Worst Advice Ever....

<p>I definitely think there is some good “bad” advice, but some of it also depends on the situation. Our D was not “recruited” to the school she wanted to attend. But she did go and talk to the coach about playing once she was accepted. The coach told her that if she came to the team camp in July she’d give her an honest read. She’s on the team.</p>

<p>Son was told to go to camps at schools where he wanted to be recruited the summer before junior year. While i think that timetable has actually moved up to sophomore year, even with club and summer travel teams, he would have never been on their radar had he not gone. Added bonus, living on the campus even for even a short moment gives you a chance to really see the school.</p>

<p>But some really bad advice S and D both heard (and immediately dismissed since we had always said the opposite): You should want to go to the school who wants you. Team above all else. And that’s the biggest bunch of crock you’ll ever hear. Both of my kids picked schools and THEN hoped they could play. Other kids who left their comfort zone and fits for schools just to play almost always either ended up quitting, transferring or both!</p>

<p>^^Kind of harsh on what some people feel is important. I completely think going where you are wanted is a key to many in their sport. Obviously it depends on the sport, but in my sons which is an individual/non revenue sport it definitely matters. I am not saying that that should be the only focus, but if the school is a good fit, location, academic etc. then an athlete is far better off going where they are wanted than hoping to get on the team.</p>

<p>Just because a top program contacts you, doesn’t necessarily mean they are seriously interested in you.</p>

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<p>I’m confused. So, are you suggesting the best advise for recruits is to go where they are not wanted? Please explain your point. Are you advocating walking-on for athletes that otherwise could be recruited? I think people end up transferring/quitting because they end up in a situation they did not forsee (ie…playing time, they misread the required talent, they find other interests or better use of their time. </p>

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<p>I agree. I put the burden of responsibility squarely on the recruit to make sure their fit is comfortable in every way possible beyond athletics. Having a good idea of what to expect for playing time, and time committment with respect to an athletes major is an absolute a must. Give the Coach the benefit of the doubt, but verify everything he tells you.</p>

<p>Examples to support Modadunn (#21) - Pick the school, first, then try and fit the sport.
Three of my daughter’s close friends (club teammates) all chose the best team dynamic.
In all three of these cases, the coach was fired between NLI and start of their freshman year. The team dynamic changed dramatically. One transferred, the other two quit the sport.<br>
No, it is not easy with so many moving parts but, the dynamics of the school/fit/academics won’t change over 4 years (typically) but the team dynamic/coach can turn on a dime. Caveat Emptor</p>

<p>I think the best advise is that if you are injured day 1, would you be happy at this school. And the worst, go for the best team/coach.
I think we have to remember most of these kids are being recruited by more than 1 school, and at least in the case of the Ivies or the NESCACs, they are all going to be degrees of good choices. I that case, pick the best combination of academic and athletic attributes if there is a choice.
My S was recruited by multiple NESCAC and selective D3s for his sport. If he had trusted a certain coach, he would likely have been rejected by that school and lost his ED advantage. This is why I constantly post for parents and athletes to keep more than one option open and to take what coaches say with a large grain of salt. You don’t have to lie, but benig totally honest is foolish and naive. It works for some, but every year disappointed athletes post how they felt they were told they would be accepted ED who weren’t.</p>

<p>If a coach is interested in you now, he or she will still be interested in you later.</p>

<p>While this is true for top recruits, it may not be for those on the borderline. If a coach has six spots and his number six recruit needs a couple more weeks to complete his official visits and his number seven, eight and nine recruits are ready to commit, I wouldn’t bet on most coaches waiting for number six to decide.</p>

<p>I’m not sure why my “bad advice” example was left out of the compiled list, but because we’ve seen the truth of it, let me re-state it:</p>

<ol>
<li> Coaches come and go, so don’t worry about whether or not you think the the coach and you are a good fit.</li>
</ol>

<p>The first part is definitely true and should be taken into consideration, but the conclusion is dead wrong. The coach may just as easily stay on, and in that case he will be your child’s coach for 1-4 years. If actually playing and improving in the sport is important to your student, then know that the wrong coach can completely de-rail your athlete’s success. In the case of our D, whose sport is more individual, the coach’s attitude about player development was key. Will the coach be committed to finding what training works best for your athlete? Or when his plan A is less than successful, will he pass him or her over for someone new? D started this year in about the same condition she did the previous two, as her initial performance was comparable. But her new coach was committed to seeing her achieve her potential, decided to try training and racing adjustments with that goal in mind, and now she’s on an upswing for the first time.</p>

<p>This is a FANTASTIC thread. I will say that, in my daughter’s case, college soccer ID camps were a crucial part of our strategy and we believe they were very effective. </p>

<p>Our daughter went to the ID camps at two of her target schools. At the first one, she contacted the coaches by email in advance to tell them that she would be attending the camp and that she was interested in their school, but that was the extent of the advance contact. At the second camp, her club coach at the time (a former player and assistant coach at the school) personally contacted the recruiting coach in advance and told him why my daughter was coming to the camp and told him he should watch her carefully. My daughter also sent emails in advance to the recruiting coach and the head coach about her attendance at the upcoming camp and expressed her interest in playing for the school.</p>

