Navigating the college recruiting process can be tricky for high school coaches, especially those at small schools.

It requires managing different relationships with players, parents, college coaches and high school administrators

In a recent #txhsfbchat on Twitter, coaches from around the country provided their own advice on how to handle the recruiting process at small schools.

Below are some of the key takeaways for coaches on helping their players get recruited.

• Set expectations. Coaches were quick to point out that some players in the world of social media love the attention of being recruited. Some might even enjoy this attention more than the opportunity to play at the next level and further their education. Coaches stressed the important of helping players understand that the journey has just begun. If players want to play in college, they’ll need to work harder than ever
• Work with administration. Establishing a healthy working relationship with school administrators emerged as a key point in the discussion. Coaches pointed to the flexibility to be available when a college coach visits to meet with players as an important factor in successfully handling recruiting. Additionally, the administration can play a key role in securing academics support for athletes, especially around standardized testing. A score on the SAT or ACT could mean the difference between an academic scholarship and paying in full.
• Network with college coaches. Networking is critical to all aspects of coaching, but coaches at small schools really underscored its importance to recruiting. It is essential to build relationships with coaches in the surrounding areas at every level. Examples that coaches shared were attending coaching conferences, attending or organizing clinics and finding coaches that you can reach out to when you have a player you believe could fit in that program.
• Make sure parents understand the fine print. A common theme of the chat was that coaches need to handle the recruiting process with parents just as much as they do with players. Just as players are enamored with the term “offer,” so are parents. One coached pointed to hosting recruiting seminars as a big asset in helping his players and parents understand the process. This allows parents to understand that there are opportunities for their children to play at the next level, even if it doesn’t come with a full Division I ride. For example, Division II schools may make a scholarship offer, but it will likely be a partial offer.

 

See the full transcript of the #txhsfbchat below: