<p>Any football parents who did NESCAC, Patriot, Ivy or Colonial camps in post junior year June and July want to share how the camps shook out their expectations in terms of who was actually interested in your player? </p>
<p>Did in person contact with coaches at combine camps make a difference, or was it more attending individual college camps? Was there a difference between coaches asking for a player's contact info during camp or your player going up to a coach after camp?</p>
<p>Have to say I Noticed at a recent major clinic that some of the "attending coaches" more or less hung out the later half of the day and shot the s*** among themselves. One coach actually told me that they didn't even expect to have anyone interested in talking to them considering they were already at X great school's camp. But they fleshed out the coach panel a little.</p>
<p>Would welcome sharing of any experiences. Thank you!</p>
<p>We did 3 Patriot league camps at their request this summer. Still have one more to do. At most of them the coaches did talk to us since they were actively recruiting my son. After some camps we did receive e-mails from other team coaches that were at the camp and would like us to consider their school. </p>
<p>We also attended 2 D1 major camps and the coaches were teaching but they had no interest at any of the boys that were attending. I think most D1 colleges have already decided on their 2014 recruits.</p>
<p>Thank you! It seems like from talking to most parents, by the time you figure out what’s going on, you are already done. My ds talked to one boy who already had two patriot offers and I think it freaked him out.</p>
<p>Hi everyone, I have been on cc before for my older k1 though she was not an athlete and it was obviously a much different process. I figured I would make a new ID and start fresh for K2, who is a rising senior looking at a lot of northeast schools for football. We are not looking at big D1 football because of size and because he is just not from that kind of HS program.</p>
<p>We have been to about six camps and junior days so far. If I had known more about junior days I probably would have used those days for camps instead. One of the Ivy junior days we attended for an Ivy had around 900 kids in attendance and it was not useful at all as a means of getting to know the coaches.</p>
<p>On the other hand with two smaller colleges high on K2’s list with only about 30 kids each, it was a completely opposite experience and now the coaches from both those schools have been paying specific close attention to K2 at the camps those coaches have been at. In fact, both those schools told us afterward they called back to the head coach during camp on K2’s progress. </p>
<p>One thing we seem to have learned is that with so many players they can now have access to with databases and video, one of the best recruiting tools is for the player to identify schools they really like early on, and be able to articulate why they like that school. Not just because it’s a “good school.” coaches seem to want to know who is truly interested in them above all. It’s kind of awkward when your player goes up to a coach and the coach asks what they can tell you about their school and you don’t have a question or two ready. One kid we overheard did not even know how to pronounce Bowdoin. </p>
<p>As for coaches talking to players, I know K2 felt bad in one case when he had planned to speak to five specific coaches yet another coach out of the blue who has been emailing heavily went right after him at camp. It is just not a school K2 is interested in for several reasons but K2 was unprepared to figure out how to articulate this and it was awkward. In retrospect K2 thinks he should have been more welcoming of the coach’s interest at the camp and then indicate the school was probably not a good fit after all within the next week or two.</p>
<p>I was reading the other thread on scores and grades and other information. Right now all the coaches want whatever you have. We emailed transcript scans and scans of score report printouts to about all ten colleges on our list as soon as the June ACT came in. Be ready with any of that stuff to either email on the spot at camp from your phone or iPad or whatever or be able to hand it over in paper form. They all want that stuff right at this moment.</p>
<p>Meow1985, welcome (back?)! This was a very helpful post! We are in the same position and I am going to try to come up with some of the stuff I have seen at camps so far, we will be done at the end of this next week.</p>
<p>It’s interesting…my son went to a slew of camps last year, too many in hindsight, but of the five D3/NESCEC schools that followed him most closely, only 2 ever saw him play live.</p>
<p>I was sidetracked by a few other posts but actually had logged in to update this thread.</p>
<p>NE Elite was the camp that made the biggest difference I was able to see in terms of recruiting interest. They had provided all the coaches with printouts of SATS and GPAS and I could see coaches with rosters that had lots of names crossed through. They had other rosters with names and jersey numbers and with my iPad, by the end, I could see the position coaches for various schools watching the competitions with their potential kids. (Meaning, I used my iPad to look up football coach staff and could match them by their pictures to which groups they were looking at.)</p>
<p>Maybe in a year I’ll be bold enough to recall some of the more extraordinary encounters I had with crazy football parents. Right now I just need to keep putting on the aloe because I am crisped to a burn. :)</p>
<p>Was it obvious to the players if they were being watched. My S said he was too busy to really notice or just doesn’t want to say. He had 5 coaches interact with him with 2 being the most assertive about him visiting their school. Another school not on his radar, took down his scores (they were not available at the time of registration) but, said nothing else.</p>
<p>Based on the email interaction he has received from coaches, I expected a few more to reach out. He got a call the last day from one of the coaches asking him to switch his visit day but, that coach never caught up with him at camp. </p>
