5 Things to Consider During the Recruiting Process

I took to Twitter the other day and asked what type of content people would like to learn more about or hear more about with our Forza Athletics Podcast.  One of the topics that came up multiple times was recruiting.  Nothing specific, but just recruiting.
 
With that in mind, below you will find my five things to consider when deciding what college to attend.  Our example will be for a high school senior that will be assured a full-athletic scholarship in which tuition, room, board, and meals will all be included.  For the sake of this example, we know that finances will not play a role in the decision-making process because you will be assured that all expenses will be paid.  This is hypothetical, but please play along for the example.

-Note, These are in no Particular Order-

1. Current Coaching Situation  

• Longevity of stay at the current college—how long have they been coaching at that college?  Do they have a documented history of bouncing around from college to college to college every three to four years?
• Event coach years of experience at that particular college (< 5 years or > 20 years)
• Previous athlete successes (how do you define success at the collegiate throwing level?)
• Previous coach competitive experience—Was your coach a world class thrower 25 years ago, never threw in their life, or just an average college thrower?  Does their previous, if any, competitive experience play a role in your decision-should it play a role in your decision?
• Coach personality—will you be able to get along harmoniously with this person for 4-5 years.  Do you believe they will have YOUR best interest at heart?

2. “Feel” of the Location 

• How comfortable do you feel on campus?
• Are there a lot of undergraduates on campus (>25,000)?  Does this matter to you? 
• Do you prefer a warm weather or cold weather location (this may not play that much a role in the decision with conditions being fairly the same for indoor track)
• Facilities—do they play a role in your decision?  Some colleges may not have a field house in warmer climates-should that play a role in your decision?

3. Major 

• Most, not all, but most colleges all have the same if not very similar majors (Communication, Education, Business, Biology, Chemistry, Math, you get the idea)
• Opportunity for job placement after graduation—how large of a network will you be entering after graduation? 
• Internship programs during your undergraduate career—opportunities to participate during undergrad and possibly after graduating as well
• Class sizes—does it matter that you may have 500 students in your Intro to Biology or Intro to Philosophy class?  Will you be able to get to know your professors?  Is that something that will play a role in your decision-making process?

 4. Team Atmosphere 

• How many teammates do you have within the same event group (throwing)?
• How many athletes on the team in total?
• How many other freshman athletes will be joining the team with you?  Does it matter if you will be the only thrower joining the team or if you will be one of four or five throwers joining the team?
• Success of the team—will you be competing for a national championship or a conference championship?
• Success of event groups—returning All-American athletes in one event group, multiple event groups, or in none of the event groups?
• What do the current athletes have to say about the current coaching staff?  Do the coaches get along with athletes outside of their event groups?  Should this play a factor in your decision to join the team?

5. Other—Everything that may play a role for some or for none at all 

• Quality of food in the dining hall
• Housing
• The conference you will be competing in (MAC, Big East, ACC, SEC, Pac 12)
• How often you will be able to come home (similar to location of campus)
• Meet schedule
• Everything
• Else
• That
• I May
• Have
• Missed

What did I miss?

As always, thanks for reading!

​~Charles