In Or Out: Where Are You?

Jason
Jul 22, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Nov 26, 2023

*Originally posted (5/27/2022)

Older posts will sometimes be unarchived and made available to everyone if the topic is relevant to conversations currently occurring in the recruiting world.

Tommy Callahan Sr. said it best,

"You're either growing or you're dying.

There ain't no third direction."

Tommy Boy is a great movie, but how does that apply to college recruiting you ask?

The answer is pretty simple.

You're either in or your out.

You're either going through the process or you're stalled.

You're progressing with a school or you aren't.

They are interested or they are NOT.

There isn't a ton of wiggle room. The process usually goes through these steps:

Emails

Texts

Phone Calls

Visits

Offers

If you get stuck on any one of these steps it's usually not a good thing. Through emails you need to be asking about phone calls. When you are on the phone with a college coach you need to be asking about visits. Things won't always move instantly, but if you are emailing back and forth with a coach asking for a phone call and aren't getting one, that's a problem.

College coaches are always recruiting someone. They are always going through the process with at least one athlete.

If a coach isn't taking the next step forward with you, there are two realistic possibilities:

1) They are just going slow through the process. They will usually be really honest about this if it's the case. Maybe they aren't in a real hurry or maybe they just haven't been able to get out and watch athletes live as much. Usually once coaches are able to watch you live, they are in a position to move one way or the other.

2) They just aren't that interested. Whether you end up NOT being on their list or they just have enough athletes in front of you, it's usually the same outcome. "2nd Tier" athletes aren't really on the list (imo) and so it might be time for the athlete to move on as well.

Don't get stuck. Keep the process moving. Again, it's not going to happen instantly. Visits can get scheduled months in advance and that's totally okay. It realistically might take that long to find time for both parties involved.

Also, don't give up after just one email, or even 3. Remember - not every coach can go to every tournament or qualifier. If it's a school you're really interested in, stay on them. Do everything to encourage them to come watch you play and communicate to them that you are really interested in their program. Every coach has their own process they go through when it comes to recruiting. Just don't get stuck.

I wrote about putting all your eggs in one basket earlier HERE. That all applies here as well. Stay interested in a school, even if they maybe aren't as interested as you. Nothing wrong with that. Just be willing to go in a different direction and engage with a school that really is interested in you.