<p>That is a very good point. For us, it was the combination…one of the very best liberal arts schools in the country, and the sense that the coaches really wanted my son to play. Like you, there was a coach (D1AA) who showed up at my kids games and practices, but he told him he was a scholarship candidate until near the end of the season, then a preferred walkon…and this turned my kid off. Honesty is always appreciated. You are absolutely right in the end, you want your kid at a great school with their area of interest…it is just there really are a lot of great schools out there.</p>
<p>In college recruiting an athlete can error by contacting too few schools but is difficult to error by contacting too many schools. Often a club or high school coach who gives an objective evaluation of an athlete can offer useful advice when deciding which schools to contact.</p>
<p>My opinion is that competing in regional and national meets is one of the best ways for an athlete to help their college recruitment. At national meets it is often possible to for a junior in high school (or younger) to compete directly against a senior recruit while being observed by the college coach.</p>
<p>Swimkidsdad, you are right on target. As long as it is fun for the kids, as many of these meets as you can afford and that the kid still enjoys. It is amazing how these meets change the playing field!</p>