The biggest mistakes in recruiting can impact even seasoned college basketball coaches. Avoid them with these tips sponsored by NCSA Athletic Recruiting, the college recruit finder for coaches.
The longevity of your program depends on your ability to discover talented players who will fit seamlessly into your roster.
Finding a great fit can impact your program for up to ten years — the student-athlete’s four or five years contributing as a player, plus the indirect experience younger basketball players have with senior players on the roster — while a poor fit could disrupt your team within their first season.
While it’s human to make mistakes, we’re hoping the more pitfalls you know to watch out for, the less trouble you have finding exactly the right fit for your next roster openings. We’ve assembled some of the biggest mistakes in recruiting that can often affect basketball coaches, as well as solutions to guide you through them.
Mistake #1: Giving Yourself Too Little Time to Recruit
Recruiting is a job all of its own, but it’s an expectation you have to face in addition to the hustle and demands of your current team’s season. Too often, a recruiting date or admission deadline can creep up and impact your top prospects’ decisions.
In addition to tracking reminders on your calendar, we recommend using online tools to search for and identify your top prospects.
And you can always phone a friend; don’t be afraid to spread out some of your responsibilities to a trusted colleague. The more you divide recruiting responsibilities into small, manageable chunks over time, the longer you’ll have to properly vet every potential student-athlete.
Mistake #2: Avoiding the Hard Conversations
Young athletes, particularly student-athletes heavily interested in your program, can come off strong in their hope to contribute to their team. And despite their digital savvy, these players are, still, teenagers.
It might seem easier to avoid a hard conversation than letting down this athlete. After all, you’ve gotten into this role because you want to train basketball players to be the best they can be.
But allowing a student-athlete to retain an impression you’ll have a scholarship offer for them could burn bridges not just with this individual, but with the local coaches and high school where he plays, putting your professional reputation with that area at risk.
Being honest with potential players about your interest, and what you’re able to offer, will help you identify the players who genuinely want to join your program — rather than those with dollar signs in their eyes.
Mistake #3: Just Checking off a “Found” Recruit
Even if you’re coaching for a program that requires a National Letter of Intent, don’t let an incoming student-athlete completely slip your mind until they’re on campus.
Remember: This is a major decision for every player, who is choosing not just an opportunity to keep playing a sport they love, but the institute where they’ll earn a meaningful degree and learn lessons that will impact the rest of their lives.
Shooting a “just checking in” email or favoriting a social media post or two won’t take any time at all, and will pay incredible dividends for fostering trust and a sense of team from incoming players — before they’ve even set foot on campus.
Whether it’s finding the next prospective basketball player or managing all of your recruiting communication in one place, NCSA Athletic Recruiting for coaches can help. Click here to learn more about how we help coaches or create your free account today.
