In the 1990’s, the surge of competitive youth sports and club teams exploded in the United States. Since that time, joining a competitive club team and attending showcase tournaments or camps have become the dominant choice of more serious middle school and high school student-athletes. The driving motivation is typically to improve their skill sets, compete year round and ultimately enhance their college recruiting opportunities.

Due to NCAA recruiting restrictions and minimal recruiting budgets, college coaches have relied heavily on the ability to evaluate student-athletes at large tournaments, showcases, camps and combines. For the past 20 years, most families of high school student-athletes, have (knowingly or unknowingly) aligned their approach to college recruiting with the club team and tournament experience to look like the model listed below:

Freshman Year: The student-athlete has a high level of passion and desire to excel in their chosen sport. They commit to spending additional hours on personal training and skill work, or hire a sport specific specialist to help. At this point, they have most likely already joined a club or travel team to compete outside of the high school season and are often attending numerous tournaments, camps, combines or showcases annually. As the year progresses, the student-athlete goes on to play for their high school team. The hope is that their improved skills and abilities catch the eyes of college coaches in attendance at one of their competitive events.

Sophomore Year: Repeat the process/cycle

Junior Year: Repeat the process/cycle

Senior Year: Repeat the process/cycle

The tragedy taking place today, is that most student-athletes and families are still following this outdated 1990’s approach to college recruiting, or what we call the “hope” strategy.

Why can this recruiting approach be so limiting and usually ineffective for the more than 8 million high school student-athletes in the U.S.?

The importance of joining a competitive club team or playing in appropriate tournaments is not in question here. They can greatly help to advance your son or daughter’s skills in the off-season, or possibly assist in being evaluated by a college coach at a large showcase event. The club team coach may even know a few college coaches they can call on behalf of your son or daughter to provide additional feedback.

However, the approach families take to college recruiting is being challenged in three key areas.

1.) First, most club teams simply do not possess all of the necessary tools, time or resources needed to personally mentor and guide each of its players over a two, three or even four year period, let alone helping them to secure and manage multiple offers.

2.) Second, the majority of parents do not understand how to effectively promote their son or daughter to right-fit college coaches and programs.

3.) Last, families are spending thousands and thousands of dollars each year to attend multiple ID camps, tournaments, showcases, or combines in the hopes of generating interest or “looks” from college coaches for their son or daughter with too often, little or no results.

Unfortunately, most parents don’t fully understand how coaches evaluate and recruit at these events. There are normally several hundred, or maybe over a thousand players in attendance at a showcase tournament and college coaches do not have the ability to scout every player.

SportsForce is a College Recruiting Advisory Group based in San Diego, CA. Our entire team of college recruiting advisors dedicate their passion, time and attention to evaluating, educating and guiding qualified student-athletes and families through the college planning and recruiting process.

1. Why did you decide to sign with Hesston College?

They actually found me–and it was a blessing! The soccer coach found me on berecruited.com. I decided to sign my letter of intent with Hesston College for many reasons. I wanted to attend a small college–most of my friends were going to OSU or U of O, both sporting over 25,000 students. Hesston only has 450 students enrolled. I wanted the lifetime experience of attending a school in a different state, a different geographical location, and I wanted to experience something that I have never experienced before. Hesston had everything I wanted all wrapped up in a bow.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

Excitement, are you kidding? It was beyond excitement, beyond words. I wish everyone could experience the thrill that I had when I heard that I received not only a soccer scholarship, but an opportunity grant on top of it. I was delighted. My dream was not only to attend college, but to also play soccer. This is a huge dream come true for me!

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

Don’t give up. Start early with having your parents videotape your games. If possible take only about 10 minutes of total video and some still shots and add some stats and facts about yourself. Don’t let anyone take your dream away from you and if one coach doesn’t think you have the skills or the speed, don’t let them discourage you. Sometimes their judgment of your abilities could be wrong, so keep practicing, training, stay clean and keep up your schoolwork. Eventually your hard work will pay off.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

Probably my parents–they went to every single game and practice, washed my practice gear, and made sure I had every opportunity to achieve my dream goal of playing college soccer.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I would love to be picked up by a 4-year school. Currently, I will be playing for Hesston College in Kansas, which is only a 2-year private school. I would love to play for a D-3 or D-2 school; because of my height I doubt that I will be able to play D-1. But for now I am good, and am happy that I’m playing!

