How much should I expect my daughter to do in the recruiting process?
She is juggling two AP classes, two Honors classes, basketball, and PT to keep her body healthy. How much legwork should she be doing versus what I, as her mom, should handle?
The recruiting process can be overwhelming, especially when balancing academics, athletics, and personal wellness. College coaches understand the significant effort required for athletes to advocate for themselves, and while parents can certainly lend support, it's important that the athlete takes ownership of the process. Here's how you and your daughter can divide responsibilities effectively:
Athlete’s Role
Your daughter should handle tasks that center around showcasing her personal brand and initiating communication with college coaches. Here's what she should focus on:
Craft Emails: Write and send introductory and follow-up emails to coaches. These messages should reflect her personality and interest in each program.
Highlight Reels: Create compelling highlight reels with her best plays. Coaches are looking for both skill and personal engagement, so she should ensure the clips genuinely represent her talents.
Manage Communication: Maintain regular communication with coaches and respond promptly to any requests.
Track Progress: Use a tool like Google Sheets or Notion to keep track of schools, prospect camps, and communication milestones.
Parent’s Role
Your job is to support her while ensuring she stays organized and emotionally grounded. This process will have its ups and downs, so your involvement can make a huge difference:
Stay Organized: Help her keep track of her goals and deadlines using spreadsheets or other organizational tools.
Proofread Emails: Provide feedback or proofread her messages to ensure professionalism and clarity.
Support Highlight Reel Production: If the technical aspects are overwhelming, consider hiring external help for video editing. However, make sure your daughter has control over the final version to ensure her personal touch shines through.
Act as Emotional Support: Be there to create a safe space for her to express her excitement, frustrations, or disappointments. Your encouragement will make her feel empowered to continue striving for her goals.
Ultimately, the recruiting process is about building her confidence as she advocates for herself. By dividing roles this way, you’ll ensure she develops the independence and skills she’ll need, while still benefiting from your guidance.
My 2027 just attended her first meaningful prospect days. At one prospect day, she was in a group with athletes who struggled to catch and throw—it was very frustrating for her. What does this mean? Should we be worried?
A frustrating prospect camp experience can certainly prompt questions, but it's important to approach this situation with perspective. Camp groupings often provide clues about where your daughter stands in the eyes of the coaching staff. Here’s a breakdown to help you interpret this experience and decide on your next steps:
What This Could Indicate:
Skill Level Assessment by Coaches: Being placed in a group with lower-skilled athletes may suggest that coaches do not yet see her as one of their top prospects. However, keep in mind that some camps randomly group players for logistical reasons, so this isn’t always indicative of her standing.
Fit with the Program: This may be a sign that the program might not be the right fit. If she’s not in a higher-skilled group, it could indicate the coaches are prioritizing other athletes.
What to Do Moving Forward:
Encourage Strong Performance: Remind your daughter to go all out regardless of the group she’s placed in. Coaches take note of effort, attitude, and how athletes handle adversity, which may leave a lasting impression.
Re-Evaluate Program Fit: If this school doesn’t seem like the right fit, shift focus to programs where she feels more confident. Look into schools she has a genuine interest in, and where her skill set aligns better with what the coaching staff is seeking.
Reflect and Improve: Use this as a learning opportunity. Help her assess her performance and identify any areas of improvement. Focus on refining key skills like consistency in catching, throwing, and decision-making under pressure. Consider extra coaching or individual training sessions if necessary.
Diversify Opportunities: Attend other prospect days and showcases. Broadening her exposure can reveal other programs that might be a better match for her talents and goals.
Every challenge in the recruiting process is an opportunity to learn and grow. The key is to approach each experience—positive or not—as a step forward in shaping her future. Help your daughter stay adaptable, persistent, and committed, and she'll find the right program where she can thrive.
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