"NORMAL - Brannon Barry called his first exposure to college and college football "basically a 24-hour grind."
Recruiting Tips
"To be successful at being recruited, you need to know what each coach or recruiting coordinator is looking for from you and how to make sure they get it!"
Getting recruited is no easy task, not even for the country's most talented athletes. While an athlete's talent, GPA and ACT/SAT scores are important, if a college coach has never heard of you or seen you play you're not getting recruited. High school coaches often don't have the time, contacts or resources to get an athlete recruited.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does recruiting start?
Earlier than you think. Many believe that recruiting starts in an athlete’s junior or senior year of high school, however, the process begins as earlier as eighth grade, sometimes earlier. Because the recruiting process is complicated and time consuming the earlier you get started the more successful your results.
What is my high school coach’s role?
Your coach is not expected or required to help in your recruitment. Your high school coach is responsible for developing your ability while in their program, however, they often don’t have the time or resources to assist you in securing a spot at the next level. All high schools and clubs are different but, ultimately, you are responsible for getting yourself noticed and recruited.
How can I increase my chances for recruitment?
Put it in the decision-makers hands. Contrary to popular belief, Division I coaches do NOT spend their limited free time on YouTube looking for their next star athlete. Making sure you maximize your performance and exposure in the media as well as with a dynamite portfolio, including highlight film delivered to the hands of the decision maker, increases your chances of success.
How important is highlight film?
Film is ESSENTIAL. Would you give someone a job at $50,000 a year having never met them or reviewed their performance? Probably not. Your highlight film is an essential evaluation tool for coaches and needs to adhere to time and content criteria that are vastly different from sport to sport. It’s often the first thing a coach sees and first impressions are everything.
How do I know if I am a Division I recruit?
The odds are you are not. Less than 1% of college athletes earn a Division I full ride. More than 1,800 colleges have athletic programs and 94% of them are outside of Division I. In other words, of the nearly 1.1 million high school football players, for example, only 3,000 receive a Division I full scholarship. THE GOOD NEWS is the majority of college athletes are at the Division II, Division III, NAIA or junior college level. An evaluator who has played and or coached your sport at the college or professional level can tell you which level you should shoot for and where you’re likely to find the most success.
Does working with a recruiting service guarantee I’ll play in college?
No. Your odds increase significantly but at the end of the day you have to have the talent, physical attributes and core academic requirements necessary to make that happen. A scouting or recruiting service should serve as a partner that guides you from start to finish as well as makes sure you have the tangible pieces to make it happen. They should serve as a resource and provide information and education as to what is needed to get the job done but they should never make promises they can’t keep.
