sin86
Sophomore Member
Posts: 111
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Post by sin86 on Jan 16, 2009 22:10:03 GMT -6
While reading a thread on another message board, coaches were discussing the virtue of recruiting the halls. One coach said that after years of doing so he got very little return for the practice with most players quitting as soon as things got tough. Other coaches however reported that they got some benefit out of it finding the rare athlete once in a while. I don't think any reported a major impact?
What about you guys, what are your thoughts on this?
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Post by cc on Jan 16, 2009 22:43:27 GMT -6
It's a must.
I have had several key players come out and stick because of that. I think more than ever, players want to feel wanted and that they have a place to belong, where they are valued.
Sure many may wash out or string your along with half hearted commtiments, but I have found over and over again that a few words of encouragement often get out those missing links.
Anyways, recruiting in the halls is always on my to do list this time of year!!!
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Post by larrymoe on Jan 16, 2009 22:52:08 GMT -6
We got a kid out who had never played football in his life last spring. Came out as a Sr. and started every single game for us at corner. Actually beat out a returning starter for the job.
If you get 10 more kids out, 5 may quit before the summer workouts begin. 3 more may be terrible, but you will have gotten 2 kids who can contribute out that normally wouldn't have played.
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Post by tog on Jan 16, 2009 23:05:45 GMT -6
best combination to have
freshman teacher that is also a varsity coach---hopefully a social studies person that can win some kids over and know them throughout their high school career regardless of them being on the team or not
soph pe==can you spot transfers/new kids/kids that slipped through the cracks the need to be out, and can you get them out
in a perfect world
these two spots would be your coordinators
they are mine
i just need a shot
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Post by touchdowng on Jan 16, 2009 23:29:50 GMT -6
Here is what we do and it works great
The week after our season is over I have a meeting with a few of our 9th and 10th graders in our program. I pick the kids who are driven and I ask them what kind of program do they want in two years (when they are the varsity guys). I have a list of all of our 9th and 10th grade boys. We go through the list and identify the kids who didn't play but probably should have.
After we've identified our top dozen 9th and top dozen 10th graders, we go to work.
I tell the young guys to "plant the seed" and start talking to their buddies about playing football. They report back to me and tell me if their friends are interested. Usually they are because they know they've been ID'd by their peers
Then we give the names to an upper classmen (11th or 12th graader) and they go and talk to them. If still interested then we send a coach.
We invite them to the winter weight room (if they aren't playing a sport) and get them involved. This is when the coaches who work the weight room work to get the kids interested and feeling involved.
This process takes about 4 to 6 days and saves a lot of trivial conversations in the halls where kids tell coaches what they want to hear and then never show up.
We've been doing this for the past 6 to 8 years and it's really paid dividends.
Most of these kids go through spring drills with us. Some decide FB isn't for them. Out of the 15 to 20 fresh faces that we've "recruited" in the winter from our own student body a little more than half pan out for us. We've had one go on and become a starting strong safety at a D1AA school. Most will be contributing by their 11th or 12th grade seasons.
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Post by tog on Jan 16, 2009 23:36:18 GMT -6
good idea g
using the kids is always a good idea
they are the ones with the stroke
that and having coaches that can relate to kids and get them to commit are vital in building a program
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Post by paydirt18 on Jan 16, 2009 23:49:53 GMT -6
For any program, I think that you have to do this. Speaking for myself, this is a very difficult task. This past season we made the playoffs for the first time in a long time, I thought that this may create a spark....I was a bit wrong. The core kids I have, and get every year have that itch and want to do the things it takes to have success. In talking to potential prospects,, even having my players talk to them, the results are pretty much the same...."you guys work too hard" or ""I play basketball and...." I'm tired of those responses.....
Somebody answer the million dollar question: how do you get the kids in the hal?
