Dealing with the college athletic recruitment process
The college athletic recruitment process to play a sport in college can be stressful for athletes, especially if they are not one of the few who are highly recruited. For many athletes the process requires them to do a lot of work to try and get the attention of college coaches in the hopes they will decide to offer them a place at their school. So let’s look at some of the ways to help minimize the stress.
Make a plan: It is important to make a plan on how to approach the process. Without a plan it becomes more stressful as you blindly feel your way through the process not knowing if you are doing the right things or not. Having a plan means you take some time to do the research necessary to know what you need to do. This research might include internet searches or talking with someone who helps athletes get recruited. There are people out there who know exactly what someone needs to do in order to get themselves in front of coaches and in a good way.
Focus on what you can control: This is important because there are many things you can not control within the process. From what the scouts/coaches are thinking or deciding to what your own coach might tell them. You need to not worry about what others are saying or doing and focus on what you need to do in the process. Some people will get recruited before you, and if you worry about the fact that you are not recruited when they are then you will not do what is necessary to change it.
Think about what is going to be the right fit: For most athletes growing up and wanting to go to college, they envision themselves playing DI. I don’t think many people envision themselves playing at a lower level, but often this is where one might end up, either by choice or not. It is important to think about what you want out of your college experience. Sometimes an athlete has the ability to go DI but might put themselves in a position where they won’t see much playing time, so it is important to figure out if that is okay for you or if going D3 for example and getting playing time is a better fit for you. You also have to look at the academics of the school, as well as location and weather. These are all factors that are important to take into account when making a decision and looking at where is the best place for you. Ultimately you need to find the right fit to enjoy your time in college, not just the place you think is most prestigious.
For more information or to ask any questions please feel free to contact me.