As we have mentioned in previous blog entries, recruiting and ultimate decision of your collegiate choice is an ongoing process. One question that is often asked is how do I tell how my recruiting is going.
For starters, the answers are obviously different depending on what class you are. There are limitations on the younger classes regarding what college coaches may or may not do. Most of the items we will list apply to Seniors, some may apply to the other classes based on the recruiting rules for that class.
Another factor is the level of college that is recruiting you. We are still receiving phone calls from colleges looking for players in the 2009 class. Those colleges begin in the next few weeks, their recruiting concerns obviously aren't on younger classes yet.
The website Recruiting-101.com had a recent article regarding the levels of athletic recruiting interest. Their site covers both football and basketball recruiting so some of the items listed don't necessarily apply to basketball recruiting. In addition there are a couple of steps that they didn't list.
Here is our revised list in reverse order of importance:
The cold zone/Basic interest
Camp Invite via email/ mail - See article for description.
Questionnaires - Always respond and complete questionnaires. See article for description.
Form Letters / Emails - See article for description.
If you are receving information in the cold zone, it means you are in their database and the secretarial staff is performing the tasks.
Warming up/The school is at least somewhat interested
Personalized Letters/ Emails - Receiving hand written letters or emails from college coaches means that they are serious enough about you to spend enough attention to write out what should be a personalized note.
Requesting Game Film - Those coaches that have not had the opportunity to evaluate you in a live setting my request game film. They want to see actual game films, not a highlight reel. Also do NOT send Game Films or highlight videos without them being requested by the college.
Unofficial Visits - Unoffical visits are arranged by the players to come to the college campus and meet the coaches. The players pay the expenses of making the unofficial visit. When on the college campus most of the restrictions coaches have regarding contact are no longer in play. They can talk to players and parents while on campus. Make sure there is some basic interest from the school before arranging an unofficial visit.
Phone Calls - This gives you as a player a chance to learn more about the coach and their program. This gives the coach a chance to learn more about you as a person and not just an athlete. Athletes that are being seriously recruited by a school will receive a call during the open periods. Keep in mind that there are limitations on the colleges as to how many calls they can make, you may call them at anytime or age.
Live Evaluations/ School Visits/ Open Gym/ Attending games - Coaches have a limited number of recruiting evaluations per player. Coaches watching you live in open gyms or games is a good thing. NCAA coaches may only evaluate you in an open gym held at your school.
If recruiting is warming up then the attention comes from the college coaches themselves and not the secretarial staff. The more attention you receive and the higher the level of coach giving it is a good indicator.
On fire/Things are going very good in recruiting
In Home Visits - These are visits set up for the college coaches to come to your home and visit with you, your parents and family.
Official Visits - Official visits are paid for by the college recruiting you. There are limitations on the number of visits the player make take (5 at NCAA d-I/II level) and limitations on the college as to how many players may visit the school.
Verbal Scholarship Offers - What you want to receive but here is a word of warning. Many coaches may make more scholarship offers than the number of scholarships they actually have. Depending on the integrity of the coach and college involved the validity of a verbal scholarship offer may not be as valid as you may think. Colleges may deadline you or make multiple offers of the same scholarship to multiple players.
Written Scholarship Offer - Like anything it is probably better to get it in writing than to rely on the integrity of the coaches involved.
Signed Letters of intent - Signing of the formal paperwork specifying that you will be attending the school and what you will be receiving from them. There are certain times and deadlines as to when you may sign the actual letter of intent. Keep in mind that the signed letter of intent is only binding for the recruiting level (NCAA,NAIA, JC, etc.) that you are signing with.
It is the dream of any athlete and shows that the time and effort you have put in over the past years of your life has paid off. But it is important to realize that the hard work is only beginning if you are planning to play sports at the scholarship level.
