May 27, 2001

EDGYTIM
EdgyTim.com

Recruiting Part 3 of 5

Getting noticed!

Probably one of the most difficult things involved in the entire recruiting process is getting noticed. How do some kids get noticed while others, who very well could be as good if not better recruits than those who have caught the public's eye get their due? How do you get noticed? How do you catch the eyes of those recruiting guys? How do you get on those listings?

Some of these ideas might work, some might not. But all are worth a try!

Publicize your player!

Now while the Bright One or other major newspapers are a great place to get your son's name out to the masses, the chanced of getting your son mentioned in these papers are as remote in most cases as winning the Lottery. The facts are simply this.........most major newspapers are limited in the amount of space that they can devote towards recruiting, and most if not all major newspapers have their own "recruiting" experts who they rely upon for this information.

Now, with this said.....how can you get the message out? Prepare. Look at the various recruiting outlets........how can they possibly get all of the information that they list? How can they possibly look and judge all of these players? How can they rate and compare players? Simple.......information. Recruiting services spend a TON of time sending out surveys to coaches and players in the off-season, they also spend thousand of dollars a year on the phone.......calling coaches and parents and players. Getting information. If you are sent these surveys....fill them out. If your asked for a picture of your son.......provide one. Video tape? By all means make sure you have Tape! More on video tape later.

I have dealt with many, many players and parents over the last several years, and what amazes me is the lack of understanding of why this is so important. Websites and recruiters can't talk or evaluate your son without this information. Be prepared and ready. Have extra pictures of your son ready. Have copies of a video tape all set to go. Throw together a one-page bio on your son as well.......nothing too fancy, just consider it a resume for any potential schools. These bio's are extremely helpful....and remember.......the more info the better.....Grades? Size? Special honors earned? Stats? This also is an incredibly handy tool that can be prepared at minimal cost.

But what about if the recruiting services or other mediums don't call? What then? My suggestion is to find out how to contact them (usually isn't too difficult, although some services make contacting them like trying to find a person in the witness protection program!) and send them the information! You would be amazed at how many kids are "discovered" because someone "tipped" off a service or a recruiter! It does work, because I know this firsthand!

Let's face facts......it is IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to know about every kid in the state. No one can claim to have "discovered" every kid. I readily admit that many, many players slip under my nose each and every year. Players on losing teams? Yep, you get overlooked alot! Kids on winning teams? A perfect example of this was a few seasons back when a kid named Lee Sicinski from Joliet Catholic suddenly went from unknown to well known.......a kid literally in my own backyard! I blew it. Many others blew it as well. It happens.

From my own personal experience, I am more than willing to take the time to reply to any emails on a player.......actually I answer emails in the thousands each year from parents and players wanting more info.........I figure it's the least I can do. Pictures? I have yet to NOT use a players picture on this site......at one point last season I featured a new player picture on the Football Board almost daily! I will also follow up these request with a call to that players coach. This is how I get my info, and any website or recruiting service out there worth anything will also happily respond and reply!

Part 4.........the Video Tape! The Do's and more importantly the Don't!