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yccom
Freshmen Member
Posts: 19 
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Post by yccom on Jan 16, 2009 23:52:20 GMT -6
We try to recruit the halls as well. However, % wise we have a great deal of the athletes with us already. For a new kid, I try to get them to experience spring practice. By the end of that they may have an idea of if they are going to stick it out or not. Have had them say that this is not for them. I don't have a problem with that. I just don't want them to regret not coming out. Had a player this past season that say, as we have heard before, I wish that I had not waited until my senior year to come out.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Jan 17, 2009 6:58:45 GMT -6
I ask every kid in the building. Even the so called "goth" kids. Two "sk8ers" have been coming to the weight room and one of them is my top attendance kid now. He has since cut his hair, worn a tee shirt other than something black and hes now playing touch football with the jocks after school instead of "call to duty 4".
Last season I recruited even in season and got one catch. The kid ended up starting the last 5 or so games at tackle for us. It only takes one catch to make it all worth while.
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Post by coachjuice on Jan 17, 2009 7:56:10 GMT -6
All great idea's. We are in a special situation. We have 7 coaches all are teachers at either the HS where we are at our in he middle school which is our main feeder school (no middle school sports).
Myself-PE Head Coach-HS
DC-Health-Motor Development-HS
OL-Math-HS
JV-Social Studies-Middle School
JV-PE Teacher-HS
Asst.-Business-HS
Asst.-Special Ed-HS
We make it a point to talk with EVERY kid in the building. We will end up with a ton of Sophomores this year because they are seeing what we are all about.
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Post by td4tc on Jan 17, 2009 8:01:21 GMT -6
i'm a non teacher coach but when i'm at Bball games etc i'm recruiting the stands like crazy.anybody who sits down and i can feel the stands move i'm talking to.then i visit the weight room and get all the hockey players who are disillusioned with not making it to the NHL to play D for me.then i tell the kids they have to recruit themselves and they do a pretty good job of it.if we can get you to spring camp we got ya if we keep it interesting.
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Post by ajreaper on Jan 17, 2009 8:15:19 GMT -6
hes now playing touch football with the jocks after school instead of "call to duty 4". If he's not playing Call of Duty 5 by now consider him a bust  Every kid wants someplace to belong where membership is unique and/or exclusive for some that'll be football and getting them out there to give it a try often just takes a current player or coach planting the seed. You can only provide the opportunity and encouragement hopefully they'll catch the bug and provide the rest. |
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Post by gpoulin76 on Jan 17, 2009 8:36:52 GMT -6
We try to use the kids to recruit as well. We ask all of our athletes to identify 3 kids in the school that are not part of the program that you think could help us win. We tell them we are not only looking for athletes, but good students and character kids. After we get a list of names, the coaches talk to the kids in study hall, lunch, or free periods. Most already know they have been identified by their peers. Honestly, sometimes it works well...many times it doesn't. But recruiting is essential.
By doing this, we have also found out about a few kids that played last year and told their friends that they may not play next year. We were able to talk to them before they made up their minds.
The bottom line is that teens have a need to feel needed and sometimes stroked. Sadly, many don't get recognized at home by mom and dad.
Many times kids tell you what you want to hear, string you along, etc. It can be very frustrating and make you question why you put yourself out there for the kid. But we are all teachers. And after years of frustration I realized that if I approach a kid, sell the program and stroke him and he blows me off, perhaps he will carry that experience with him and it will positively impact him at some point in is life.
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Post by lucassean2 on Jan 17, 2009 11:02:14 GMT -6
I like touchdowng's approach to recruiting. Does anyone else have a specific strategy to recruiting the hallways
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Post by coachplaa on Jan 17, 2009 14:27:50 GMT -6
One thing I have learned is it is most important to focus on the 9th grade class this time of year- assuming you are a 9-12 high school. You are going to get very little out of recruiting out a Junior that has NEVER played football before unless he is a phenominal athlete. You are not going to get too much out of a Sophomore, who will be playing as a Junior and has never played before. I'm not saying don't recruit those grades, but I am saying don't spend the majority of your time on it.
But if you can get focus 75% of your attention on talking to 9th graders, that is key. Get them out for Sophomore football, have a sophomore coaching staff who has two goals: Every kid says "I enjoyed playing football this year" and "I want to play again next year." Then you will have a Varsity kid who has played at least a year before they play Varsity football. We all know that is where the biggest improvement is, after there first year of playing going into their second year.
