I am starting a series of blogs on what it takes to win the recruiting game for high school athletes. I first wanted to discuss the intitial steps on how to get to the next level. I work with many families and the first thing I always advise on is developing and laying out a specific plan. This cannot be overstated. Going blind into a challenging and strategic process puts you one step behind, in a competitive environment that you need to win. There is too much at stake, in this once in a lifetime opportunity, to lose.
I am asked over and over again, "what is the most important thing a high school athlete can do to get to the collegiate level." That is a tough question and has multiple answers. The first thing is perform. College coaches want kids who have proven they can play at a high level. If the performance isn't there, nothing else matters. There might be opportunities at a smaller school or a junior college, but even those opportunities will be slim.
If the performance and desire is there for the athlete, it is crucial to develop a plan early. I have worked with kids that are clearly going to play at the next level and it is known at a young age. Some of them developed plans their freshman year high school, or even earlier. What camps they are going to, what off-season workouts they will be doing, what teams they will play for apart from the high school teams, etc... Planning is everything, and that makes an advising role like mine very crucial. A devised plan that is off track is a big gamble. Find resources that can help you devise an educated plan.
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