30 College Recruiting Red Flags
From Student Sports Softball:
Nate Trosky has been in the baseball world over two decades running his own company, Trosky Baseball, and working over 150 college recruiting events and professional scouting combines.
He recently contributed an article to StudentSportsBaseball and we felt that his information is very applicable to softball as well and modified his list below to be ?softball relevant.?
Trosky begins by explaining that based on the events he?s been to, ?I have noted 30 recruiting red flags, complaints from the college coaches and scouts concerning high school prospects. I encourage prospects and their parents to read the list below and make note of the individual red flags. Being conscious of each area will ultimately increasing a player?s odds of being recruited.?
As a coach and scout, I communicate to my players that, ?the college coaches are in the bushes and the scouts are in the tree,? meaning someone always watching them!? A player?s character is the true separator and definer of how far they will go in this game and in life, and character can be defined as what someone does when nobody is looking or at least when they think nobody is looking.?
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30 College Recruiting Red Flags (modified for softball)
1. Addressing an email to a college coach by either calling him or her Coach, without a first name and/or by spelling the name wrong.
2. Sending emails to college coaches that are lengthy, with too much information.
3. Getting in trouble outside of softball fostering a reputation that reaches college coaches.
4. Attending a college recruiting camp with a sloppy look including untied shoes or wearing headphones.
5. On a official visit, asking current players what the party scene is like.
6. During a college visit, acting rude to a parent or family member.
7. Throwing gear after getting upset during a game.
8. Having an uncoachable attitude when a coach is advising, teaching techniques or training.
9. Looking like a slob in your uniform.
10. Being seen at the yard with a hat on backwards.
11. At a college prospect camp, a player disrespecting her high school coach in front of the college coaches.
12. Player seen eating a poor diet at a showcase or tournament, especially if she appears to be struggling with weight problems.
13. Overly involved parents or family members. Parents that are too attached, controlling, or speak for their kids when a college coach asks the player questions.
14. At a high school or travel ball game, a player asking her parents for drinks/snacks.
15. Lack of self control, revealing negative emotions through poor body language when things aren?t going right on the field.
16. Complaining or disrespect toward umpires or coaches.
17. Inconsistent effort of hustle running to 1B.
18. Low GPA.
19. Low test scores.
20. Player?s dad carrying her bat bag or equipment .
21. Mom applying sunscreen to the player?s face.
22. Colorful language, poor attitude or inappropriate images on social media.
23. Showing up late, anytime.
24. Not being prepared at a college camp, forgetting belt etc..
25. Verbally committing early, getting lazy, not improving or reaching one?s projection.
26. Player rolling her bag into the park on wheels.
27. Verbally committing to a college on a softball scholarship, and then decommitting without a good reason.
28. Lack of commitment to a club or high school team. For example, playing on numerous teams at once and being unreliable.
29. Showing off, boasting, or other ego-driven actions that degrade a team collaboration.
30. Rounding up on GPA, test scores, and/or softball statistics
30 recruiting tips .
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ManitouDan
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Re: 30 recruiting tips .
Are these all not just common sense? And if a player takes your advice and straightens up for the interview, that will not change the deep seeded personality that will come out. Then all the coach has to do is suspend that player and not renew their schollie the next year. See ya. I have seen this happen. Stupid and rude is bone deep.
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ManitouDan
- SEOPS H
- Posts: 7840
- Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:09 pm
Re: 30 recruiting tips .
Writer of the article has been in the business of helping college recruits for 20 years and no , all 30 tips are not just " common sense" . Maybe you were not thinking or dont know the recruiting process but no single " interview " is going to cover up your entire persona . Coachs , at least those worth their pay , are not going to offer a recruit a ride based on a interview , they watch you play multiple times over the course of an entire summer , or more . And the above is not " my advice" its simply a guideline to help players and parents avoid common mistakes that could could hurt them in acheiving their dream. Its been my experience that even worse than the teaching of basic fundamentals is the understanding of the recruiting process in SEO . If you feel like adding 10-15 more helpful tips then make your own list up and post it .