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How to Determine Your Talent Level

Clearly one of the most crucial steps of the athletic recruiting process is to determine how talented you are and how it relates to college athletics and the various divisions.  If you do this wrong and overestimate your talent level and are really a Division III athlete but try to get the attention of a Division I coaches, you will likely waste valuable time.  Conversely, some athletes are really of a Division I level, but for whatever reason they don’t realize it, if they are recruited and attend a DIII school they would instantly become an elite athlete and while I would rather be a big fish, there might always be that question of whether or not you could have played at a higher level.

The major problem with assessing your talent level is that you often just judge your talent as it compares to your teammates and opponents in your league.  Yet, college coaches have a bigger picture view since they recruit in a larger geographic area and see many more players.  So what can you do to get a better assessment of your talent level.

Here are some thoughts:

• Go to colleges to watch practices or games.  Unfortunately the only sports which are on TV are big time football and men and women’s basketball.  On occasion some others do make it, but it is usually the best of the Division I programs.  Once there, make an honest evaluation of your (or your childs) talent as it compares to that team.  Keep in mind, there is a major difference between 16 or 17 years old and 20 to 22, so some projection must be factored in.  In addition, these visits are good to get feedback about what you like and don’t like about the school itself.
• Go to camps and showcase type events, partly to get recruited, partly to get evaluated by a coach, but also to see where you stack up against the bigger recruiting pool. 
• Ask any coach that is with you on a regular basis, high school, travel, lessons.  These people know more then we give them credit for.
• Ask any college coach that has seen you play either during a game, camp, or through video.
• If you have a friend that is currently playing college athletics (or a parent of one) who knows what the high school level is like and now knows what the college level is like is a great person to ask.
• Individual sports have an easier time since a distance, time, or other result (handicap in golf for example) makes it easier to have a clear cut idea of talent.

Wayne Mazzoni has been a college coach since 1992 and is currently at Division I Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.  He is also an author and speaker on the athletic recruiting process.  You can visit his website at www.WayneMazzoni.com. 

The Role of Your High School Program and Coach

When I do my high school athletic recruiting seminars and also when I am doing my own recruiting for Sacred Heart University, I often hear a lot of misconceptions on what players and parents expect from their high school, high school program, coaches, and other high school staff and administration.  So let me give you five tips to clear things up…

1. It is not in anyone’s job description at the school to get your recruited.  Guidance counselors have enough to do managing the number of students assigned to them and of course, the college application process is overwhelming for them.  They may be a great help on the college search part, but very few are athletic recruiting experts.  Your athletic director has a huge job just to make the day to day operations of all the sports run smoothly.  In all likely hood if you don’t notice your athletic director it means they are great at their job.  They have so many details to take care of to do their job, they have little to no time to help you with the recruiting process.  Then you have your coach.  First off, many coaches don’t teach at your school or teach at all.  This means either they work another job or come over from another district to coach.  Not easy.  If they do teach there is a lot to do just to prepare and do that job.  Some coach up to three sports.  Many run summer camps or have side jobs.  Then of course they have their own family and personal lives to attend to.  Some may help you recruiting wise, but they don’t get extra pay or time during the day to do it.  There are two things you should get from your high school coach…

2. Your high school coaches role

First off, I respect high school teachers and coaches immensely.  They are the heart of this country.  They have chosen jobs to help others and that is to be respected.  Sure you have your occasional grouchy teacher who got into the business for summers off, the rest chose because they like to help make others better.  Your high school coach should help you with two key components of the recruiting process.  First, they should give you an honest assessment of your talent as it compares to the college level.  They are around you every day sometimes for four years straight, they are the best at being able to judge what your game is like.  Secondly, when it comes time that you need a reference, they should be able to call or email (not write) for you.  This assumes they agree with the schools you want them to contact.  If you are a DIII player and you ask them to call Clemson, forget it.  However, some of you expect that the coach should lead you through the entire process when they simply do not have the time.

3.  My high school team stinks

I am often asked by worried parents and players that they come from an awful high school program.  Does that mean they will get overlooked.  My answer is unless your team is a perennial power or your team has a superstar on it, everyone is overlooked.  There are just not enough coaches and too many high schools for everyone to get the proper coverage.  A good player is a good player whether they are on a great or awful team.  I would advise you to play on a non school team as well, but you won’t be hurt, not should you transfer schools, just because of the program.

4.  I am not a high school starter

I am going to shoot your straight here and you make not like it.  You are not starting because there is someone better then you!  If you want to start, get better!  I don’t know a single high school coach who is not going to start you for some personal or political reason.  They are doing what they think is best to win.  Can be they be wrong?  Of course.  I’ve been myself.  I have had a guy on the bench half the year, then he gets in and proves he should have been there the whole time.  Good for him, he was ready for his opportunity.  However, I wasn’t out to get him when he wasn’t starting, I just thought someone was better.  Most of the time I am right and all of the players agree.  However, can you still play college athletics if you don’t start in high school or at least don’t start at your main position or event?  Of course.  Some teams are so talented the back ups are better then other teams starters.  In addition, you might just have a great player in front of you.  Only one soccer goalie can start.  If you are good, but she is better, you are out of luck.  However, via summer teams, camps, video, etc. you can still be seen and recruited.