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

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1. Why did you decide to sign with Stevens Institute of Technology?

It has a great reputation for engineers everywhere and it is a prestigious school to play lacrosse, with a chance to win a national championship. Coach Peluso and Coach Madalon and Coach Koch are very great teachers of the game.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I’m one of a very special group that gets to continue their dream of playing sports in college; I am absolutely excited to have this opportunity.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

The game of lacrosse and recruiting is speeding up; there are sophomores committing left and right. Every opportunity you have, visit colleges and call coaches. It can only help and may be the difference between your dream school and settling.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My first ever coach, John Gendron. He has introduced the game to me and all my friends that lived on my street. Without him and his teaching of the fundamentals, I wouldn’t be the player I am today.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I would like to enhance my skills on defense and make a true name for myself. Also I would like to start many long-lasting friendships with my teammates and fans. My hopes for the team are to win conference, as well as contend for a national championship.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

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1. Why did you decide to sign with Tennessee Wesleyan College?

I loved the campus and location. They have the degree I am pursuing: Exercise Science. I really liked the soccer Coach (Naomi) and the girls I met on the team were awesome. I could also play starting my freshman year and that’s huge. Overall I could see myself really happy there for 4 years.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I have had dreams of progressing in my game of soccer and this is another step on my ladder. I am so proud that all my hard work has paid off and I want to keep working hard the next four years in developing further, and I hope maybe to continue playing after college. Who knows? National team, Olympic team, play abroad professionally or in the US – anything is possible.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

I would make sure you are on the right club team to get noticed. You need to market yourself. Reach out to colleges that interest you and don’t give up. Keep working hard in the classroom and on the pitch.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

There are a lot of influences but I love Abbey Wambach. She is so awesome, not only as a dominant soccer player but as a role model for young women and a great leader on the US team.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I want to earn a starting spot and I would like to be a person that is there for my teammates. I would like to win championships, of course, and improve my game to earn the opportunity to take my game to the next level after college.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

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1. Why did you decide to sign with Adrian College?

I chose Adrian, because it had everything I wanted in a school. A great lacrosse program, but also a great program for what I want to major in. They take their sports and academics seriously, which is something I value. They also helped a lot financially, because it is not cheap to attend school here and they do their best to get you as much aid as possible.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

It’s great to know that I’ve excelled enough in my sport to be able to play in college. I wasn’t a big star on my high school team, so to do something that not many people get to do is cool. On top of that I don’t come from a lacrosse heavy area, so being able to stand out above amazing players from the hotbeds of lacrosse is a great feeling.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

Don’t wait for coaches to come to you, be proactive. It shows a lot of you as a person to approach a coach by yourself and show them you have passion and drive to play for their team. Also be gracious, these coaches don’t have to talk to you, so reply to all emails, call them back, and always say thank you, because they’ll remember someone who was nice and genuine over the cocky star athlete.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My dad has really pushed me in my sports career. He went to as many games as possible, especially after missing a year because he was deployed to Afghanistan. He really knows the game now that I’ve been playing for 8 years and he helps the other parents figure out what’s going on. He also really wanted to be active in the recruiting process and he helped me say the right things to coaches which really helped sell me as a player.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I really want to excel as a player, and be better than I was in high school. I hope that I can develop my skills and push myself to be better than people thought I was. I also want to make people from my high school team proud.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