<p>We know through the grapevine that at both camps, the coaches watched her carefully and became interested in her as a potential player because of the way she played at their ID camp.</p>

<p>So, at least in soccer, ID camps can be very effective. But you have to use them strategically. You have to contact the coaches in advance (and ideally, have your club coach contact the coaches in advance) to tell them why you are there.</p>

<p>I know of one goalkeeper who was having a little bit of trouble being seen by her target school. So she found out about an ID camp the coach would be involved in (it wasn’t tied to a specific school - it was an independent camp that brought in several coaches) and then her family contacted the director of the ID camp and asked to be placed on a team that would be playing AGAINST the team coached by the coach of her target school’s program. She performed well in that game and subsequently, the coach of her target school expressed interest. She now plays for that school. I love that strategy. One of my favorite descriptions of an effective recruiting process came from the father of that goalkeeper. He said in a forum post once, “We decided not to be the hunted, but to hunt.” Sage advice.</p>

<ol>
<li>(From a coach) “I’ve already filled my roster but I think you are a great fit for @%$#*&%^ University. I am looking for an additional %^#$er to get through the admission process on their own.”</li>
</ol>

<p>^^ actually that isn’t bad advice at all-- it is honest and in the end that is all one can ask to get from a coach. It is an invitation to try to walk on–nothing more. No smoke up the shirt-- no cagy non-answers-- just, “I can’t support you but if you get a thick packet based on your other qualities, come on by the office during admitted student days.”</p>

<p>17?. dont worry about not getting a likely letter…
18?. dont feel the need to apply to other schools that might interest you.</p>

<p>19?. Don’t worry if you don’t find a team; you can always do a walk-on</p>

<p>Seems as if many coaches no longer hold walk-on try-outs. At several information sessions, coaches indicated that because of liability issues, their schools do not allow true walk-ons anymore. Before an athlete can try out for the team, they must have a full physical and have all kinds of liability forms on file. I am sure there are still programs that may allow walk-ons but it is definitely not automatic anymore. My son did 2 full try-outs and had to have all of his forms in a week ahead so that they could have them checked over to make sure everything was complete.</p>

<p>takeitallin,</p>

<p>I agree. Unless you are a preferred walk-on (the coach specifically asked you to try out) it is bad advice.</p>

<p>All,</p>

<p>This has turned out to be a pretty good thread in a short period of time. Many pearls of wisdom are in here.</p>

<p>Can someone provide a bit more color on #6:</p>

<ol>
<li>For D3 and walk-on hopefuls at D1, positive pre-reads should not be taken as admission guarantees. </li>
</ol>

<p>New to this process but daughter will likely fall into one of those categories. How much stock should one put into a positive pre-read?</p>

<p>80 percent of recruited athletes do not get accepted to the school recruiting them ED. One assumes not many of them were foolish enough to push the “send” button without a “positive preread”. Gotta know if it is a “tip” or a “slot”. You can’t be sure in D3 til the acceptance letter is in your hands. That’s why you DO NOT burn your bridges.</p>

<p>My son got a positive pre-read at a very large D1 school. Coach kept calling 2-3 times a week wanting son to apply ED, but nothing in writing. COA at this school is about $64000- coach assured us he did not have athletic money but son would get academic money. We refused to go the ED route as we were not willing to commit with unknown financial picture. Son applied RD and did recently get accepted but with very little money. If we had agreed to ED son would have had to pull other apps on acceptance and then would have been left out in the cold. Keep ALL options open until you have an acceptable package in-hand in writing!</p>

<p>Clarification: Kids were told that they should focus on the team and the coaching dynamics and they would be happy. However, we were very clear that they had to love the school first and foremost - as if they weren’t playing at all. Yes, liking the team is important and the coach as well, but it is rarely enough to make up for a bad fit overall.</p>

<p>Coaches come and go, tis true. But so do graduating classes. We went to watch games this weekend during a road trip where a parent hosted the team and other parents after the game. Long story short - almost all of the experienced parents commented on the team dynamic this year as incredibly positive and strong which mostly resulted from graduating players leaving and a great group of freshman coming in. And apparently, even the coach seems far more even keeled this year.</p>

<p>Not necessarily bad advice, but a tip…Recruiting (skills) camps are not an essential part of the recruiting process. We drove outselves nuts -literally- getting our son to every camp and showcase possible. In the end, the 4 coaches that remained in closest contact, that showed the most consistent interest right on thru til he received an admission letter, were ones that never saw him play live.</p>

<p>Re: coaches coming/going – our S’s coach has just been put on administrative leave. No one knows why…but we’re in the middle of their season! Huge change and days before they leave on a road trip. So glad we advised our S: pick the SCHOOL for the academics first. Don’t pick because you like the coach!</p>