Potential Magazine Fall 2015 - Florida Edition | Page 17

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Tim Horton, Running Backs Coach for Auburn University,
shared the steps he and fellow football recruiting coaches
take when evaluating a potential player.

STEP 1: In football, the player’s video is the first

step in the process. This video is usually watched in a
system called Hudl, and we watch to see if he has the
ability to play at our level.

Kristin Wood

STEP 2: We do background checks with the high
Patrick Wood, whose daughter Kristin was recruited to play
college softball, also encourages other parents to have a profile
sheet on your teen with a photo, highlights and stats at all
athletic events ready to hand to interested coaches.

[BE_READY_FOR_THE_RIDE]
While having your student athlete being recruited by college
coaches is exciting, it is not without pitfalls. Mitchell shared
this warning: “Some college coaches will tell your son what
he wants to hear just to keep him interested in their program.
College coaches may even pressure your son to commit, telling
him his scholarship will be given to someone else if he doesn’t,”
she said. “Like it or not, the process isn’t always pleasant. It
is like riding a roller coaster, so be prepared for the ups and
downs.”

[STAYING_STRONG]
[ACADEMICALLY]
The recruitment process is really in the hands of college
coaches, but your teen’s high school coach can play an
important role in making sure that he or she is ready. “Good
high school coaches really focus on helping them stay eligible
for recruitment by making sure they complete their core work,
take and pass the tests and meet the specific eligibility
guidelines,” Brooks said. It’s key for parents to pay attention
and be involved with that as well, as Brooks stressed. “It won’t
do you any good to be recruited if you can’t get into the school
that’s wanting you,” he said.
And parents can help keep their teens focused too. “The
process will be time consuming, which can make studying
difficult. But without the grades an athlete will not qualify to
play, ultimately meaning all the hard work was for nothing,”
Mitchell said.

school coach concerning academics, character, work
ethic, attitude, etc.

STEP 3: We meet the kid, hopefully at our school

as he participates in a camp or combine. We are looking
to see if he is a fit for our university.

STEP 4: With limited scholarships available, we try
and rank players and determine who we would offer a
scholarship to and accept their commitment.

[REMEMBERING]
[REGULATIONS]
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) creates
and enforces the rules and regulations concerning college
sports, and breaking these rules is serious stuff. Much of the
responsibility for staying on the right side of the line falls on
college coaches and their staff. While most high-school athletes
will never have to deal with a possible infraction, it is crucial
that they at least be aware of the rules and regulations.
“It is really the very elite athletes being recruited by football and
basketball college coaches that may run into recruitment irregularities,” Brooks said, “but you just have to talk to them candidly
about the rules and make sure they understand what breaking
them