Anonymous
11/03/2023 14:24
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
Anonymous wrote:One thing to note as well, is even if your child is recruited and admitted, they may not see much playing time at first in HS—especially for freshmen that make varsity. Kids get so excited to play varsity early but it’s worth considering starting in JV to get more playing time and have more teammates in their own grade.
If your kid is considered catholic for tuition purposes (that's the standard that I've heard about for WCAC recruited, but not star athletes), they play wherever the coach tells them to play
Anonymous
11/03/2023 14:18
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
One thing to note as well, is even if your child is recruited and admitted, they may not see much playing time at first in HS—especially for freshmen that make varsity. Kids get so excited to play varsity early but it’s worth considering starting in JV to get more playing time and have more teammates in their own grade.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 13:36
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
This First Contact rule isn’t assiduously enforced. If the kid’s father knows the coach, no one is going to complain.
What the Conferences are trying to limit is the open and unrestricted pursuit of 8th graders.
It’s about the only recruiting rule these conferences have. You have to draw the line somewhere and the schools have agreed to this.
If you want to go about getting high schools to be aware of your son or daughter and to maybe help in the Admissions process, the thing to do is to make first contact with the school. There’s all sort of ways to do this. Calling Admissions and asking for an application would be an easy way, but there are lots of other ways.
As long as you do this, no one will ever think that any “recruiting” effort isn’t quite legal.
These coaches and schools don’t want to seen as skirting the rules. They don’t need the grief.
What the Conferences are trying to limit is the open and unrestricted pursuit of 8th graders.
It’s about the only recruiting rule these conferences have. You have to draw the line somewhere and the schools have agreed to this.
If you want to go about getting high schools to be aware of your son or daughter and to maybe help in the Admissions process, the thing to do is to make first contact with the school. There’s all sort of ways to do this. Calling Admissions and asking for an application would be an easy way, but there are lots of other ways.
As long as you do this, no one will ever think that any “recruiting” effort isn’t quite legal.
These coaches and schools don’t want to seen as skirting the rules. They don’t need the grief.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 13:12
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
First contact can be as simple as filling out a form online for a shadow day and saying you are interested in a certain spurt or even an email to the coach, hey we are interested in your program my child plays for x
Anonymous
11/03/2023 13:06
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
First contact rules can be complicated if the kid is on the coaches club team, goes to their camps, their dad knows him, the HS coach talks to the students coach.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 13:02
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My kid went to a basketball clinic where a WCAC coach was 'helping' early this year. He clearly did not get the memo about first contact
I think clinics are considered a blanket invitation to a clinic (not an admissions event) so seen as slightly different (and a way for coaches to skirt this rule, quite honestly). If your kid signs up, that is you making contact.
It was a regional clinic sponsored by a club, not that coach or a school
Anonymous
11/03/2023 13:01
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
Anonymous wrote:My kid went to a basketball clinic where a WCAC coach was 'helping' early this year. He clearly did not get the memo about first contact
I think clinics are considered a blanket invitation to a clinic (not an admissions event) so seen as slightly different (and a way for coaches to skirt this rule, quite honestly). If your kid signs up, that is you making contact.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 12:15
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
It can be as simple as asking the admissions representative for the coach’s contact info, speaking with coach, and coach flagging the applicant.
Or as complex as some other posters have indicated. Depends on sport and conference
Or as complex as some other posters have indicated. Depends on sport and conference
Anonymous
11/03/2023 10:51
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
To your question, "Is my understanding correct that we would go through the process for multiple schools and find out at the end whether he gets and gets enough money, so it’s not like college where you can only apply to one?"
That's right. And it's because the coaches or Athletic Department don't control the Financial Aid budget or process.
It depends on how much money is available.
You should make it clear at the outset to the coaches and the other people at the school that any offer of admission has to match his current deal,
Unless, of course, there's another thing at play here. And that could be the college angle.
Some people on here will deny this exists, but the higher the level of competition, the more exposure the kid gets and the more willing colleges are to offer scholarships. DeMatha's outstanding success at getting football and basketball players college scholarships is proof of that.
So it might be smart to pay more for high school outlooking paying less for college.
That's right. And it's because the coaches or Athletic Department don't control the Financial Aid budget or process.
It depends on how much money is available.
You should make it clear at the outset to the coaches and the other people at the school that any offer of admission has to match his current deal,
Unless, of course, there's another thing at play here. And that could be the college angle.
Some people on here will deny this exists, but the higher the level of competition, the more exposure the kid gets and the more willing colleges are to offer scholarships. DeMatha's outstanding success at getting football and basketball players college scholarships is proof of that.
So it might be smart to pay more for high school outlooking paying less for college.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 10:40
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
MAC are also subject to the "first contact" rule.
The coaches can reach out to the youth coach, but not directly to the student-athlete or their parents.
A prospective applicant (or their parents, I suppose, but they really shouldn't be) can reach out directly to any coach at any school.
The coaches can reach out to the youth coach, but not directly to the student-athlete or their parents.