5.  What are the best student-athletes doing in high school

Academically they are taking the most challenging classes possible.  They are on a study plan so that they do their work daily before anything else.  They are also in a test prep course, knowing SAT’s and ACT’s, while becoming less important, are still crucial.  Athletically, they are taking advantage of their coaching and improving their skills daily.  They have a good strength coach and are on a solid strength and conditioning program.  They also understand and follow athletic nutrition guidelines.  They are visiting colleges to get an idea of the types of schools they make like.  Lastly, they are creating positive habits in all areas of life.  Good and bad habits are equally addicting, so they are doing what it takes to build in good habits.  For someone who loves working out, it is just as hard to stay out of the gym as it is for a smoker to stop smoking.

                                                                                                                       

Wayne Mazzoni has been a college coach since 1992 and is currently at Division I Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.  He is also an author and speaker on the athletic recruiting process.  You can visit his website at www.WayneMazzoni.com. 

Meeting With College Coaches

I often get asked whether the wintertime is a good time visit a college and meet with coach.  The answer is a resounding yes.  Most colleges are off somewhere from mid December to mid January.  Unless a coach is in season (basketball, hockey, wrestling) this is a great time to visit since their schedule is usually light.  Keep in mind that students will not be around so it is not an ideal time to see what the school is really like, but you can always go back to see it in session.  When visiting a coach, the best advice is really just to be yourself.  The athletic recruiting process is really just people meeting people.  So be relaxed.  Here are some things to keep in mind when meeting with a college coach.

DON’T MENTION THAT YOU MIGHT NOT PLAY THEIR SPORT

College coaches know one thing.  Playing four years of a college sport is tough, takes a major commitment, and is not for everyone.  If you hint that you might be going to school and not playing their sport, this will be a major turnoff.  For example, the coach asks you what other colleges you are looking at.  You reply with several he or she competes with, but then you throw in University of Hawaii.  The coach asks why this school is on your list.  You reply, “well, I wouldn’t play there, I would just love to go to school out in Hawaii.”  This will scare off a coach that you are even thinking of not playing there sport in college.  If this is the case, you should first off consider that playing a sport in college might not be for you, but either way avoid mentioning this. 

In addition, if you play two or three sports, never tell the coach of the sport you are meeting with (soccer for example), that you might want to play lacrosse only in college.  Another red flag for college coaches.

WHEN PARENTS DO ALL THE TALKING

It is a major red flag for coaches when the parent does all the emailing, phone calling, but especially all the talking during the in-person meeting.  If you or your child is shy, too bad.  Time to mature!  Coaches want players that are mature and speak for themselves.  The hardest thing to find in any company is good employees/people, same with coaching players.  If you speak up, you stand out.

MAKE SURE TO ASK QUESTIONS

Not being prepared to ask questions.  If you don’t ask questions, two things happen.  One, a coach thinks you are not interest in him/her, the school, or the program.  Secondly, you will not find out answers to key questions about academics, dorm life, practice, the team, the facilities.  Most coaches cover a lot of this in what they tell you, but if something is left out, ASK.  It helps if you research the school and program before you go.

DRESS THE PART

Have you ever heard the saying, “don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want?”  If you haven’t, now you have.  As Crash Davis told Nuke Lalush in Bull Durham, when you become an All-Star your look becomes creative, until then you are just a slob.  No hats, earrings (for boys), provocative clothes (for girls), ripped clothes, stupid slogans on shirts, and PLEASE, don’t wear a Syracuse shirt when you visit BC!

FOLLOW UP

In this day and age of email, cell phones, mass mailing, the hand written letter goes a LONG, LONG way.  Write a heartfelt thank you to the coach after your visit.  Even if you are not interested in the school, still write a thank you note.  You never know what could come back around.

Remember, coaches are just people.  Even if you meet Joe Paterno or John Calipari, they put their pants on one leg at a time like you!

Wayne Mazzoni has been a college coach since 1992 and is currently at Division I Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT.  He is also an author and speaker on the athletic recruiting process.  You can visit his website at www.WayneMazzoni.com.  

Welcome

Hello seminar attendees, book readers, high school athletes and parents.  This will be the first of a bi-weekly (assuming that means once every two weeks) blog about all things related to the recruiting process.  To start, I was asked to do a Facebook Q & A by BeRecruited.  To see some of those questions and answers go to this link.

Bookmark this page and refer back to it when you can.

Stay warm.

Coach Mazzoni