<p>The 2 schools I mentioned seem to be at the stage of just selling him on their school and would really like him. So, I suppose I should be happy. But, with a kid that doesn’t know what he wants to major in, I was hoping for more options/interest. Perhaps it could still come?</p>
<p>I can’t speak for everyone but I know my son was acutely aware of one coach who was watching him in a drill where he didn’t do as well as he thought he should have and when he did not end up speaking to the coach that day, he had all sorts of thoughts running through his head back at the hotel. He was sure the coach had lost interest. Then, the last day on the showcase while the same coach was watching he won his position drill competition outright. I have never seen a kid so happy.</p>
<p>I think the boys do notice. I know the boys cautiously trade stats and tentatively sometimes share with each other which coaches they are talking to. I think it’s hard not to try to want to read into what the coaches are saying or doing or who they seem to be looking at, but I did learn from the one day to the next not to hang your hat too hard on what you think you are seeing. There were just way too many kids at that camp to come to any immediate conclusions on either side.</p>
<p>He says he has heard by email from 3 schools since camp, one of the schools had a coach who ran the 30 minute “games” for his team. It was a personal email and the coach said he hoped our son would put his school on our list and that he “liked his feet.” The others are just invitations to clinics but mentioned they had seen him at Elite.</p>
<p>I am trying not to read too much into not hearing much further over a major holiday weekend.</p>
<p>I’m going to bump this thread back up because we are at our last camp and I am hoping for some advice from other parents on “NESCAC” speak and what is supposed to be going on right now. At this point our player has been overtly offered at least one “slot” spot, and has been asked by two other schools to come for overnights. He has single campus clinic invitations to about 5 other schools and all of the above schools have sent large envelopes of materials. </p>
<p>He has a clear first choice and probably a clear 2nd choice among the three schools. They all have all his information (as was recommended here! thanks!) and the 1st choice school just pulled him aside and asked him if he was seriously interested in attending their school. Son said “absolutely I would love to go to your school.” And they apparently said “great because we would like to “go” on you.”</p>
<p>Any parents know what happens at this point? Do we sit and wait to be contacted again after camps sift out? Should we be continuing to attend clinics at all the schools who have shown interest? Does that look bad to the 1st choice school? Or is it expected?</p>
<p>When does one “commit” to a NESCAC, and if you do, is it true you really can’t feel safe until December?</p>
<p>I was a NESCAC recruit but it wasn’t for football; it was for track. I didn’t attend any camps or anything like that because track is more of a numbers based system. The coach didn’t really keep contact with me until after I had applied early decision to another school. I was getting recruited by three other schools (a mix of D1 and D3), and I tried calling the coach before I had even applied early decision to another school and he didn’t even answer. Then, out of the blue he called me in the middle of December but by that time it was too late. As far as feeling safe, I wouldn’t feel safe until you have the acceptance in your hands. Some of my friends got recruited by NESCAC schools, the coach assured them they would get in, they applied early, and they ended up getting rejected.</p>
<p>This is the part that’s freaking me out. It didn’t help that I just re-read the thread on why never to trust a coach. It’s making me 2nd guess even the “good news” that we’ve heard so far with schools that seem to be interested. Are they really? Or are they just saying what they’re saying to everyone? I’m talking to other parents at this camp today and mentioned that son liked this one school and someone told me that coach was the hardest working recruiter around - he’s talking to “EVERYONE” - which made my stomach go into knots.</p>
<p>Fortunately son is just having a good time doing what he does best and none of this seems to bother him, but I don’t know if my nerves are going to last through December. How did the rest of you do it?</p>
<p>This is a game, unfortunately, that involves your child. You have to exhibit exquisite patience and yet be extremely saavy in your decisions as well. You are right to be nervous. We were fortunate that it all worked out well for our child, but it does take some patience. There are a lot of highs and lows in the process.</p>
<p>My advice would be to continue to explore all options, take all phone calls, and go to all clinics/camps. Continue to email coaches, casting a wide net. Your son is never secure until the letter is in your hand. The coach that is super excited about your son is just one hot prospect away from dropping your son down in the recruting ranks a notch. Going to other camps and clinics will enable him to be seen by a lot of other coaches–who might have just lost their top prospect (to another school, to academic ineligibility, due to lack of interest from the athlete) and your son may become number one in their eyes. Its a dance–who is the best partner for your son academically and athletically and who sees your son as their best fit. Think musical chairs–you want to have the best chair possible when the music stops–the best chair should be the best fit academically (first) and athletically (second). Oh, and by the way, the chair needs to be suitable financially as well. Best of luck. There are two happy days in the recruiting process. The first of July, and the day your child signs a NLI/receives a likely letter/gets an acceptance.</p>
<p>ChicagoMama~ It’s great that he has one NESCAC slot offer already, but if your son prefers another school and that coach has expressed a desire to “go on” him… your son should seize the opportunity to ask exactly what that means; is he being offered a slot…and if so…what is expected of him in return?</p>
<p>My son received a first offer offer after camps and that school’s specific day camp. Then he tried to leverage that position by going to another coach to flush him out on where he stood. That school was too big of an academic reach for my guy, but he was able to ponder the eventual 3 slot offers he did get by fall… and he eventually committed to applying ED1 to his first choice by 10/1 of Senior year.</p>
