Recruiting plan

Most colleges send out blank DVDs or video tapes early in the season and ask for 2 game films. They also will often do this in the spring along with questionairres about your top players, players in the conference, etc. Many coaching staffs make spring loops where they stop in and visit.

Beyond that, send film with info about players they need to take a look at.

When I coached the college level we didn't put much stock in the recruiting websites, though I think that may have changed some. A lot of smaller schools need players and have limited recruiting budgets so a couple game films and info about particular players is a good start for them.

I'd say you can send film with a roster, maybe note the starters or All-Staters, etc. players to look at--whatever.

When I was a college G.A. part of my duties was to take all incoming info and sort and organize and cross-reference everything. What delayed us in looking at a particular kid was info coming in pieces from a kid. For example, if a kid sends a note saying "I'm interested in playing football at your school" then send the film too. The note and name is forgotten because there's no film. So send the film. Include stats--height, weight, etc. GPA, etc. A great thing for them to include is the school's questionairre if they can print it off the net.

This isn't something you need to do as a coach, but something a kid and parents can organize.

Too many parents/kids get hung up on highlight films and in my opinion not enough coaches do. Anyone can look like a star on a highlight tape. On its own it isn't considered as strongly. But with 2 game films, a 4-6 minute tape has tremendous value. If the kid makes one heck of a play in about 4 games but those aren't his best games, they get missed. A few highlights show what the kid is capable of. That's important.

For the coach, put films on DVDs when you get them from colleges, or burn several copies and send them to regional schools where your kids can play.

But the most important thing, is don't oversell a kid or kids who won't make it or if you aren't sure they can play at that level. Nothing hurts a high school program's recruiting awareness more than a coach who really oversells a kid, then the college watches a few films, and likes it off that impression and then takes the coach at his word. Then the kid isn't nearly the athlete he was made out to be, etc. Then a college coach will say, "that coach never gives us the straight info on his kids."

But when coaches come into the school bend over backwards to help them talk to kids. If they call ahead of time then get your potential players informed so they can come down and visit. Give up the office for them, offer them film, etc.

I know nothing about your program, your team, your players or your league, but if colleges aren't paying much attention then they're either neglecting a potential pipeline or they haven't been aided much in the past from previous coaches etc.

Coach here is what I do:

Have a file of each players that has:
1. Copy of updated transcripts
2. Two game tapes with some hi-lights
3. SAT/ACT Scores

That is in a folder. This is for my coaches who drop in the spring and fall. I want to give them something tangible.

In the spring of their sophomore and junior year I send out a mass email to around 50 schools about our kids (I am in VA - So VA, VA Tech, JMU, Richmond, W & M, ODU, Christopher Newport, Bridgewater, Shepherd....).

OVer the years I have developed a good relationship with these coaches so I usually get good honest feedback. I will send out DVDs or Clips online (If the players have it) to any school...

We just ordered APEX and we plan to have a site online this spring so coaches can go in and watch our players online..

Sending tape is great but I found from doing this (And from being a college coach too) most of these tapes get lost or never make it to their destination.

From there our players go to one day camps (We also do a team camp) and we also do 7 on 7 tournaments at local colleges. This allows our players to get a good evaluation.

Biggest thing is to contact the coach via email and phone calls and get them into your building in the spring so they can SEE the kid up close and also so you can give them the tapes, transcripts and scores.....

My final suggestion is this: next time you have a coach in the building or go to a clinic, ask what works best.

Two things: If you have a kid you think is D1 or 1AA, don't wait until the middle of his senior year to send out film. Send film out of that kid as soon as possible. If he has s stud sophomore year, send a 3 to 4 minute highlight film and 2 games after his sophomore year. Send it with a copy of his transcript. Send film during the junior season as well, as well as an updated transcript and SAT/ACT score. Call the recruiting coordinator and ask him to come by during the May recruiting period.

Point 2: Just because we think a kid is D1 doesn't mean he is. It sometimes is a numbers game. Too many kids set their sites on a D-1 school because they are getting some interest. Then, no offers come, and they have no where to go. If a kid doesn't have an offer by summer of his junior year, start sending tape to the D-II's and I-AA schools.