I play two sports in high school: football and track. I like them both and excel at both. I am wondering if there’s any problems with contacting coaches for both to see about recruitment, namely when it’s for the same college.
At any point, am I to tell the other that I’m in talks? Does it not matter if at one college one of the coaches isn’t too interested? Only if I’m fortunate that both coaches are interested?
I don’t see any problem with contacting coaches in both. There are a lot of people who do both in high school and even some (though a much smaller number) who do both in college.
If you’re talking to D1 scholarship schools, there’s a lot more money in football - 85 full scholarships versus the equivalent of 12 in men’s track. Coaches split up track scholarships and full rides tend to be for top stars only. The same principle (more slots for football than track) also applies in schools that don’t have athletic scholarships, such as Ivy League schools. So just numerically, there are more opportunities in football . . . just something to be aware of.
@bluewater2015 Thanks for the support. Yea I know there’s more opportunities scholarship with football. I guess one concern I had was that it looks disloyal or that maybe I’m playing one coach against the other. Should I not have those concerns?
Incidently, one coach I emailed for track actually suggested on his own accord that I could do both football and track at his college. I had mentioned my athletic background to him and hadn’t even thought to ask about doing both. He told me most colleges make you choose, but his college the football and track coaches have a great relationship and there’s a few guys on the team in both. I had assumed it wouldn’t even be a possibility
I think it’s fine to go through the recruiting process for both and I’ve seen athletes do that. Obviously how good you are in each should affect the emphasis on one relative to the other. If you’re much better in track for example, you may get better opportunities there even though in terms of total numbers there are a lot more opportunities in football.
In terms of actually playing both in college - which isn’t typical, but some do it - I think the football coaching staff’s view at a particular school is going to be important, as just given the numbers there will likely be more football recruits that could also go out for track, than vice versa.
USC for example has a history of football players also doing track, including one of their current defensive backs who is also the Pac 12 long jump champion and placed at the NCAA championships. I imagine there are football programs that are less supportive of multi-sport athletes though.
Back in the bad old days at UMiami, when the football team had many scholarships taken away because of rules violations, several of the players were on track scholarships. The coach was staying well within the rules and said he would only allow it if they were truly track athletes first - and they were! I think one or two were even on the Olympic track team.
At my daughter’s school, the lacrosse team was new and the coach poached a few players from the soccer team. Three of those players like lacrosse so much they are sticking with it this year too. They can accept scholarships from both teams. If you are interested in D2, you could get scholarships from both teams too.
In D1, only one scholarship from one team is permitted. NCAA sets forth the hierarchy of which team the athlete “counts” toward. Here is an excellent explanation:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tam/genrel/auto_pdf/comp101-4-multi-sport-sas.pdf
I know of two athletes that are currently doing this. Both have school funded by football, not track. One is a thrower/linemen, the second is a sprinter/receiver. During hs recruiting they started with the football coaches and then told them they wanted to continue with track. Both eventually found a fit, but lots of schools told them no. The thrower ended up at a service academy and the sprinter chose a D2 football program where he was actually overqualified as a football recruit but they were so excited to have him attend they agreed to make both sports work.
I think you want football to provide the scholarship if possible, first there is more money available to offer and second if you were to get hurt playing football they will typically honor your scholarship since injuries are the norm. Whereas track might cut you and/or your money if you get hurt playing football.
If you are not in need of athletic scholarships, 2-sport athletes are more common at D3 schools. I think as you are up-front with coaches it should not be a problem to try for recruitment in both sports.
The Football/Track combo is not that unusual, there are 2 guys at my D’s mid-level D1 track program. Pretty common to see RBs and WRs who also sprint or hurdle, and Linemen who throw. Unless you are a national contender in Track I would pursue the Football more aggressively than Track, but let the football coaches know you are interested in Track also. Most will probably be receptive but will want football to come first. Some may not be as receptive and then you may have to make a decision.
Have also seen a few football guys move to track because of injuries or things not working out in football.