The College Recruiting Process. When should you begin to look at the playing athletics in college ? This is a question that gets thrown around so much because everyone is different and every athlete has their own unique, individual process they will go through. I always like to get my athletes started early if possible. If possible means in speaking to the family and athlete they fully are committed that their son or daughter is going to do the necessary things throughout the process that we consult and talk about. The athlete has to be at an advanced or high level early in their process and willing to put in all the work to continue to get better physically, mentally and knowledge wise in the sport they are trying to get recruited in. What is that age to start early ? I usually will say either 8th or 9th grade if they have the physical tools or an extremely mature mental game for their age. The reason I like to start at that age is by me marketing and recommending you at this age, college coaches have a starting point early to put you on the radar. This starting point is the beginning of the story we want to build to colleges on your behalf. Coaches can see your progress through updates which my company and I send out and also from communications that you are allowed to send to coaches on your own behalf. If you or your parents are qualifying yourself as a D1 athlete, the earlier the better. So many D1 offers are made by kids that coaches have known about since an early age and have attended their college camp or a combine that they use to evaluate your individual ability against other quality ability from the region or around the country. It is my belief that kids below the ages of 14 and their parents are wasting tons of money and doing a disservice by travelling all over the country because they believe that a coach will just see their son or daughter and the offer will come. Very few colleges are actively out there watching 8-12 year old kids who do not have the mental capability to comprehend the whole recruiting process and still have 6 years to go at least until stepping on college campus. a big part of my job is getting my athletes to the camps and combines that are right for them for the level and type of school that will fit their abilities and academic needs. My clients (99%) will usually start to attend college camps when they are in their HS years, depending on the age and grade I sign them for services.
So, this being said, yes I like to get kids as early as possible cause this helps for D2, D3, NAIA and JUCO as well. Seeing the progress you make determines the ability level and level you physically can play at for college athletics. So, I often will tell my clients who inquire with me that I first want to speak to their son or daughter and ask them a series of questions getting to know them and also letting me know where I think their head is concerning their wants and needs.
Any comments, questions or ideas are always welcome. This Blog is designed to be able to share and discuss Athletic Recruiting, what I do and what I need my clients to do as we go through - The Process.
Coach Tom Davis
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