DS's good friend was a recruited athlete for 9th. It was not a Big 3 but still a top school. Not one of the big sports like football, basketball, etc.

The family applied just like everyone else but contacted the admissions office and mentioned interest in playing the sport with the school and they were connected with the coach. The coach must have Google'd the child's background because they were invited to come in and meet with the team and attend practices.

The coach told the family he was eager to have the boy at the school and would let admissions know he wanted them to attend the school but that it was not his final decision. The coach continued to stay in touch and the child attended other events related to the sport during January up through decision day in March and was admitted and enrolled at this school.

Coaches at other schools "recruited" him too by showing interest, having him come tour and speak with the team but not the extent of the one school he ended up attending

Anonymous wrote:

Roman Jensen would have been one of the Mid-Penn’s top returning quarterbacks in 2022 with Red Land, but he told PennLive Monday evening that he is on the move.
The sophomore said he will attend and play for Maret School in Washington, D.C. in the fall. We were just looking to find a better academic and athletic opportunity,” Jensen said. “It’s going to be an adjustment, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Jensen was 149-of-240 passing for 2,114 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions for the Patriots last season.

https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/2022/05/red-land-qb-roman-jensen-announces-transfer-destination.html

Wonder if he was recruited? He is not even from the area which is interesting.

Lol. Of course he was recruited.

His dad appears to be an account executive for Hudl (the football analytics company) and has coached college and high school football.

Roman Jensen would have been one of the Mid-Penn’s top returning quarterbacks in 2022 with Red Land, but he told PennLive Monday evening that he is on the move.
The sophomore said he will attend and play for Maret School in Washington, D.C. in the fall. We were just looking to find a better academic and athletic opportunity,” Jensen said. “It’s going to be an adjustment, but I’m really looking forward to it.”

Jensen was 149-of-240 passing for 2,114 yards with 26 touchdowns and six interceptions for the Patriots last season.

https://www.pennlive.com/highschoolsports/2022/05/red-land-qb-roman-jensen-announces-transfer-destination.html

Wonder if he was recruited? He is not even from the area which is interesting.

Anonymous wrote: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 [b]good athlete (plays travel in two different sports and is one of the top athletes at his large public middle school[i]). 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!

Good is not great. They look for game changing athletes. Think of all the times your DS has played. How many times have you said to yourself wow that kid on the other team is destroying us…he is just so good? This is the type of athlete that gets noticed. In high school good athletes are a dime a dozen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Not sure about schools in the WCAC, but talk to admissions at the schools regularly mentioned on this site and mention redshirting. Bet they quickly discourage you.

STA routinely reclasses athletes. They are not only redshirted, they repeat 8th or 9th grade.

If they reclass in 8th grade, do they take 9th grade classes or repeat the 8th grade? A kid isn’t benefiting from repeating the same class work he’s just completed.

Th retake whatever grade they've just completed elsewhere--usually 9th but sometimes 8th. They take the same classes twice.

That doesn’t sound very productive unless the boy is behind and that school is very selective. I don’t think Saint Albans takes kids who are behind since they are so selective.

Boys do what the school asks to get admitted, even if this entails repeating a grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Not sure about schools in the WCAC, but talk to admissions at the schools regularly mentioned on this site and mention redshirting. Bet they quickly discourage you.

STA routinely reclasses athletes. They are not only redshirted, they repeat 8th or 9th grade.

If they reclass in 8th grade, do they take 9th grade classes or repeat the 8th grade? A kid isn’t benefiting from repeating the same class work he’s just completed.

Th retake whatever grade they've just completed elsewhere--usually 9th but sometimes 8th. They take the same classes twice.

That doesn’t sound very productive unless the boy is behind and that school is very selective. I don’t think Saint Albans takes kids who are behind since they are so selective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Not sure about schools in the WCAC, but talk to admissions at the schools regularly mentioned on this site and mention redshirting. Bet they quickly discourage you.

STA routinely reclasses athletes. They are not only redshirted, they repeat 8th or 9th grade.

If they reclass in 8th grade, do they take 9th grade classes or repeat the 8th grade? A kid isn’t benefiting from repeating the same class work he’s just completed.

Th retake whatever grade they've just completed elsewhere--usually 9th but sometimes 8th. They take the same classes twice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Not sure about schools in the WCAC, but talk to admissions at the schools regularly mentioned on this site and mention redshirting. Bet they quickly discourage you.

STA routinely reclasses athletes. They are not only redshirted, they repeat 8th or 9th grade.

If they reclass in 8th grade, do they take 9th grade classes or repeat the 8th grade? A kid isn’t benefiting from repeating the same class work he’s just completed.

I guess you could reach out to them. More than likely, if your DC is in the area and is "that good," they will already know about him/her.

Side note: I've noticed that superstar HS athletes are increasingly going to boarding schools / "academies" that focus on sports and exist to develop athletes for the next level. Seems kind of extreme for high school students, but if that's their primary goal and focus, it is what it is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Last year Sidwell’s girls varsity basketball team was the best in the entire country (among ALL schools, private and public). They got a lot of press.

We're talking about the IAC and you bring up GIRLS basketball?!

The boys were also ranked in top 25 in the country. For a coed school of 125 per grade, it’s pretty impressive.

They definitely scan applications for athletes.
My son applied last year as an athlete with a strong academic background and they had the athletic director do his admissions interview. The guy was extremely friendly and introduced my son to coaches, teachers, etc.
I think they get around the "no recruiting" thing by putting the athletic director on the interview team.
More power to the school--it definitely works for them.

The prohibition is against schools making "First Contact".

Once first contact by the kid or the parents has been made, the school and coaches are free to do whatever they want.

Colleges operate under NCAA rules. There isn't anything similar at the high school level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Last year Sidwell’s girls varsity basketball team was the best in the entire country (among ALL schools, private and public). They got a lot of press.

We're talking about the IAC and you bring up GIRLS basketball?!

The boys were also ranked in top 25 in the country. For a coed school of 125 per grade, it’s pretty impressive.

They definitely scan applications for athletes.
My son applied last year as an athlete with a strong academic background and they had the athletic director do his admissions interview. The guy was extremely friendly and introduced my son to coaches, teachers, etc.
I think they get around the "no recruiting" thing by putting the athletic director on the interview team.
More power to the school--it definitely works for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Sidwell would be STA in football if given the chance. STA refuses to schedule.

STA has Paul VI on the schedule. I don't think they would be afraid of Sidwell.

That will change. PVI is building their football program and in a few years, they will a top tier football program.

Anonymous wrote:NP. Can we get back to OP's original question? Are applying students supposed to reach out directly to coaches? Do you go through the admissions office? What is the actual process for making that initial contact?

Go through admissions.

NP. Can we get back to OP's original question? Are applying students supposed to reach out directly to coaches? Do you go through the admissions office? What is the actual process for making that initial contact?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Last year Sidwell’s girls varsity basketball team was the best in the entire country (among ALL schools, private and public). They got a lot of press.

We're talking about the IAC and you bring up GIRLS basketball?!

The boys were also ranked in top 25 in the country. For a coed school of 125 per grade, it’s pretty impressive.