It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you down. It's the pebble in your shoe.
--Muhammad Ali
Without a doubt, COVID-19 is a reality that all of us need to take seriously. We all play a huge role in bringing this deadly virus to an end. With the direction I am about to share, I do not want to give the impression that I believe anything else. My family came very close to losing my older brother back in March to the virus, so nothing is more important to me right now than educating families on the reality of what the virus has done and will continue to do if we do not all play our part.
With that said, I am going to share a metaphor that I have been using with families who have come to me asking for help about how to get their child recruited in the time of COVID. I think it will open your eyes to the fact COVID is not an obstacle at all. You may be your only obstacle.
Imagine you are driving down a busy 4-lane highway. Your side of the highway is busy, but everyone is driving 75 mph and cruising toward their respective destinations. You look a mile ahead on the other side of the highway with traffic coming toward you, and you see that traffic has come to a stop and cars are lined up as far as the eye can see.
As you are looking over to the left of the highway, you realize that you have taken your eyes off the road ahead of you, and you immediately slam on the brakes because of the cars ahead of you have dramatically slowed down. There is no problem on your side of the highway: no accidents, no breakdowns, no cops...just a bunch of nosy, curious individuals who are trying to see what is happening on the other side.
This is the only reason that COVID is going to affect your personal recruitment. COVID is the other side of the highway. It is not an obstacle or a deterrent to your ability to get recruited.
College coaches have not stopped or slowed down their recruitment at all. If anything, I am seeing recruitment escalated because half of the coaches in the country cannot recruit off campus due to the ever-changing off-campus rules the NCAA keeps extending. So, what does this "Dead Period" mean to you?
- D1 coaches cannot get off campus to come watch you play live
- D1 coaches cannot invite you to their campus for a visit
That's it. If you are a junior or senior, you can still call them. You can still email them. They can still watch your film and evaluate your grades and ability. They can still contact you and your coaches. They can still make offers to the Class of 2021 and 2022...and they are doing so every day!
D3, NAIA, D2, JC...and the D1 coaches are still recruiting like ever before. They just have to use their resources differently, but recruitment has really not been affected at all.
So, what should YOU be doing during these crazy times?
- Create a list of 25-50 schools at the D3, NAIA, D2, and D1 levels that you want to pursue. I recommend 5-10 schools at each level. (Don't forget that 80% of all athletic scholarships come from non-D1 schools)
- Email 2-3 of those coaches every week to introduce yourself and express your interest in them.
- Ideally, that email should include the following:
Why are you interested in their school and program?
Why should they be interested in you? i.e. Grades, ability, experience, size, position, etc.
Include your most up-to-date highlight/skill video, transcripts, test scores, game/practice schedule, upcoming events, you and your family's contact information, your coach's contact information. The best way to do this is by creating a NCSA profile and attaching the link to that profile. NCSA works with every college coach in the country. Your NCSA profile is easy to build and gives the coaches exactly want they want and need from you.
Ask them to evaluate your profile and provide feedback if they have a need (roster opening) for someone of your ability.
The student-athletes who are being the most assertive/aggressive with their recruitment are the ones who the coaches are watching, talking to and making offers to. The student-athletes who are simply playing for their High School or Club or Academy or AAU program and hoping someone finds them, are the only ones who are struggling.
Be aggressive! Go after what you want! You will begin to see results faster than you can imagine.
If you would like to schedule a one-hour evaluation and planning session with your family and me, you can contact me anytime at my email or phone number below.
Good luck and best wishes! Go make your dreams come true!
Coach Matt Rogers
Senior Recruiting Specialist
NCSA - Next College Student-Athlete
Office: (312) 610-6045
Email: mrogers@ncsasports.org
