Recruiting Freshmen | CoachHuey.com

knightfan64
Junior Member

Posts: 325

Recruiting Freshmen Jul 23, 2013 23:45:12 GMT -6

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Post by knightfan64 on Jul 23, 2013 23:45:12 GMT -6

Hey guys,

This may seem a bit odd, but let me explain the background first. Currently, I am a JV coach at our High School. In the past our JV program and Varsity program have been at an elite level. The 2013 Graduating Class saw their total record in 4 years on the varsity level at 38-11 with 3 playoff victories and 2 district titles. The JV at that same time period has compiled a 33-5-1 record. Despite all this our numbers are low this year even for a small school (about 630 kids total) I noticed there was quite a bit of fall off in our freshmen class numbers this year thus far at summer conditioning, and I want to get some of those kids in pads for the 2014 season (trying to think long term). Some points to address.

#1 I currently teach at the high school and am unable to get good contact with the 8th graders on a consistent basis or the 7th graders, and with the lack of a middle school program we suffer in that respect.

#2 What I have begun doing now is sort of a two-fold recruiting effort over the 2013-2014 school year. First, I am currently working through our master list of freshmen and looking at kids in the data base and trying to weed out any historical grade or discipline problems. After compiling this list, I am going to consult with other teachers (especially P.E. teachers) and get a look at the kids in person and weed them down to the kids I wanna talk to. On the other fold of recruiting, I am just going to take an active effort in visiting our youth league's game when at all possible, and try to be visible and let the kids know who I am.

Now for my questions......

#1 With my proposed idea with the freshmen (kind of like college recruiting to some extent) how should I approach it? Do I try to contact everyone in person? Send out a mailer to families, do a mass campaign throughout school once winter conditioning starts up? What have you guys done that has worked?
#2 What more can I do on the youth level? I don't wanna step on the youth coaches toes, but want to be more present then we have been as a program in the past. We already ran our youth camp for the summer.
#3 Any other ideas?
#4 Am I crazy? Going overboard? etc

bluedevil4
Executive Member

Vince is Proud

Posts: 2,984

Recruiting Freshmen Jul 24, 2013 7:34:59 GMT -6

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Post by bluedevil4 on Jul 24, 2013 7:34:59 GMT -6

I would be wary of phone calls. I doubt parents would appreciate a teacher they may have never met calling their house and saying "your kid would look great in our uniform."

Just advertise. Tell the current players to tell the younger kids. Put posters and fliers up in the middle school.

Your #1 recruiters will be your players. They get their younger brothers and their friends to come out and play. Encourage them to spread the word. Use media too. Make highlight videos and post them on youtube. Have a team internet page that any potential player or parent can access with any information or forms they may need.

Advertise and get the word out, and don't get too personal with families/players. At most, when you see a "football body," be basic like "hey, you have a great football frame. Ever consider playing?" Take their response and go from there. Don't try to force or drive players though, as they'll quickly decide to not play.

"The quality of any man's life is directly proportional to his commitment to excellence."-Vince Lombardi

"We can't make a block and we can't make a tackle...otherwise we're in great shape."-John McKay

orion320
Sophomore Member

"Don't tell me about the labor just show me the baby!"

Posts: 211

Recruiting Freshmen Jul 24, 2013 7:46:52 GMT -6

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Post by orion320 on Jul 24, 2013 7:46:52 GMT -6

I am in the same boat as you are Knightfan64. I am also the JV coach and it is the HC's responsibility to go over the the JH and recruit kids to play football. Well, last year our HC didn't go over as he knew he was leaving, result, we only have 11 Freshman this year. We usually have at least 20. (School size 650). Numbers are low due to 4 major factors:
1. HS Coaches not involved in Pee Wee Program
2. Poor coaching in Pee Wee Program
3. No Football Coaches in the Junior High

As for your questions:
1. I wouldn't contact everyone, there are only some kids who are football players. Do you want "football players" or "kids who play football?" Don't waste a ton of time recruiting the wrong kids because you want kids who actually want to be there not just show up. As for weeding out the "riff raff," I think that is the wrong approach. In my 5 years of coaching I have always got a "bad apple" freshman to join as a sophomore and it really turned their discipline and grade problems around. Sometimes they end up being the best player.

2. Get involved. Go to the Pee Wee Games, talk to the players at the end of the game, have a coaches clinic for Pee Wee Coaches and ask them to run the same scheme, drills and concepts that the HS run.

3. Have an 8th Grade Night. Get Pizza, allow the kids to be on the sidelines of the game and to see the excitement of Friday night first hand rather than chasing girls around the stadium. Another idea that we will be doing this year is to take action shots of the of our players print them with their stats and other impressive accomplishments including GPA and say "WHO'S NEXT?"

Here is a link from one of my HS Coaches website, this should help: www.chiefpigskin.com/3-ways-to-recruit-your-hallways/