This is how I recruit 9th graders...I talk to them in this rough order...
"Do you watch football on TV?" (a no answer, and you can move on in my opinion)
"Who is your favorite team?"
"Do you have a favorite player?"
"Have you ever thought about playing football for our school?"
"Why didn't you play this year?"
"If you join the football team, I and our assistant coaches will do everything we can to help you excel as a student and an athlete."
I think the key is to LISTEN to his answers, and modify your approach with each kid.
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Post by kylem56 on Jan 17, 2009 15:17:33 GMT -6
The program I was apart of this past season. All the teachers on the staff with the exception of one were teachers at the junior high. the Head coach was the principal of the junior high. This actually worked out real well because before our staff arrived, the average number of kids per class was around 12. Now its up to 25. My point is to recruit the 8th graders hard, ask every kid because you dont know how they will develop in 3-4 years, and once they get there, make sure they have fun and keep wanting to come back. 2 years ago, at the end of their 8th grade year, any kid who signed up to play football at the high school the next season also recieved a shirt saying 2012 State Champs. Another thing we do is on every 7th and 8th grade boy's birthday, they get a birthday card from the "high school team" that we have pre made. By time they get to 9th grade they cant wait to take part in the program.
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Post by k on Jan 17, 2009 15:21:59 GMT -6
You are not going to get too much out of a Sophomore, who will be playing as a Junior and has never played before. On the other hand we recruited a kid to play as a Junior and he came out and was easily our best player two years in a row and as a one year player was elected captain unanimously by both the players and coaches. =) |
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Post by bigm0073 on Jan 19, 2009 14:01:06 GMT -6
I am not really a huge fan of doing this. I really look for players who REALLY want to be out there. The last thing I want to do is recruit, ask, beg... for kids to come out. My experience is for whatever reason they do not work (Have jobs, not tough enough, too much to learn to quickly, mentally weak). At my old school I would make ride their butts in the off-season (Workouts that were optional but mandatory) and I found the kids who kind of half ass the workouts and were NOT really into it usually quit.
I want kids who have been playing football for a while and who LOVE it. I want kids who can not envision life without football. I want kids that are 5'9" 180 lbs who probably do not have the physical skills to play at the college level but are commited to the program and to the game. They will DO anything for the team. In my opinion these are the kids you win with. They love football. They are in the weight room everyday and do whatever you ask.
When a kid comes to me about playing the first thing I ask him is why did he not play last year: Some acceptable excuses:
1. I transferred in September and was told it was too late.
2. 9th grader who was on vacation and thought if he came out after mid august he would be cut.
3. Young kid who transfers in in Janaury (Just met one on Friday).
Here is what I DO NOT WANT TO HERE:
1. I work at BK and I could not get off work.
2. I don't know. I think I just want to try it this year (Usually a juniOR)
3. I can not come to weight training becuase I work..... Whatever
If a kid really wants to play I will give him a grade sheet for him to fill out and also I ask for two teachers to write a letter of reference (Most often this scared away all of the knuckleheads and idiots who will not help you as well).
I know many probably will not agree with this policy but I unless the kid is a 9th grade student - I really try and avoid sophmores and juniors at all cost who come to me for the first time.
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Post by bigm0073 on Jan 20, 2009 10:11:21 GMT -6
DC Ohio,
I think you and I are very similar. I am also a very up front and straight shooter. I think kids respect that today and if anything they always know where they stand.
I like using the off-season to challenge my players mentally. Really see what players are really up for the challenges of winning championships and going to the playoffs. I personally want quality not quanity. Before I was at this school (1700 students) I was at a school with over 2600 students. I use to do the same thing - really push and pry kids. See if they really were about.
I remember in 2005 I had two kids show - one was a great athlete. THey just showed up without working out. So since they did not get their 40 workouts in over the summer they would do double the conditioning.
