How Can I Stay Proactive During the NCAA Division I Recruiting Dead Period?
By John H. Brooks, Red Numbers Golf, First published for Junior Golf Scoreboard
Recruits and Coaches Face Challenging Times during the Pandemic
Recently, the NCAA extended the Division I Recruiting Dead Period through April 15, 2021. The Recruiting Dead Period prohibits coaches from evaluating prospects in competitions, hosting or participating in camps, and meeting with prospects either on or off campus. Phone calls, emails, text messages, and written correspondence are still permissible, as long as the prospect has reached June 15th following their sophomore year of high school. This extension creates numerous challenges for both recruits and coaches, with an immediate impact on the class of 2022 recruiting cycle. Future classes will likely be affected as well.
Prospective student-athletes, specifically those in the class of 2022, need to develop a proactive strategy that allows them to stay in constant communication with the coaches on their target list of potential schools.
Top 10 Action Items for Class of 2022 Recruits:
- Send regular golf and academic updates via email; e.g., transcripts, golf resumes, schedules
- Set up phone calls to learn more about the school, golf program, and recruiting process
- Produce and forward golf swing/short game videos, with some on-course footage
- Include Trackman data, instructor lesson feedback, practice and fitness regimens, etc.
- Text coaches periodically with updates and express continued interest in their school/team
- Complete online recruiting questionnaires to include references for coaches to contact
- Research schools and golf programs online and speak with friends who have college experience
- Attend college tournaments to learn more about teams, players, and coaches while in competition
- Visit campuses (without meeting coaches), communicate the visit plan as well as your feedback
- Send detailed post-round analysis, regardless of score – what are you working on?
While everyone is ready for some normalcy to return, it is very important that class of 2022 recruits stay focused on the current recruiting process and always strive to find the best school and golf program available. Junior golf families will need to be creative in how they communicate with coaches, helping them learn more about the prospective student-athlete’s golf skills and academic achievements as coaches face the difficult task of making recruiting decisions during the dead period.
Follow the Junior Golf Scoreboard’s list of college signees, from the current year as well as several previous years. Analyzing class rank and scoring differential data from the signees lists is a tremendous forecasting tool that helps confirm which schools you should be targeting at this time. Remember, at the end of the day, the success formula to help you ultimately play college golf remains constant.
Good Grades + Low Tournament Scores = College Golf Opportunities
Coach John Brooks
Red Numbers Golf®
