What’s Next for College-Bound Athletes?

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, 51 NFHS member state associations and 19,500 high schools nationwide are making difficult decisions about how to restart high school sports this fall amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-three states have delayed the start by anywhere from weeks to months. NFHS states:

In most cases where students are back in school, there has been a phased-in approach, beginning with lower-risk sports such as cross country, golf and tennis. Longer delays are more likely with higher-risk sports such as football, and in the case of five states (California, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington and Virginia) and the District of Columbia, football will not be played until the winter or spring seasons in 2021.

Where does that leave young athletes that are hoping to play in college? The lesson for younger student-athletes is to get in the recruiting process early. Older athletes may have to be more aggressive in their approach. Here are some suggestions from coaches and recruiters:

Don’t be afraid to reach out to coaches. ”If you have to reach out to those coaches on your phone, do things like that to get yourself out there because at this point you don’t really have another choice and you kind of have to think outside of the box and do things you normally wouldn’t do,” says one high school senior from California.

Take advantage of social media. It is an avenue that is not only popular, but now a necessity. College recruiter Patrick Corrigan suggests that athletes, Make sure their Twitter has their highlight tape and their information because a lot of recruiting goes on Twitter.

The Next College Student Athlete site claims that, It’s now more important than ever for student-athletes to maximize their online presence and to be proactive in starting recruiting conversations with coaches.

Enlist your coach’s help. Corrigan also encourages students to talk to their high school and travel ball coaches. Make sure they’re reaching out to schools for you.

Corrigan’s advice is for the student-athletes to remain positive and don’t dwell on being at home. Instead, take advantage of being at home and focus on what you need to improve on.

Remind your kids that all athletes are feeling the stress; they are in the same boat as the kid from Florida or from Texas.

Here are a few quick facts about the 20-21 recruiting season according to NCSA:

• NCAA In-person recruiting delayed until August 31, 2020: https://www.ncsasports.org/coronavirus-sports/ncaa-recruiting-suspended
• Due to the closure of college campuses, official and unofficial visits as well as college camps are on hold. Keep up-to-date with changes here:https://www.ncsasports.org/blog/
• For more coronavirus updates related to recruiting, bookmark this site: https://www.ncsasports.org/coronavirus-sports/ncaa-recruiting-suspended

TeamSnap is dedicated to taking the work out of play for everyone involved in sports. For parents and athletes, navigating the college recruitment landscape is challenging. We are delighted to partner with NCSA in supporting families with college-bound athletes, ensuring they are informed throughout the process and on top of their recruiting efforts. Create a free profile and learn more about the NCSA.

Janis Meredith is a family life coach who wants to help all parents raise champions. You can find out more at rcfamilies.com.