Sports recruiting for high school?

[Anonymous]

Can someone give me an overview of how sports recruiting/evaluation works for the private high schools in the area? I have the sense that strong athletes have an admissions advantage, but is this a situation where the coaches are out watching middle school kids play? My 8th grade son is a good athlete (plays travel in two different sports and is one of the top athletes at his large public middle school). Should we reach out to coaches at schools he is interested in, or is it more of a situation where it won’t matter unless the coach has independently identified you as a top talent? Just trying to get a sense of how this works!

[Anonymous]

From what I have seen, the kids that are that good are being recruited.

My best friends kid was recruited by private high schools and powerhouse public schools across the country in 6th and 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

You should reach out through admissions and ask to speak with the school coach(es).

Technically the DC leagues forbid the school coaches from reaching out to kids.

However, many get around this by going to games, talking to the club coaches and telling the coaches to tell the kid to apply. They bend the rules-- technically they're not supposed to recruit kids directly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should reach out through admissions and ask to speak with the school coach(es).

Technically the DC leagues forbid the school coaches from reaching out to kids.

However, many get around this by going to games, talking to the club coaches and telling the coaches to tell the kid to apply. They bend the rules-- technically they're not supposed to recruit kids directly.

To clarify further--you should reach out (through admissions). Once you reach out, the coach is allowed to engage with you.

I have a kid on a varsity roster at a Big3 and asked the coach last year: "hey, can you get us some good XYZ players next year?" And he said "I'm not allowed to cold call kids but if they reach out through admissions I can engage with them and put a word in for them".
He is clearly a rule follower. Others just skirt around this by working through their club/travel coach contacts in the community.

[Anonymous]

The coaches are at big tournaments and camps. The schools also have camps. Some clubs also have relationships with coaches that can get them to scout players at games.

[Anonymous]

I live in another large city and here the private school coaches are recruiting athletes out of elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in another large city and here the private school coaches are recruiting athletes out of elementary school.

I should add that it may be indirect. Private school coaches here are involved with club sports, school camps, private coaching/studios etc. I'm not sure what the rules are here about direct recruiting into middle school for sports.

[Anonymous]

The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

+1. Sport makes huge difference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

What sports does he play and at what level?

From my experience, if he has not yet been approached, I'd avoid the WCAC (Catholic school league). I'd look more at the second level schools (sportswise); the schools in the MAC or IAC conferences. His chance of playing at these schools for four years is much higher then at the WCAC schools. They have smaller enrollments but higher academic standards and all but two have middle schools if he needs to be redshirted academically. If you need financial aid, they also have more funds available. No matter which jurisdiction you live, look at ALL the schools in these leagues in DC, MD and VA. If daily commute is a big
problem, four have boarding departments.


But remember, YOU have to make FIRST CONTACT. And once you have narrowed it down, make sure your son has the most say in the decision. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

What sports does he play and at what level?

From my experience, if he has not yet been approached, I'd avoid the WCAC (Catholic school league). I'd look more at the second level schools (sportswise); the schools in the MAC or IAC conferences. His chance of playing at these schools for four years is much higher then at the WCAC schools. They have smaller enrollments but higher academic standards and all but two have middle schools if he needs to be redshirted academically. If you need financial aid, they also have more funds available. No matter which jurisdiction you live, look at ALL the schools in these leagues in DC, MD and VA. If daily commute is a big
problem, four have boarding departments.


But remember, YOU have to make FIRST CONTACT. And once you have narrowed it down, make sure your son has the most say in the decision. Good luck.

There's a good bit of variance by sport here. What you said is probably true of basketball but in lacrosse, the top IAC schools (and top to bottom) are better than WCAC. MAC generally sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

What sports does he play and at what level?

From my experience, if he has not yet been approached, I'd avoid the WCAC (Catholic school league). I'd look more at the second level schools (sportswise); the schools in the MAC or IAC conferences. His chance of playing at these schools for four years is much higher then at the WCAC schools. They have smaller enrollments but higher academic standards and all but two have middle schools if he needs to be redshirted academically. If you need financial aid, they also have more funds available. No matter which jurisdiction you live, look at ALL the schools in these leagues in DC, MD and VA. If daily commute is a big
problem, four have boarding departments.


But remember, YOU have to make FIRST CONTACT. And once you have narrowed it down, make sure your son has the most say in the decision. Good luck.

They don’t want kids redshirting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

What sports does he play and at what level?

From my experience, if he has not yet been approached, I'd avoid the WCAC (Catholic school league). I'd look more at the second level schools (sportswise); the schools in the MAC or IAC conferences. His chance of playing at these schools for four years is much higher then at the WCAC schools. They have smaller enrollments but higher academic standards and all but two have middle schools if he needs to be redshirted academically. If you need financial aid, they also have more funds available. No matter which jurisdiction you live, look at ALL the schools in these leagues in DC, MD and VA. If daily commute is a big
problem, four have boarding departments.


But remember, YOU have to make FIRST CONTACT. And once you have narrowed it down, make sure your son has the most say in the decision. Good luck.

There's a good bit of variance by sport here. What you said is probably true of basketball but in lacrosse, the top IAC schools (and top to bottom) are better than WCAC. MAC generally sucks.

This is not true. Sidwell basketball is nationally ranked. Maret baseball and softball is very good and their basketball program is rising, they’ve recently beaten IAC teams. Maret also won DC State football and soccer championship for Single A last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer to this depends on:

The sport

The school (or conference)

What sports does he play and at what level?

From my experience, if he has not yet been approached, I'd avoid the WCAC (Catholic school league). I'd look more at the second level schools (sportswise); the schools in the MAC or IAC conferences. His chance of playing at these schools for four years is much higher then at the WCAC schools. They have smaller enrollments but higher academic standards and all but two have middle schools if he needs to be redshirted academically. If you need financial aid, they also have more funds available. No matter which jurisdiction you live, look at ALL the schools in these leagues in DC, MD and VA. If daily commute is a big
problem, four have boarding departments.


But remember, YOU have to make FIRST CONTACT. And once you have narrowed it down, make sure your son has the most say in the decision. Good luck.

There's a good bit of variance by sport here. What you said is probably true of basketball but in lacrosse, the top IAC schools (and top to bottom) are better than WCAC. MAC generally sucks.

This is not true. Sidwell basketball is nationally ranked. Maret baseball and softball is very good and their basketball program is rising, they’ve recently beaten IAC teams. Maret also won DC State football and soccer championship for Single A last year.

There are three sports that matter in this world: Football, Basketball and Lacrosse. Other than Sidwell basketball recently, do you really see any MAC school at the top of the IAC or WCAC in those? FFC, Sidwell got booted from the IAC for sucking.

[Anonymous]

Many if not most actually encourage redshirting, especially for boys.