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.