Using a Recruiting Service

I did a zillion panels for the AVCA answering parent/coach questions.  One of the big ones that came up in every session was some form of “What about recruiting services?”

Given the limited time and some coaches going overboard with their hate of recruiting services, I don’t get much time to disagree and point out that recruiting services aren’t all bad.  There are valid reasons for using a good recruiting service actually.

Now one of the things some coaches will say is, “Anything from a recruiting service goes immediately to my Spam and I never look at it” and that may be true–but is that wise policy?  Even if only 1/100 videos has someone you think you can use…that’s one kid you can use.   Me?  From recruiting services, I’ve been able to land an all-American and an all-Region player.  Do I get a lot of stuff that isn’t at our level–yes, absolutely. I get sent some stuff that clearly shows the kid/service has no clue about our level of play or even our location in the United States–but I’m still the one making that decision, not the macro set for my spam folder.

So what are the bad points?

• It’s not personal communication

• There are thousands of profiles on some of the service websites

• The cost of joining

• The cost of extra services above/beyond the necessities

• Potential for spamming coaches

No–it isn’t personal communication, but even without a service, most first contacts are impersonal, either an athlete fills out our recruit questionnaire or sends a short email–or has a high school coach provide the contact information.  In life, the first time talking with people is rarely very personal…think back to meeting your significant other….exactly.

Is it different to be one of 5,000 profiles on a website rather than one of 5,000 athletes at a large volleyball tournament?  (Yes, it is…but you understand my point)  The advantage of a website for a good service is I can look for exactly what I want and do it at a time of my convenience…often at a qualifier, there is such a time crunch to see people on various courts–I don’t think it is an efficient place to evaluate players.

The cost of joining.  Obviously this depends on the service.  They aren’t inexpensive.  Some are all-encompassing with fees.  Others are a la carte and charge you for every little thing separately.  The question then is–is the money more valuable to you or the time potentially saved by putting everything in a single location for recruiting purposes?  If a service charges you $2,000 (I am pulling that number out of my butt for the record) but you save 400 hours of time over the course of two years, you’ve come out ahead on the deal.   That time saved may be handy for the athlete’s homework or for taking time for family vacations.  Your mileage will vary here.

The cost of extra services.  Here’s where it’s a real problem with a few.  You sign up and pay and then find out to present a video–that’s extra money.  Want to be a featured athlete (whatever that may mean…it sounds great, right?)–more money.   While I mentioned the issue of spending money rather than time up above, it’s important to think whether you need bells and whistles for the recruiting process.  Usually you don’t.

Spamming coaches–while I mention a D1 coach talking about ignoring everything received from recruiting services and that that is wrong–I *do* ignore/put in spam things from a couple of services.  These give all the other services a bad name.  I get emails from the ‘athlete’ presumably written by the athlete, but they are the exact same email with different high schools and generic info in them.  It’s a template and they show no idea about any part of our program–and it is clearly part of a mass email to 100? 1000? schools.  Those services, those emails–they are no bueno.

So what are the good points (no particular order):

• Separate email address just for recruiting

• Evaluation of your skills to help direct your search

• Resources on most colleges (academic and VB-related)

• Some services have personnel who contact the athlete regularly AND also contact colleges or do some of a college’s legwork.

• Access to colleges you didn’t even know existed

The first point is a small one, but in the modern age, is relevant.  Being given an email address that is usable only for recruiting is handy.  It creates a single locale for contacts and tracking them–and the recruiting services DO vet who has access to the contact information, so there shouldn’t be any spam/inappropriate email.

At least two services have staff members watch/evaluate your video (if you’ve paid for this…).  They provide a guesstimate of the level you are capable of playing at which makes it easier to contact colleges–and that estimate is also made available to college coaches, so I can sort my searches and weed out players who aren’t at our level and look only at Goldilocks athletes.  While this sounds awesome, be careful.  With one of those services , I pay attention to who the service has do the evaluation because a couple staffers are way off.  On the other hand, they also have two on staff where I can look at their evaluation and know the level of those kids, even before I watch videos.

Good recruiting services have resources available regarding school websites, often where you can search by degrees offered or other information such as tuition costs, scholarships available, etc.  School guidance counselors have this as well, but are dealing with dozens or hundreds of students–just as I can look at recruits at my own pace on a website, an athlete/family can do the same with college information this way.  Many colleges will provide recruiting needs to the services, so you can also check if a school is recruiting your position before you reach out.

As I mentioned with videos, it is important for you to evaluate who you will be working with.  While I mention personnel as a positive, don’t hesitate to google that person and their expertise–and never hesitate to ask for recommendations from past recruiting clients.  A good recruiting service person will provide those quite quickly.  If they aren’t willing to provide references…that’s a red flag.  If you move forward, that’s on you.

Access to colleges.  This is true in reverse.  My recruiting budget is limited.  If you are in Washington and interested in my program in Illinois, I’m not going to come watch you.  A recruiting service gives me profiles/information on thousands of athletes I can’t usually see.  Even if 1/500 are worth my time, that means in any given year, a recruiting service has 8-12 kids who could fit–am I going to reach out? Yup.  For you on the recruited side of things, it’s the same thing.  People can always name their local college and schools that are on ESPN, but did you know some NAIA and NJCAA schools have better scholarships than many NCAA D1 and most NCAA D2 programs?  Ahhh…now knowing that, wouldn’t you want to find out which schools those are?  Exactly.

Recruiting services (the good ones) will help you with appropriate schools to contact.  If you say “I want to go someplace warm, a small school, and my priority is getting school paid for rather than playing time”…then they’ll help craft a list of schools for you to contact.  Now–if you are sure you aren’t going more than 50 miles from home…there isn’t really a need for a recruiting service.  You already know those schools and if those coaches are even semi-competent, they know who you are either thru your HS success or your club program.

So in the end–recruiting services aren’t a waste, they aren’t bad.  People who make this assessment are stereotyping.  Recruiting services are a tool.  Use the right one, use it well, and things are great, but use it improperly and… Michaelangelo didn’t create the Pieta with a chain saw.  Right?

The key is like it is with all other expenditures of big bucks–do your research, put thought into it.  If the service tries to rush you, pressure you…you can guess they’re interested in the money more than helping.   If you already know how the recruiting process goes (from an older child), that can help inform the decision.  Think about your club director and coach–what effort do they put into the process?  Do you feel comfortable that their help will get you where you want to go?

Consider helping the cause of education–check out http://www.dietzfoundation.org for a blog on teaching/education and if you want to donate to help us encourage people to become better teachers and bring alternate methods of education into the classroom.

As always, if you have questions, want to comment–feel free.  The blog has a contact button and I let all comments exist (non-spam, obviously).