a coach believes you have no other options, often he/she
will try to recruit you for as little as possible. That way, he
or she can use the unused resources that you didn’t receive
for some other recruit who is bargaining more effectively
than you are.- Remember, ask if the coach is recruiting other athletes for
the same position. Why? This question signals the coach
that you have a grasp of a fact basic to recruiting: that
most coaches are recruiting (and usually saying the same
things to) more than one prospect. (In cases like this, the
coach is stringing someone along. Is it you?) If the coach
really wants you, he/she will know that you understand
the foregoing facts and may be eager to make you an offer
that is satisfactory to you. - Gain admittance to several colleges that you have visited
that have the right ingredients for you to be a successful
student athlete. Why? If you are admitted to a number
of institutions that are recruiting you, you have two very
important benefits:
- The coach can begin working early with other depart-
ments (admissions, financial aid, athletic, housing, etc.)
in order to insure that you receive all the financial aid and
other benefits to which you are entitled. - You can honestly tell any coach that you have been
accepted at other colleges that are recruiting you. With this
weapon you can bargain from a position of strength.
Sleazy Recruiting Tactics
While the majority of college coaches are people who wish to
be a positive influence on the student athletes they coach and
are fundamentally honest, a minority of them have little interest
100 The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide