Is it the HS coach's job?

[National Scouting Report]

From email...

 

just curious, seems to me i've watched some really good ball players over the yrs. but never really got recruited much. i know a athlete should try to sell themselves, but how far will they go without coaches help, be it any division? i mean some coaches go gung ho, but some have laid back attitude or are to busy.

[National Scouting Report]

Can't tell you how many times I have had the conversation about "is it the coaches job?" with people. Question - How many college coaches do you think a typical HS coach knows? Maybe 10?

 

The coaches "help" should be in providing an accurate and honest assessment of the kids ability; it should not (IMO) be to promote the kid to hundreds of colleges - he/she doesn't have the time or money to do that. THAT should be the job of the student-athlete and his/her family, in conjunction with a reputable scouting service IF THEY SO DESIRE.

 

When the student-athlete does contact colleges, he/she MUST include their HS/CLUB coach name and phone number (and an evaluation if at all possible), so that college coaches can call them if they wish. Then, it SHOULD BE the HS coach's job to respond to those college coaches who ask.

 

Additional comments welcome.

[Shoot the 3]

NSR,

 

As a former small college coach, I can tell you that most college coaches perfer to deal with the H.S. coach rather than a parent or player. H.S. coaches are the bloodline for college coaches. Plus, a H.S. coach usually has a better feel for the level of play without the biased opinion that most parents have.

 

As a current H.S. coach, I can tell you that I feel obligated to help a student athlete find the best place to take their talents to the next level. There are many, many colleges out there! If a kid wants to play at the next level bad enough, there is usually a place for him or her. It may be out of state or expensive, but the opportunity is usually there.

 

I know that many H.S. coaches feel differently about this subject, but this is my opinion, for what its worth.

[National Scouting Report]

Shoot the 3-

 

I appreciate the opinion, and I agree with you that colleges would prefer to speak with HS/Club coaches rather than parents. I was trying to establish that qualified HS student-athletes should not just sit idly at home waiting for their HS/Club coach to initiate contact and interest with colleges, because their HS/Club coach may not be able to contact as many colleges as necessary, even if the coach is extremely helpful in trying.

 

Like you said, there are a lot of options - more than 1,000 4-year colleges offering most sports. If a kid has division of college flexibility and the willingness to consider traveling to go to school, there is likely a school out there for them. But what if that college is not one where the HS coach knows someone?

 

That's my point - I think a proactive student-athlete can - either by himself/herself or with the help of a credible scouting service - can get their name out there to MORE colleges, creating MORE opportunities. Once the college coach finds out about the student-athlete, they will likely call the HS/Club coach (in which case I DO consider it the coaches' job to be responsive and HONEST with the college coach) or certainly request video footage.

 

Even though it wasn't the case with this particular instance, many times the "is it the HS coach's job?" question is asked because people wonder why they should ever use a scouting service, thinking, "that's the HS coach's job, isn't it?" But a properly run service can open a lot of doors for kids. Almost all of the HS coaches whose kids I have helped agree that I do a pretty good job, as do college coaches (see the testimonials page on my website), which is why I sometimes take exception to the question that started this thread!

 

Did you ever use a scouting service when you coached in college?

[Shoot the 3]

NSR

 

I never did use a scouting service as a college coach because of the situations at the school I was coaching at. Such as scholorship money, location, and in state money that kids could qualify for. I know that they can be very beneficial to both the student athletes, and the college coaches.

 

Unfortunately, any parents and athletes do not know how the whole recruiting process works.

 

Having gone through the whole process as a player, college coach, and now as a H.S. coach, plus with my connections, Ive even thought of starting my own service, but havent acted upon it.

[National Scouting Report]

Don't start another one. Partner with me. Check your PM mailbox.

[BareRock]

should consult with the players high school coach and college counseler before finalizing a deal with someone. After a down payment is made , they should check with the players coaches to create a snap shot of what direction the kid is headed and what needs to be done to go where he /she wants to go.If the high school coach is 'too busy' , then get out there and time the kid and watch him work out yourself.

Some (many) high school coaches do not want to give you any game film. That really hurts when colleges ask for it. Our coaches told us that college coaches just throw high school game film away, so don't ask...........a recruiting service can't help you much without help from the players high school , and if they aren't going to help you , then the scouting service either needs to work a little more , or just stop charging $$$$$$$$:irked:

[National Scouting Report]

BareRock-

 

Right on the money. That's the kind of feedback I like to see, so thank you.

 

One comment about your video feedback. It is very often the "unsolicited" video that gets thrown away by college coaches, that is why my goal is to FIRST create interest in the student-athlete to the point where the college coach asks for video footage, in which case he/she is a LOT more likely to watch it.

 

Thanks again.

[tcat25]

Should a high school player try and promote themselves by sending colleges films of them or clippings or should they let their high school coach and the colleges do the work?

[National Scouting Report]

tcat25-

 

The answer to the second part of your question is contained within this thread. In a nutshell, if you rely ONLY on your HS coach, I think you will have limited options. And that is NOT a knock against HS coaches. They generally just don't know a whole lot of college coaches. Even if they know 20, would you rather take a shot at 20 schools, or 300?

 

I don't feel UNSOLICITED video is the right approach. Too many times, it will not get looked at. I would encourage you to first contact as many college coaches as possible - for the division of competition you qualify for - to let them know who you are. If they are interested to the point where they want to see video, they will ask for it. Then, it will get viewed.

 

Good luck.

[ZinMaster]

I think that sites like this one, as well as creative marketing by the Player's family and coaches would help.

[BareRock]

well then , I guess my son got screwed. Ohio St. , Oklahoma , Auburn ,illinois and Mich St. ALL requested film, and I couldn't send them any.

[National Scouting Report]

BR-

 

WHY couldn't you send them any game footage?

 

Or was your post a joke that I didn't get?

[THE COACH]

As a high school coach I think it's the coach's responsibility to create a competitive environment for his or her team and help the kids that can possibly compete at the next level get exposure. In the mountains it may mean competing with larger schools in L-ville, Lex or N. KY or against schools that are top's in the state. I remember when Paintsville won the B-ball state, at least 6 kids off that team went on to play either B-ball, Football or baseball at I-A schools. THis from a school with 200-300 kids. They got the state wide exposure by competing and winning against the best in KY. I've got a kid on my team that can compete against the best in KY and if he continues to get the exposure and experience of competing against the best in KY, he will probably have colleges looking at him.

[BareRock]

I am not joking. They had a meeting bfore their senior season and the coach said that no game film was allowed for anyone and that college coaches just throw them away or use them for their own use.

My son really did recieve those letters from those colleges , plus oodles of others, but was never allowed to have film. He wound up taking a cheesey baseball 'oppotunity' that turned out to be a sham.