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1. Why did you decide to sign with Elgin Community College? I decided to sign with Elgin Community College due to its rich program history and how great of a feeder program it has. There have been many players signed to big Division 1 schools out of Elgin and that’s my goal. I also know I can get my core classes out of the way and be prepared to go into my field of engineering. The goal at Elgin is to get stronger and put on some weight to add muscle and throw harder. I am already on a workout program for them and I’m excited to see results. 2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete? Being able to continue to play baseball at the collegiate level is a feeling not many people can have. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and it’s great to know that if you can set your mind to something, you can achieve it. 3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited? Getting recruited is a VERY difficult task. You have to be seen at the right time by the right people. You have to go where you feel right because if you don’t fall in love with the college that you’ll be at for quite some time, you will hate it. I was scouted by Division 1 schools, but I really didn’t get any offers. My dream has always been to play Division 1 baseball and that’s why I decided to take the Juco route. You have to make the most of your opportunities because you can only play baseball for so long, and you do not want to have regrets later in life. 4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why? My mom, she has always been very supportive of all my sports and activities. She is extremely busy with work nearly every day of the week, but still manages to find time to come and watch me play baseball, no matter where it is. I can give credit to Pat Fosnacht for teaching me the ways of baseball and I am extremely thankful for everything he did. 5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career? First off, I want to get an invite to the NJCAA World Series while I’m at Elgin and hopefully win it. My next step would be getting recruited to a big Division 1 school to play the rest of my career and hopefully get to the NCAA World Series. My overall biggest goal is to get drafted, no matter where or when, and have that opportunity that so few get.   Our Mission at SportsForce Baseball: We are on a mission to help our select number of qualified and evaluated players maximize their recruiting offers and make the best college decision. Started by CEO & founder Andrew Beinbrink, SportsForce Baseball is a nationally recognized college recruiting advisory group with over 40 former college coaches, players, and MLB scouts in 10 different states. During the last 11+ years, we’ve helped over 1,000 players make their college commitments. Read below, why we are different from every recruiting group in the country. Why SportsForce is Different: * View our Home Page Video Unlike most recruiting companies, we do not just partner with anyone for our hands-on recruiting programs. Instead, we only partner with qualified players who meet our Five academic, athletic, and coachability selection factors. We evaluate between 10,000-12,000 players each summer and fall at top showcases and selectively advise, and advocate for only a limited number of players each year by directly contacting college coaches to help them maximize recruiting offers. Each of our expert college recruiters is limited to how many players they will advise so there is the best combination of hands-on guidance and personal recruiting outreach to college coaches. Social Media Exposure: We also utilize our growing Twitter following at @SportsForceBB which is followed by over 500 NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide and growing fast. To Get Evaluated by Our Expert College Recruiting Staff: Option 1: Complete our Recruiting Questionnaire Option 2: Email us at scouting@sportsforceonline.com Options 3: DM us on Instagram @SportsForceBB or Twitter @SportsForceBB and share recent video, stats, or measurables (velocity, 60, exit speed, pop time, etc…) for our scouts to evaluate. Find out if Your Son’s Qualifies for One of Our Hands-On Recruiting Programs? Twitter Recruiting Education & College Needs Posts: We post ongoing recruiting education and post NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC needs year around. Follow us on Twitter @SportsForceBB account and join over 500 hundred NCAA D1, D2, D3, NAIA, and JC coaches nationwide that follow us and growing fast. Tagging us: If you have some good video to share with us, make sure to tag us @SportsForceBB or DM us and we will review it.

1. Why did you decide to sign with the University of Tampa?

The University of Tampa competes for a national championship yearly. The coaching staff is phenomenal and the athletes are talented and dedicated. After visiting several schools I knew UT was the right fit for me based on the campus size and team dynamics.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I was fortunate to end my club season with a national championship. That excitement has carried over into my pre-season conditioning. I continue to work hard, so that I have the opportunity to make an immediate impact. I have had the chance to get to know my teammates during camps and we all get along great. I am looking forward to working towards another national championship. Taking classes that are specific to my degree is another amazing opportunity. I am ready to take the next step of my life as a college student.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

I highly recommend that recruits visit numerous schools and make their decision based on what is best for them and not what others think is best for them.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My parents have been the biggest influence in my sports career because they have supported me in all my athletic endeavors. Both my parents were athletes, so they understand the demands. My dad was my basketball coach growing up and when I decided to play volleyball my mom spent hours in the gym working with me. My parents have promoted lessons and personal training to ensure I was in the best shape to compete. Most importantly, they are always there in the stands to cheer me on.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I would like to make an instant impact on the program and play for a national championship all 4 years.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

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1. Why did you decide to sign with Aquinas college?

