Athletic Recruiting Websites

 

I recently received a question from a parent about online athletic recruiting websites, the kind offered by big companies that work with high school athletes in every sport imaginable. The question was:

How can joining an “online database” website can enhance my son’s chances in the recruiting process?

I think we all know the kind of website this parent is referring to… there are many of them out there. Students sign up, create an online resume using a template, fill out some preferences for their ideal college program, and then the site algorithm generates a list of potential schools of interest. Students can then contact coaches directly from the website, and coaches have the ability to search through student-athlete profiles to find recruits.

From my experience, online athletic recruiting services don’t add anything that students can’t do on their own. And actually, they can detract. In this article, I’ll walk you through the biggest pros and cons of online athletic recruiting websites offered by big college athletic recruiting service companies.

 

Biggest Pro – You know how to get started

The main way online athletic  recruiting websites can add value is by providing kids with a basic resume template and way to rach out to coaches. It’s a kind of “entry into the recruiting process”, which can be helpful. This is an overwhelming process and it’s hard to know where to start. This is exactly why I recently created a recruiting course to help you do just that. And before that, you still need to know which schools you should be contacting.

But there’s so much more to it after that. And a lot of online recruiting platforms leave you in a lurch at this point.

 

Biggest Con – You rely on “being discovered”

The biggest con of using an online athletic recruiting website in your recruiting process, is that it further removes you from the driver’s seat. At most schools, you need to be proactive to get on a coaches radar. Very few kids “get discovered” by schools that they might actually be interested in.

Directly reaching out to coaches via email is often the best approach — much more personal than reaching out through an online database, and definitely more effective than simply building a profile and hoping coaches find you. Most kids need to be proactive to get on a coach’s radar. And coaches love to hear directly from kids (rather than their parents, coaches, or even advisors like me — for more on why, check out my article on why coaches don’t want to hear from me).

When kids lead the outreach and communication, they demonstrate genuine interest, maturity, and self-advocacy, all of which are things that coaches want in their team members. It’s also a great opportunity for kids to develop a lot of important personal skills.

Second biggest con – you won’t get sport specific guidance

Many of the online athletic recruiting websites don’t vary their approach by sport. There’s a lot to be said for getting input from someone who knows golf, has played at a high level, has been a coach, and seen the recruiting process intimately from both side. If you are paying for advice, make sure the advice you are getting is worth it!

Why working with PSA College Counseling is different

I work with kids on navigating the whole process…

• writing a well-crafted introductory email and concise resume
• managing the ongoing communication with coaches (what information to share when, and how to market yourself with humility)
• preparing for phone calls and visits
• building a strong tournament schedule
• planning for the SAT (and deciding when to take it)
• to asking coaches for honest feedback
• making a well-informed decision based on your options and goals.

Knowing their goals and what they really want is often the hardest part of this process for kids, which is another reason why it can be helpful to have someone consistently working with kids and parents through this process. What I do is much more personal and in-depth than what most online athletic recruiting websites offer.

​When I work with students, advising takes place via video conference every 2-3 weeks. I meet directly with the student to help him/her feel comfortable and confident moving through the recruiting process and exploring options. I’m not a scout who markets kids to coaches; I’m an advisor who helps kids get more out of their recruiting and college selection process.

Conclusion

Online athletic recruiting websites offered by college athletic recruiting service companies can help you jumpstart your recruiting process if you are struggling to know how and where to start, but there is a much better and more impactful strategy out there. Taking the time to reach out to coaches directly via email will yield better results. It’s worth taking the time and doing the research necessary to have meaningful communication and build honest relationships with coaches.