I remember by the fourth day I told the team (Their names were Mark and Ivan) that if these two players make it through two-a-days I would buy the team pizza. Well they made just in spite of me (Mark told me later HE WAS NOT GOING TO BREAK). Over the next two years Mark had his ups and downs (He was kind of a mess at times but MAN he played hard and was tough as nails) on the last game of the season a playoff game Mark was in the locker room just balling his eyes out. I mean you could see it was sincere and it killed him it was over. He was the last person out.
He went on to wrestle and was all region and was a regional qualifier in track. Up until that point NOBODY wanted him.. He was lazy and just a mess. He graduated and plays at a JUCO now.
I have to amdmit deep down inside I have a lot of respect for that kid. He has some BALLS and really stepped up. I guess if I would have coddled him and kissed his butt I would not have gotted the same result. He came back to tell me if it was not for me he would not have graduated. That is pretty cool stuff.
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Post by touchdownmaker on Jan 20, 2009 10:13:58 GMT -6
IN some situations, recruiting in the halls might save the program.
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Post by coachweav88 on Jan 20, 2009 10:38:31 GMT -6
we're in a situation where we HAVE to get more kids out. We only had 28 kids 9-12. It became very difficult to do JV games with such a limited number and also to have a competitive scout team. We ran into some injury problem which made practice a little tougher (especially team time). 2008 was the HC's first season at the school and we've gotten better but are not near the level we want to be at. In order for that to happen, we need to get more kids.
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Post by coachkimble on Jan 20, 2009 12:35:10 GMT -6
A couple of years ago, we had a draft (after spring sports were done) We picked our 4 most responsible Sr's and they drafted from a list of students that had put their name onto our FB signup sheets. This included kids that we encouraged to come to just check it out. The draft was the biggest thing is school that day. We did it 7th period and we probably had 50 + kids in a small classroom for the draft. After the draft each team was assigned point for various things. Grades, behavior in school, practice attendance, weight room attendance were all scored. The winning team after summer got to pick jersey's first. That meant that some Frosh. picked before Sr's. After the summer was over, a weekly winner was picked and that team got a sticker for their helmet, 1st pick of seats on the bus, and 1st in line for pregame meal and the meal after the game.
A neg. 50 points was assigned to quitters team. This encouraged kids not just to come out, but to put positive peer pressure on wafflers. We got the idea from the Eureka College Sun Devil FB program. We've modified it to fit our needs. I would highly suggest going something like this for your program if you have trouble with summer programs and recruitment.
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Post by dubber on Jan 20, 2009 12:55:38 GMT -6
best combination to have freshman teacher that is also a varsity coach---hopefully a social studies person that can win some kids over and know them throughout their high school career regardless of them being on the team or not soph pe==can you spot transfers/new kids/kids that slipped through the cracks the need to be out, and can you get them out in a perfect world these two spots would be your coordinators they are mine i just need a shot Our Header is the only male PE coach in the school. He gets 2 full years of the kids in JH, and again in Freshman PE. Our OL coach is 8th grade science. We have had a ton of success recruiting players. Last season, as first year players, we had: -Both starting CB's -Both starting OT's -Both starting DE's That's six spots filled by "recruits" (basically, we raided the basketball team).........now the damnedest things is, we need them to come out their freshmen years. Here is probably the biggest thing we have done in this area: We made football for EVERYONE. Kids use to be scared to come out, we had a real elitist attitude by some upper classmen........now, it is more egalitarian.....got rid of the "freshmen do this....." crap that some seniors would do, etc. *WARNING* *WARNING*---Lochness will roll his eyes at this next portion, but THERE HAS to be some truth to it. We are now spread no-huddle, which the kids think is fun.......they see it, they want to play like it, etc. Tony Franklin, love him or hate him, is right about this.........when is the last time you saw kids playing pick-up football run Power F? Hell no, automatic hike that SOB and throw it. (In season we trick them though, running about 51% of the time) Also, it is easier to recruit an OT (slash back-up power forward) who can pass block and reach a DE on jet, than it is to find that bury the whole damn side of the line with this down block OT. I'm just saying. It helps. Do you need to run that style in order to recruit? No, No, emphatically no. but it works for us. |
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