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The following article is sponsored by National Scouting Report. Visit NSR’s web site at http://www.nsr-inc.com/
HOLIDAY SEASON IS PRIME TIME FOR RECRUITING
By Gary Silvers
Although high schools and colleges are dormant during the holidays, there is lots of activity among college prospects and coaches.
High school athletes are participating in holiday tournaments, exposure camps and showcases.
College coaches are preparing their teams for bowl games, tournaments and regular-season contests.
Recruiting continues as usual.
“Recruiting never stops -- even this time of year,” said Robert Cagle, National Director of Scouting for National Scouting Report. “Do college coaches take down time? Yes. Do they still read emails? Yes. Do they still evaluate prospects on film? Yes.”
Actually, the holidays are prime time for recruiting, Cagle noted.
“Depending on the sport, it’s a very active time,” Cagle said. “When athletes are off campus, it’s a good time for coaches to read [recruiting] emails, watch film and make contact with prospects.”
SOFTBALL
Because most college showcases and tournaments end in mid-November, the winter months are the hottest recruiting time of the year, said Robby Wilson, National Softball Director for NSR.
Softball prospects often attend camps at college campuses to be evaluated by college coaches. However, they must be on the coaches’ radar in advance, so they are treated as prospects, not campers.
“This time of year is a feeding frenzy for college softball coaches,” said Wilson, Area Director of Scouting in Arkansas. “However, the rest of the year is equally important in determining adequate level of play, general interest vs. real interest, etc.
“Keeping in mind the key word here is ‘process,’ the winter months of recruiting are an absolute necessity to a successful recruiting campaign for any softball athlete.”
FOOTBALL
While college bowl season receives most of the attention, college recruiting season is picking up steam.
With only five weeks remaining before National Signing Day, recruiting has shifted into high gear. Not only are coaches preparing their teams for bowl games, they also are evaluating talent and working the phones.
“Football recruiting is in its heyday right now,” said Cagle, Area Director of Scouting in South Alabama. “It doesn’t get any thicker than right now. There are dead periods and quiet periods coming up. But, once [recruiting] opens up, prospects start visiting schools in January, leading up to National Signing Day.”
SOCCER
There are lots of college showcases during the holidays, including the prestigious Disney Soccer Showcase this week at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex outside Orlando.
“It’s a very hot time for soccer,” said Gil Barkey, National Soccer Director for NSR. “There’s tons of stuff going on.”
Soccer prospects need to take advantage.
“Christmas Day is basically the only day off for college soccer coaches. They recruit very hard this time of year,” said Barkey, Area Director of Scouting in Northeast Colorado. “College prospects shouldn’t stop for a second. They should keep those emails and phone calls going.”
LACROSSE
Because there are few, if any, tournaments right now, college lacrosse coaches will make recruiting their top priority until mid-January or February, said Brendan Kennedy, National Lacrosse Director for NSR.
“All of the coaches carry [cell] phones,” said Kennedy, Area Director of Scouting in New England. “They can receive calls and emails anytime. They may not work on Christmas, but if it’s any other day, they’re going to respond.”
That isn’t always the case during the season.
“During the season, the team is always their first priority,” Kennedy said. “Recruiting kind of takes a back seat.”
BASKETBALL
Although basketball season is in full swing, the holiday season is still a good time for recruiting, said Frank Gump, National Basketball Director for NSR.
“Recruiting doesn’t stop because of the holidays,” said Gump, Area Director of Scouting in Oklahoma. “Coaches may take a couple days off around Christmas and New Years, but that’s it.
“Basketball is kind of like softball. Winter, spring and summer are big for basketball recruiting. Fall is the only time it’s a little quiet.”
National Scouting Report, the world’s oldest and largest college recruiting organization, has received hundreds of requests from college coaches seeking qualified high school prospects (2016-19) in all sports. More than 95 percent of NSR’s prospects receive scholarship offers. If you are interested in playing college sports, contact NSR Area Director Gary Silvers, former Executive Sports Editor of the Bucks County Courier Times, at (215) 480-8764 or gsilvers@nsr-inc.com.