, it is a setback. Might be wise for the club coach to reach out and follow up, support the player, see what their impressions was (do not assume to know), and then explain the performance, if necessary. The approach may now require them going to the school, and not hoping the coach returns to watch another game. Arrange an informal visit/tour, and find out if they host a clinic the player can attend. Continue to pursue them, if it is important to her.

First impressions are hard to change, and I would expect at least 2-3 great performances are needed to turn it around, so factor that into the recruiting timeline. It may be other schools present themselves before they right the ship with this one.

Personal experience -- if the school will not respond after multiple attempts on their part, it is time to move on. There are a lot of geeat schools and great options, do not get fixated on one.
 
First Impressions can linger, but can easily be overcome. I totally agree with getting the club coach involved. Especially if they already have open dialogue with that particular college coach. It will also give you a better idea of where your DD stands
Example. My DDs linemate at Surf Cup new the coach of her #1 was coming. She saw him before the game and flat out puckered our leading scorer and she flat out had the worst game of her career. No excuses, but the coach had done his diligence, our club coach routinely conversed, and that kid is now a team captain as a junior. Don’t give up on the dream. Coaches like to see kids fight through
 
Mystery Train said:
This question might be better as it's own thread, but there's lots of good advice here so ...

Curious to hear about anyone who had the experience of having college coaches (particularly targeted dream school) show up to your player's game for the first time, only to have said player or team lay an egg. Happened to the best player on our team this weekend in Vegas and she was pretty crushed afterwards. Usually the most dynamic player on the field, but just had one really rough day. Her mom said she'd had a fever when she woke up the morning of the game, but of course, she battled through. If you'd never seen her play, you might not have noticed, but all of us on our team knew she wasn't herself. Do you bring that up to the recruiting coach? Or does that just sound like making excuses? If that was my first exposure to the player, I'd probably just move along to the next prospect based on that performance. With so many good players out there, it feels sometimes like you might only get one shot to make your mark.
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if it's a top choice of her's, she should reach out and send a "Thank you" for coming to see her play. Let said coach know she was coming down with a "bug" and would like said coach to see her again in National Cup. This is also where a good highlight video comes into play....and sometimes, things just happen for a reason, maybe a better school comes along! :D
 
beachbum said:
Fairly opened ended question: Don't know what year your daughter is which is fairly important. The top tier players (national pool players)will be recruited and offered and verbally committed generally 8th grade through 10th grade. The rest will be recruited and offered from 10th grade to senior year with the bulk committing their junior year. So a lot depends on where your DD is currently.
If she is in the first tier, they will start making offers and at some point they will set a timeframe. That time frame will depend on what stage in the process that your are and they are. It will not be open ended as they need to move on to other recruits so they don't lose them. If she is in the second tier you should probably set a timeframe if they haven't already asked that question. Time frame needs to be realistic based on ability and offer expectations. That should help push the offers toward that time frame. Once one offer comes through that generally helps to push the others to make offers if they are truly interested. FYI, don't ever lie about offers as the coaches and clubs talk and will find out. Once and offer comes you can let the others know that she has an offer, be honest but not specific. Hopefully that helps some.
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Anyone have information about the April 26 NCAA meeting with new guidelines for recruitment? It is about to change from what we have been told.
 
push_up said:
.......the showcases are only scheduled to con (and make $$) koolaid drinking parents (like Mark) into believing the DA cares about college and their kid is being scouted for the national team, unicorns excluded.
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You are right, DA doesn't care but the college coaches sure do!
 
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