<p>Mary, thank you for that excellent advice … One school was extremely specific. They said, “we want you, whatever you want to do, we want to give you a spot (interestingly, I remember “spot” not “slot”), if you want to go ED1, ED2. We can get you in.” </p>
<p>As for the other one, I totally wish he had asked what “go” means but I was not there. Son said they said they would “get the ball rolling on him.” Trust me, I will be thrilled to share what all this turns out to mean as we go along! :)</p>
<p>There will be opportunity for your son to have that conversation, as the coach is likely to make several follow up calls before his Senior season begins. </p>
<p>With the kind of enthusiastic feedback he’s received at this stage of the game, it’s okay for him to ask the coach to specify whether he will be supporting him in admissions with a slot/spot, and whether such a commitment will require him to apply ED1 or EDII. </p>
<p>IMO, if a football coach hesitates to those types of questions by the time September rolls around… your student athlete is either not one of his top athletic prospects, or the Admissions Committee has voiced concerns about admissibility with the pre-read. </p>
<p>Pending offers may be contingent upon improving a subsequent round of testing in the fall… and/or sustained high grades through the first marking period of Senior year. If a coach really wants a top athletic recruit who is in a lower academic band… he will likely relay such concerns so the kid has a chance to make adjustments and meet the objectives.</p>
<p>I just re-read my response, above…and wanted to clarify:</p>
<p>I’m not suggesting if a football recruit doesn’t get a slot offer by Labor Day, his chances are not good. But if a coach is still evasive to direct questions concerning a student athlete’s candidacy at that juncture… I would suggest the recruit move on down his list of schools, and redirect efforts to his other options. Don’t give up - but be realistic, and proactive.</p>
<p>I suspect all NESCAC coaches hold roster spots open until November…waiting for fallout from the Ivy hopefuls they had courted through summer… the kids who aren’t as big or as fast, and wind up not getting a LL after 10/1. </p>
<p>Other recruits may wind up being admitted on their own merits, (or as a legacy or minority - whatever criteria the Ad Com for each school considers for the general population of applicants) without full coach support. Those student athletes may wind up on a “wish list” …Vs. a “must have” list of slotted candidates… and both lists wind up on the table for negotiations with Ad Com.</p>
<p>This is a great thread! Watching this and keeping notes on what I can share from our experiences. Right now our player is on the road with Dad and so I am in the dark this weekend (my kid is maybe the one teen who doesn’t text 24/7, or maybe it’s just me) but whatever I can get, I will pass on if it can be useful.</p>
<p>Mary, love your advice, and Chicagomama, thank you for sharing what is happening with you and hope your son’s camp went well - we did not do the Penn camp. If I have time I will try to PM you!</p>
<p>Camps are not yet done! Son (O-Lineman) has 6 down, 1 to go (an Ivy). Been to several Ivies and a Patriot. Did NE Elite last year, but skipped it this year. Interesting experience to say the least. Among the observations:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Some schools seem to go out of their way to provide reps for the taller O-Linemen - even if their feet and skill level are not great. Others are more forgiving, although it’s clear they all pay more attention to the kids over 6 feet 2.</p></li>
<li><p>Only one school, Harvard, tried to differentiate kids by SATs/grades. They asked each player his SATs and UW GPA and based on the response, you got a blue, green or red band. The blues were the higher bands apparently, as there were fewer of those at the camp, and red was the most common. At the other camps, you had no way of knowing. As boys do, there was much talk about test scores, and SATs above 2000 were scarce; most boys - even at the IVY camps, were between 1700 and 1900. </p></li>
<li><p>NESCACs have been very interested; perhaps because S has visited most of them in person already during spring break and last summer, and had already sent his junior film/test scores/grades earlier in the year. They all have been at the IVY camps, and so have finally eyeballed him as a player. While they all have extended invitations to attend their minicamps, most have told him not to worry (we live in the DC area so it’s a haul back and forth to NE), but they want him to visit for an overnight in the fall. We have not heard the term “slot” used yet, although one did call him last week to tell him that they wanted to do a pre-read with admissions this month (want final junior transcript, official test scores, senior schedule). Caution abounds obviously as my understanding from reading these boards and reading elsewhere is that admissions at NESCACs have more sway than even the Ivies for recruited athletes. </p></li>
<li><p>S is lucky to have one Div 1 offer at a non-Ivy high academic school. Virtually every fellow linemen he has spoken to at the camps don’t have any yet. I suspect it’s more a function of the vagaries of mixing and matching the IVY and NESCAC recuiting process with the academic standards required of those schools, than anything else. Unlike the major Div I programs, these schools have to pay far more attention to the grades/test scores part of the equation, and therefore can’t throw offers around much earlier than the fall of senior year. Until the Ivy targets are identified and determined to be an academic fit for admissions purposes, it’s tough for the NESCAC chips to fall into place. In any event, I suspect not much will happen until after 9/1 when the Ivy and Patriot coaches can start calling recruits again. </p></li>
<li><p>Every camp had between 15-30 O Linemen. We kept seeing many of the same kids again and again. I bet there are not more than 100 linemen in the entire country who are looking at these schools. Let’s hope each finds a suitable school, and unique learning environment just for him.</p></li>
</ol>