Time to transfer – Experience to share for first time recruiting

Athletic Recruits
1

<p>Apologies for the long post, but we learned so much from this forum the first time around, thought I would share as we go through round 2!</p>

<p>S is a freshman D1 track athlete and is transferring. The coach did not connect with my S and does not seem to know how to coach him, the longer they worked together the worse S got, very frustrating for both of them. The school is academically challenging, he is doing ok, but just doesn't LOVE the school enough to stay at the expense of his performance. </p>

<p>So what did we learn that I can pass on to others as they make their first selection? </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Worry less about the personality of the coach and more about competence. Current coach is easy going and approachable but unfortunately doesn't have the right experience; we should have asked more specifics about his coaching methodology. </p></li>
<li><p>Keep track of all of your initial options; turn down all offers on a good note. The second and third choices that just didn't seem right at the time will be the first place you start again. </p></li>
<li><p>Explore recruiting options in multiple conferences. While S is not happy with his performance he isn't terrible…his permission to contact prohibits him from talking to anyone in his current conference. Unfortunately one coach that told us to “call if things don’t work out” is in the same conference. Maybe he knew something we didn't…</p></li>
<li><p>Keep in touch with HS or club coach. They are a big help in exploring options when you can’t talk to anyone. The NCAA clearly calls out that even parents are included in the permission to contact restrictions. </p></li>
<li><p>Don’t complain about a one year renewable scholarship if offered. In our case it was a blessing. </p></li>
<li><p>Take a limited number of classes/credits as a freshman athlete but take the RIGHT courses. Fortunately S ignored advice of team academic adviser and took organic and calc. as a freshman. He held his ground and will transfer academically eligible and with the appropriate courses completed for his science major. </p></li>
<li><p>Make sure you like your teammates on the OV. Only thing that is making situation tolerable for S is a good group of people to spend time with, and at most schools your roommate will also be on the same team. Make sure you feel at home.</p></li>
<li><p>If you know you have a bad fit, don’t procrastinate. School took full 14 days to respond to permission to contact request, then asked for more info from S, starting clock again. So took a full month for us to be allowed to contact other schools. We knew he would be transferring by winter break, should have acted then. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Hope this helps others as you make your choices, we never expected a bad fit, but now find ourselves in the recruiting process again!</p>

2

<p>So sorry it didn’t work out for your son but thank you so much for being generous enough to share his experiences. Best of luck to him for the future!</p>

3

<p>This is a great post with lots of useful info. I second much of the info, especially the “don’t burn any bridges”, as in make sure your refusals are polite, and leave the door open “if it doesn’t work out” and looking in more than one conference. Of course, never join a team where you don’t like the players, or enroll at a college only for the athletic experience.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for sharing your experiences and wisdom with the Board. Sorry it didn’t work out, but your son will find a better situation.</p>

5

<p>Yes, thank you for sharing. The balance between school of choice and team of choice is difficult. Good luck to your son on transferring.</p>

<p>I do believe that there are many good fits for student athletes out there, enough that leaving a bad fit should be considered.</p>

6

<p>Happy to report that it looks like S will avoid a collegiate crash & burn with a very good option that has presented itself, interestingly enough, this school was not on our list at the time of HS graduation, but a change in coaching situation has now made it a very good fit. </p>

<p>Transfer recruiting conversations are very different… not vague at all. Coaches told him exactly where he stood and what the offers were. He is picking by coach this time, and has made his choice. The new school has awarded academic money to partially cover his forced redshirt year. So, just like out of HS, recruiting is much easier if academics are a non-issue. </p>

<p>He will spend the summer trying to undo the handiwork of the previous coach, and he is now VERY motivated to show it wasn’t his fault he didn’t do well!</p>

<p>So now that we know where he is going in the fall, we are celebrating again and just had a mini bonfire in the back yard with some of the previous school’s athletic wear and have removed their decals from the car!</p>

7

<p>Congratulations it has all worked out fine. Good luck to your son in his new school.</p>