What is the most frustrating part of the recruiting process?

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College coaches that play games.

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Insecure parents.

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College coaches that play games.

Or cant be bothered to say "sorry we have moved on." Like someone said it's a lot like job hunting. It's not for thin skinned people but they're still kids in many regards. A little courtesy is all. Then again it also says a lot about them.

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Most clubs will only do so much. Some coaches are idiots, some not even from here and don't fully understand US schools and the entire process. The majority of the heavy lifting is on the player and their family. And say a coach makes a phone call to gauge interest but the response is yes we really like Suzy but we aren't making decisions on that class quite yet."? You wait.

Also, once you're knee deep in it what are you going to do, change clubs? Too little too late at that point. Yes targeting is critical, but that doesn't mean the process will go smoothly or quickly. It's a long slog for most but the most in demand players.

A lot of recruiting comes down to choices that get made during the early middle school years. Selecting the right coach is one of them. Be wary of the coaches who wont talk to parents or the ones who claim lots of "college commitments" but few ever pan out. Parent's need to ask around and find out who will actually work for the kids they coach. Lot's of frauds out there.

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Coaches go for their top picks first. If some reject the program the coach will go down the list until spots get filled. Sometimes it happens fast, others more slowly. It also gets tricky if you get 1 or 2 offers but they're not necessarily your top picks. Do you wait and hope or take an offer in hand? They'll give you a little time to decide but not much

Parents need to manage the process so this doesn't happen. The reality is always going to be the schools with the longest odds of landing your player are going to try to get their offer on the table first and a lot of times their offer is going to be the most attractive. One program's projected impact player can be another's bench player. It's just the way the game gets played out. Parents should anticipate this. The real dicey part is you shouldn't start seeking offers until you are real close to the end of the process with your player's top 1-2 choices otherwise you can end up passing on offers and then not getting what you hope for from your top choices. Once an offer is on the table you only have a few weeks at best to give them an answer. It's a juggling act. Your club coach should be really doing the intel work on the different coaches interest levels and determining whether they are interested in making an offer. You really want to push on your kid's top choices first and then back fill with secondary offers afterwards if necessary. You shouldn't be working the bottom of the list first. Nor should you be blind as to where your kid stands with their top choices if you are getting offers already. Parents should realize that the reality is if those coaches from your kid's top choices are dragging their feet, it likely means that your kid is not their top choice. There's no guarantee those coaches will ever make an offer. Unfortunately if you have offers on the table you need to quickly push your top choices right now by telling them you have offers on the table,. If they are not willing to make an offer that should tell you there where your kid stands and you probably want to take the offer on the table. Unfortunately mistakes have been made, don't compound the situation by waiting for something that may never happen.

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Parents need to manage the process so this doesn't happen. The reality is always going to be the schools with the longest odds of landing your player are going to try to get their offer on the table first and a lot of times their offer is going to be the most attractive. One program's projected impact player can be another's bench player. It's just the way the game gets played out. Parents should anticipate this. The real dicey part is you shouldn't start seeking offers until you are real close to the end of the process with your player's top 1-2 choices otherwise you can end up passing on offers and then not getting what you hope for from your top choices. Once an offer is on the table you only have a few weeks at best to give them an answer. It's a juggling act. Your club coach should be really doing the intel work on the different coaches interest levels and determining whether they are interested in making an offer. You really want to push on your kid's top choices first and then back fill with secondary offers afterwards if necessary. You shouldn't be working the bottom of the list first. Nor should you be blind as to where your kid stands with their top choices if you are getting offers already. Parents should realize that the reality is if those coaches from your kid's top choices are dragging their feet, it likely means that your kid is not their top choice. There's no guarantee those coaches will ever make an offer. Unfortunately if you have offers on the table you need to quickly push your top choices right now by telling them you have offers on the table,. If they are not willing to make an offer that should tell you there where your kid stands and you probably want to take the offer on the table. Unfortunately mistakes have been made, don't compound the situation by waiting for something that may never happen.

But as was said sometimes those top 1-2 choices might be slow in getting back to you. Each school will be somewhat different given who they need, who they're looking at and just how each coach likes to manage his timeline in general. Plan to the extent you can but a good deal is out of your hands. If you target well do a good job selling yourself then something should work out. But that doesn't mean the process will go smoothly. Sometimes you may end up somewhere you never even expected when you started, preferably in a good way.

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But as was said sometimes those top 1-2 choices might be slow in getting back to you. Each school will be somewhat different given who they need, who they're looking at and just how each coach likes to manage his timeline in general. Plan to the extent you can but a good deal is out of your hands. If you target well do a good job selling yourself then something should work out. But that doesn't mean the process will go smoothly. Sometimes you may end up somewhere you never even expected when you started, preferably in a good way.

Not if you do your homework well and play the game well. The only time a player ends up waiting is when they don’t have a clue where they stand with a coach. It’s s big mistake. If your kid is waiting on a coach it’s because they’re waiting on someone else. Under those scenarios you had better make damn sure the fit is otherwise great otherwise you are likely to be looking at a transfer by the time the freshman season is over. You always get the best deal where your kid is the top prospect in that coach’s board. If your kid is waiting it tells you your kid’s are not exactly great with that particular coach. Move on and find a place where your kid is wanted.

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Not if you do your homework well and play the game well. The only time a player ends up waiting is when they don’t have a clue where they stand with a coach. It’s s big mistake. If your kid is waiting on a coach it’s because they’re waiting on someone else. Under those scenarios you had better make damn sure the fit is otherwise great otherwise you are likely to be looking at a transfer by the time the freshman season is over. You always get the best deal where your kid is the top prospect in that coach’s board. If your kid is waiting it tells you your kid’s are not exactly great with that particular coach. Move on and find a place where your kid is wanted.

Players have much less control than you think in terms of timing and accuracy of targeting. And plenty of players are ok not being the #1 pick if it means getting into a school they really want. It doesn't mean they will transfer or drop out.

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Just listen to BTNT....you're not doing it right if you don't follow him.

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Just listen to BTNT....you're not doing it right if you don't follow him.

lol you're right. May as well beat my head against the wall all the good it is to argue with him.

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lol you're right. May as well beat my head against the wall all the good it is to argue with him.

Oh yes, far better to pass on a legit offer waiting for another offer than may never materialize. Can you say On to D3...

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Better to be a school’s top recruit than be one of the ones that comes on later for both $$ and playing time.

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Better to be a school’s top recruit than be one of the ones that comes on later for both $$ and playing time.

100% correct. Understanding where your kids stands on a coaches shopping list is vital. The timing and money will tell a family where their kid stands. If the coach is pushing a big percentage at a kid right away it tells the family that they are a priority prospect. If the coach is stalling or coming with a low ball offer it really means that coach sees their kid as more of a role player.

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100% correct. Understanding where your kids stands on a coaches shopping list is vital. The timing and money will tell a family where their kid stands. If the coach is pushing a big percentage at a kid right away it tells the family that they are a priority prospect. If the coach is stalling or coming with a low ball offer it really means that coach sees their kid as more of a role player.

Wow....great insight....who knew something so obvious.

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If your kid is not a good student, the soccer will only take them so far anyway.