This is always debatable, because it really depends on the situation and the school.  Some coaches are very young with little experience and recruiting is not something they have dealt with in the past.  Others are experienced and have sent many players to the college level and know exactly what they are doing. You will find many coaches somewhere in between this too. Top Prospects will explain what you should expect and receive from your coach.

Honesty

The first thing you should expect out of your coach is honesty.  If you are an athlete who has experience behavioral problems away from the field or the court, expect your coach to be honest.  If the coach lies and holds back information, the college coach will eventually get word and may disregard you completely. (College coaches talk to as many people as possible to learn more about the athlete, so you should expect them to find out everything). So as I have said before, stay out of trouble and get good grades.

Getting Known

The second area that your coach should be able to help you with, is getting your name out.  If your high school coach has been in that position for an extended length of time, there is a good chance that he has built up some networks for you to work with. Whether he has had some contact either in person or over the phone with the big college programs throughout your province or even across the country, he should be able to find you a starting point.  Your coach may also have connections with other friends in the business that can help you get your name out. Do not take this for granted though, as some coaches may not have a network or experience in speaking to college coaches. Another area to mention is that your coach generally will not have the time to help you identify certain schools that would be a good fit. This is something that you and your family need to talk about and do together.

Video Tape

The third area is where your coach can really help you. Quality video tape from your games is vital to include when putting together a highlight video. Like many other things, the quality of the tape really depends on the school and their resources. Some schools may only be able to afford a video recorder from the 1980s, which puts the video onto VHS. Others may have high definition video equipment that allows the coaches to have a great picture to look at. The first place to ask about video tapes is always the coach, but if the quality of the tape is not of a high enough standard and you are aware of it, make sure your parents are taping games.

Moving To The Next Level

The fourth area that your coach should help you with is taking your game to the next level. If you make him aware that you want to play college athletics at the scholarship level, you have to prove to him that you are willing to put in the extra time to excel. As an athlete, you need to be asking him or her about what are the areas that you need to work on, as well as trying to find new drills and exercises that can help you in those areas. By developing that relationship with the coach, it will help strengthen your player-coach relationship and so if you need someone to support you in the recruiting process, they could be a big help. You should always be sincere in everything you do, as it can really help show what type of person you are to the coach.

Be Responsible & Don’t Just Rely On Your Coach

Another important point, is to know that while you are a great player for him and have done a lot for him, he has other important priorities that may take precedence over your recruiting. I think it is very important for you and your family to do a lot of the recruiting. Your family should know what level you would like compete at in college, therefore you can all help in targeting those schools. Your coach may be very busy in their own lives, so while he wants you to get a scholarship in college, it is not his dream, it is yours.

Do Not Be That Parent

One final point that will help the relationship between the family and the coach, is  DO NOT BE THAT PARENT!  A parent, who consistently pesters the coach about getting their child more shots or touches, can be very irritating for a coach. If you do not respect the coach’s decisions, or are not realistic about your child’s abilities, the coach will be reluctant to help your child. You should communicate with the coach about what level the coach thinks your child should play at. If the coach says CIS and you feel you are a Division I-A football player, you may want to closely assess your ability before moving forward, or seek a second opinion. Although, it should be said this self realization is never easy.

These are all very important points and hopefully this makes you aware of what you should expect from your coach. How has your coach helped you in the recruiting process? let us know with your comments below.