A prospective applicant (or their parents, I suppose, but they really shouldn't be) can reach out directly to any coach at any school.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 10:37
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
You can apply to as many schools as you want (although your current school may give you a hard time about how many apps it has to support), and your FA offer should come with your acceptance, which comes on a specific day in late winter/early spring for most schools in the DC-area (i.e. it is not rolling).
Anonymous
11/03/2023 08:35
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
Anonymous wrote:OK. Let me explain how it works (or should work) at the high school level. High school, not college. College recruiting rules are much different and follow a set of NCAA rules. So don’t let what you know or think you know about D1, D2 or D3 college recruiting influence how you think about high school recruiting.
FIRST CONTACT- Coaches in the WCAC and IAC and maybe other conferences are prohibited from making FIRST CONTACT. If someone tells you they were contacted first by a coach, I’d take that with a grain of salt. These schools watch one another like hawks.
Potential athletes can be bought to the attention of high school coaches by youth team coaches (with whom they have relationships), by alumni, who sometimes scout youth teams and by parents of team mates, who are connected to or are interested in a school.
But the high school coach can’t contact the “prospect” until the kid or his/her parents contacts the school first. That could be at an open house or a call to the Admissions office or a call or visit to the coach or athletic director.
Sometimes what happens is that the alumnus or youth coach tells the high school coach about a kid, the coach agrees that he/she might be interested and the alumnus or youth coach communicates the interest to the athlete’s parent. The coach informs the alumnus that the school can’t make any overt moves until the parent or athlete contact them first.
After that first contact is made, there are no rules on the frequency or form of recruiting contact (as there are in college recruiting.)
The coach can express all the interest and enthusiasm he or she can muster. But they absolutely lack the power to offer admittance or financial aid or anything.
The coach needs to go to the Athletic Director (unless they are also the AD) and plead their case for admitting a targeted athlete.
During the Admission cycle, the Athletic Director goes to the Admissions Office with a prioritized list of the athletes they would like to see admitted. All the Athletic Director can do is recommend or plead the case for an applicant.
This is where the sport makes a difference. At many private schools, not all sports are equal in the eyes of the Athletic Director. An outstanding football or lacrosse player might be higher on the Athletic Director’s priority list than a sport that does not have a large following among the alumni.
When the Admissions process begins, neither the coach or the Athletic Director is involved (unless they are also members of Admissions team at the school.) They have done their part. The applicant’s application includes the notation that this is kid is a priority for the Athletic Department.
But that notation may not be enough to sway the Admissions decision in their favor. The Admissions people also look at academic capability and other factors. The Athletic Department does not get everyone in that they would like.
Then there is also the matter of Financial Aid (another area the coach or Athletic Director has no real power over.)
Schools will tell you that the FA process is separate from the Admissions process. But no one really believes that fiction because the Financial Aid budget is a fixed amount that is decided before the Admissions and Financial processes begin.
So some things to be aware of.
1. You have to make First Contact
2. All the coach wants early on is for you to submit an application.
3. The Athletic Director will submit his prioritized list to Admissions after talking to the various coaches.
4. It’s the Admissions Department or team that makes the decision on who to admit.
The coaches may tell you what they think you want to hear in order to submit an application and then to accept an offer of admission if one is offered.
OP here,
The first contact makes sense. I think my ex might be making the first contact in some cases. In other cases I can think of things that might have triggered it.
My kid gets a lot of aid where he is now, so there is no way we could do a move unless the new school matched it. Is my understanding correct that we would go through the process for multiple schools and find out at the end whether he gets and gets enough money, so it’s not like college where you can only apply to one?
Anonymous
11/03/2023 08:10
Subject: How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
My kid went to a basketball clinic where a WCAC coach was 'helping' early this year. He clearly did not get the memo about first contact
Anonymous
11/03/2023 08:07
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
OK. Let me explain how it works (or should work) at the high school level. High school, not college. College recruiting rules are much different and follow a set of NCAA rules. So don’t let what you know or think you know about D1, D2 or D3 college recruiting influence how you think about high school recruiting.
FIRST CONTACT- Coaches in the WCAC and IAC and maybe other conferences are prohibited from making FIRST CONTACT. If someone tells you they were contacted first by a coach, I’d take that with a grain of salt. These schools watch one another like hawks.
Potential athletes can be bought to the attention of high school coaches by youth team coaches (with whom they have relationships), by alumni, who sometimes scout youth teams and by parents of team mates, who are connected to or are interested in a school.
But the high school coach can’t contact the “prospect” until the kid or his/her parents contacts the school first. That could be at an open house or a call to the Admissions office or a call or visit to the coach or athletic director.
Sometimes what happens is that the alumnus or youth coach tells the high school coach about a kid, the coach agrees that he/she might be interested and the alumnus or youth coach communicates the interest to the athlete’s parent. The coach informs the alumnus that the school can’t make any overt moves until the parent or athlete contact them first.
After that first contact is made, there are no rules on the frequency or form of recruiting contact (as there are in college recruiting.)
The coach can express all the interest and enthusiasm he or she can muster. But they absolutely lack the power to offer admittance or financial aid or anything.
The coach needs to go to the Athletic Director (unless they are also the AD) and plead their case for admitting a targeted athlete.
During the Admission cycle, the Athletic Director goes to the Admissions Office with a prioritized list of the athletes they would like to see admitted. All the Athletic Director can do is recommend or plead the case for an applicant.
This is where the sport makes a difference. At many private schools, not all sports are equal in the eyes of the Athletic Director. An outstanding football or lacrosse player might be higher on the Athletic Director’s priority list than a sport that does not have a large following among the alumni.
When the Admissions process begins, neither the coach or the Athletic Director is involved (unless they are also members of Admissions team at the school.) They have done their part. The applicant’s application includes the notation that this is kid is a priority for the Athletic Department.
But that notation may not be enough to sway the Admissions decision in their favor. The Admissions people also look at academic capability and other factors. The Athletic Department does not get everyone in that they would like.
Then there is also the matter of Financial Aid (another area the coach or Athletic Director has no real power over.)
Schools will tell you that the FA process is separate from the Admissions process. But no one really believes that fiction because the Financial Aid budget is a fixed amount that is decided before the Admissions and Financial processes begin.
So some things to be aware of.
1. You have to make First Contact
2. All the coach wants early on is for you to submit an application.
3. The Athletic Director will submit his prioritized list to Admissions after talking to the various coaches.
4. It’s the Admissions Department or team that makes the decision on who to admit.
The coaches may tell you what they think you want to hear in order to submit an application and then to accept an offer of admission if one is offered.
FIRST CONTACT- Coaches in the WCAC and IAC and maybe other conferences are prohibited from making FIRST CONTACT. If someone tells you they were contacted first by a coach, I’d take that with a grain of salt. These schools watch one another like hawks.
Potential athletes can be bought to the attention of high school coaches by youth team coaches (with whom they have relationships), by alumni, who sometimes scout youth teams and by parents of team mates, who are connected to or are interested in a school.
But the high school coach can’t contact the “prospect” until the kid or his/her parents contacts the school first. That could be at an open house or a call to the Admissions office or a call or visit to the coach or athletic director.
Sometimes what happens is that the alumnus or youth coach tells the high school coach about a kid, the coach agrees that he/she might be interested and the alumnus or youth coach communicates the interest to the athlete’s parent. The coach informs the alumnus that the school can’t make any overt moves until the parent or athlete contact them first.
After that first contact is made, there are no rules on the frequency or form of recruiting contact (as there are in college recruiting.)
The coach can express all the interest and enthusiasm he or she can muster. But they absolutely lack the power to offer admittance or financial aid or anything.
The coach needs to go to the Athletic Director (unless they are also the AD) and plead their case for admitting a targeted athlete.
During the Admission cycle, the Athletic Director goes to the Admissions Office with a prioritized list of the athletes they would like to see admitted. All the Athletic Director can do is recommend or plead the case for an applicant.
This is where the sport makes a difference. At many private schools, not all sports are equal in the eyes of the Athletic Director. An outstanding football or lacrosse player might be higher on the Athletic Director’s priority list than a sport that does not have a large following among the alumni.
When the Admissions process begins, neither the coach or the Athletic Director is involved (unless they are also members of Admissions team at the school.) They have done their part. The applicant’s application includes the notation that this is kid is a priority for the Athletic Department.
But that notation may not be enough to sway the Admissions decision in their favor. The Admissions people also look at academic capability and other factors. The Athletic Department does not get everyone in that they would like.
Then there is also the matter of Financial Aid (another area the coach or Athletic Director has no real power over.)
Schools will tell you that the FA process is separate from the Admissions process. But no one really believes that fiction because the Financial Aid budget is a fixed amount that is decided before the Admissions and Financial processes begin.
So some things to be aware of.
1. You have to make First Contact
2. All the coach wants early on is for you to submit an application.
3. The Athletic Director will submit his prioritized list to Admissions after talking to the various coaches.
4. It’s the Admissions Department or team that makes the decision on who to admit.
The coaches may tell you what they think you want to hear in order to submit an application and then to accept an offer of admission if one is offered.
Anonymous
11/03/2023 07:10
Subject: Re:How does athletic recruiting for High School work?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For Big 3 a parent reached out and communicated back to the coach
For WCAC coach was at a game but we didn’t need $ so he offered to “help them get in” but it wasn’t necessary.
And IAC school the coach approached my son at a practice but my child wasn’t interested in that school.
OP here,
I get that part, that either we reach out to the coach, or the coach approaches us. We've had some approaches, and so far we've said he isn't interested in moving. I'm pretty sure we really aren't interested, but I'm curious how the process would proceed from here if he was interested.
So, what happens after those initial contacts?
You tour the school, you do a shadow day, you pick the school you want, you apply, you get accepted.
Money is complicated depending on the school.
Some will give merit scholarships, some will have boosters give a scholarship, some schools have a bunch of different scholarships from alumni and they give you one. Those scholarships allow the school to continue to say they don’t give athletic scholarships.
This.
One of my nephews is a recruited athlete (soccer). Coaches have been talking to him since he was old enough for them to contact him directly. He has a few written offers (D1-D3). He has toured, and is applying to the one that is the best fit.
The original poster asked about HIGH SCHOOL.