Well I was originally signed to Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, but ended up wanting to be closer to home and my fiancé. I made a very last minute choice to go to Aquinas because of their location, their environment, and of course their basketball program.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I am very excited, but have known this was going to happen for years. When I was 14, right before 10th grade, I decided that I wanted to take my game to the next level and have been working on it more and more since then. I am most excited about having unlimited access to a gym and weight room, I really believe I have loads of potential.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

Try your hardest in school, because having good grades will open up more doors for you to play at the next level. Also, just make smart life decisions. No coach wants someone who posts profanity on social networks or talks about drinking, partying, etc. Don’t be afraid to email a coach and tell them about yourself either, maybe they will see something in you.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My 2 year high school coach Kevin White. He had 15 years of college coaching experience and definitely prepared me for the next level. He ran practice just like a college team and was the first coach I had who had us watch weekly film. I went to a workout at Marygrove a few weeks ago and since I had previously done every workout already with Coach White, I was very prepared. He also knew many college coaches at the level I was being recruited at, so he let them know about me personally.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I want to win championships with my team. I want to increase my strength and athleticism. I hopefully will prepare myself to play in Europe for a few years, since I was born in Sweden. I would also like to graduate with good grades and maybe go to grad school later.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

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1. Why did you decide to sign with State Fair College?

It’s a small college in Sedalia, MO with a 25:1 faculty to student ratio. I believe I’ll get a lot of one-on-one time with the professors, as well as focus more on my sports career. I also decided on going here because I want to travel and study business, which is why I’ll be majoring in business international (they have that option for me). Finally, I decided to go here because I received a full ride basketball scholarship.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

It feels extremely surreal, because I’ve always considered myself an elite athlete, but to get the opportunity to play in college is one of the best feelings.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

The best advice I believe I can give to other athletes is, do not depend on your coaches and school counselors. You should go online and make an online profile and go from there. As you continue with your online searches you will learn more and more about different colleges and began filling out sport questionnaires.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My father has been the biggest influence in my sports career because he was a student-athlete. He has been supportive of my sports career since I’ve been playing. I also believe he was a huge influence, because he gave me the confidence to play sports. He would tell me when I didn’t do well, and then take me to the park to work on my weaknesses. He inspired me to become the best!

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

During my college sports career, I would like to see myself stepping out of my comfort zone. If the coach asks me to play a position I don’t really play, I would like to see myself taking on the challenge and become a better player. If I get the chance, I want learn how to play all positions.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

Learn How We Help Families

1. Why did you decide to sign with Adams State University?

I chose this school because I absolutely loved the beautiful campus and the athletic program. I met the team and instantly knew I could feel at home with them and also have the time of my life playing lacrosse at the collegiate level.

2. Describe the excitement you feel about becoming a college student-athlete?

I’m so pumped to play on a team where every player is dedicated and works hard to get the best results. My team will be like my family away from home, and I look forward to bonding with my teammates and also kicking butt on the field.

3. What advice would you give to other athletes looking to get recruited?

If you want to be recruited you have to put yourself out there. I played on a club team for a summer, which is how I was recruited. Even if you can’t afford to play club, there are tons of websites that you can make a profile and ask coaches to look at you.

4. Who has been the biggest influence in your sports career and why?

My biggest influence would be my club coach Jessica Livingston. She taught me not only to work hard, but to also the love the sport. She is the reason I’m playing in college. She always pushed me past what I thought was my limit. I thank her all the time for opening my eyes to what I was missing out on.

5. What would you like to accomplish during your college sports career?

I want to make an impact on the people around me and also those who know I’m playing in college. I want to push myself to be the best lacrosse player people have seen. I want to be a player that my teammates can count on. I want to be the best I can be and enjoy the opportunity I’ve been given.

 

Over the last five years SportsForce Recruiting has helped over 1,000 student-athletes and families successfully navigate the college recruiting and athletic scholarship process while saving families on average $50,000 in college expenses.

Learn How We Help Families