<p>I just want to say, after going through the recruiting process, recruiting services are unnecessary. You should contact the coach directly if you want to have a chance at being recruited. I remember talking to a few coaches who recruited me which ranged from D1 and D3 schools, and they told me that they rarely use those websites. I'm not trying to bash the people who do use them, I'm just saying you don't need to.</p>
<p>I agree. They will be happy to take your money and have sales pitches that border on timeshare intensity, but in the end all our coach interest has been through personal emails to the programs themselves. Worst thing I heard is that some coaches dislike these services so much that they will actually make a mental tick AGAINST a player and family for using one, and I know one family whose high school coach actually ordered her to scrub all her information from the service’s site before it could hurt her.</p>
<p>I’m not here to defend recruiting services as I agree most people don’t need them. I’ve always thought this isn’t something that can be outsourced as nobody is going to work harder for your kid, than the kid himself and family.</p>
<p>For the select few that do, I would gravitate to the organizations that take a very personal approach and focus primarily on the academics first. IMHO the best athletic recruiters will focus the athlete on their grades. I know someone who takes this approach, and she has been very successful at starting her business with this model. She takes the approach of super guidance councelor and recruiting service.</p>
<p>There are some aggressive recruiting services out there that prey on parent’s fears that unless they are connected, their kid will get overlooked. ‘…after all, what’s a couple thousand bucks if it results in a full ride scholarship?’</p>
<p>I asked a coach what he thought about these services and he said it’s actually kind of a turn off - he said he’d prefer to spend his energy recruiting a kid who has shown a specific interest in his program, not one who is being mass-marketed</p>
<p>Naturally, we’ve been down this road before and have covered the same territory. But, what the heck, I haven’t posted anything this morning so might as well throw in my two cents.</p>
<p>Disclosure #1: My family is (currently) not using any recruiting services (other than the free very well known athlete profile web page).
Disclosure #2: I am not affiliated with and have no associations whatsoever with any recruiting companies.</p>
<p>That said – and understanding that coaches generally loathe them – I can see some value in certain situations.</p>
<p>Yes, I believe it would be a turn-off if the student was “marketed” and yes, the coaches want to communicate with the student directly.</p>
<p>But these companies might be of assistance “behind the scenes,” especially for families that are completely unaware of the terrain or who don’t have the time necessary to do all of the necessary research. <cough></p>
<p>These companies might be able, for example, to give advice on what schools to target, or give advice on writing, or advice on putting a video segment together, etc.</p>
<p>Whether it is worth the money they charge, or not, I can’t say. That has to be determined by each family individually.</p>
<p>As I said, we’ve been down this road before here. Good luck to all.</p>
<p>In my son’s sport “golf” there is a guy who works individually to help kids get recruited. He used to be a college coach and he is well connected. We did not use him but I know of a kid who was from Cal. who did, he ended up at a great program in Texas where he has become a standout player. I remember him saying in high school he would never have been recruited by this school if it had not been for the guy who helped him. This is not necessarily a “service” that mass markets but it was an interesting way to go about it and for this particular kid it worked out great.<br>
However this guy also spent time with the player and family and would make sure the kids he was helping would be good fits for the programs he was approaching on behalf of the players.</p>
<p>I paid for an account on a site that cost $65. It gives my son a profile where he lists his achievements, GPA, etc. and a link to the film that can be seen by coaches. When he has gotten hand written letters from people that have seen his film (not sent by him), we know where they found it. It has been useful and I will renew again for his senior year.</p>
<p>Some colleges event let it be known on the site that they have looked him. Many colleges have accounts. It got us started with our first school visit. My son heard about it and said he wanted to try it. I figured it would be fun adventure and made it a Christmas present. </p>
<p>I was also contacted by phone by one of those recruiting services. I researched it and never returned the call. Somehow I get their emails that contain some good tips but are centered mostly on D1 athletes. I think a parent that is willing to spend the time looking into recruiting as part of the college search process can do just as much if not more. As has been stated here on CC many times, its an individual process.</p>