Is it a high school coach's job to promote his players to college coaches?

It's amazing this post was made. I had a discussion with a friend of mine just yesterday and she informed me that her son's HS coach specifically TOLD the players that it is NOT his job to help his players get to the next level. In fact...when a college called and inquired about my friend's son, the coach (now, of course he should be honest), focused more on the kid's weaknesses than his strengths!!! Bye-bye opportunity. I couldn't believe what I was hearing! I realize that not all coaches are going to have the connections the some coaches have, but to be adament about not wanting to help in any way? That just seems grossly unfair. I feel sorry for any kids that play under that coach.

 

Amen, bonsway.

You've got 90% of the coaches out there "over-selling" their players to the college coaches, working as hard as they possibly can to work a deal for their players.

Then you've got the other 10% who claims that they're just "being honest" with the scouts, which is great, and I'm not saying the high school coach should lie and grossly overrate his players, because that's not productive for either party involved. But I think the high school coach has to realize that these college coaches are hearing ONLY positive things about other kids from other high school coaches. It baffles me that some high school coaches would focus on a kid's weaknesses when talking to a college coach, like the example you mentioned.

You can tell the truth about the strengths and just not harp on the weaknesses - that's not being dishonest.

 

Those are the worst kind. They think they come across as being smarter by denouncing a kid's ability. But don't underestimate the recruiters, they pick up on that quickly. I'll never forget this one recruiter asking me about a particular coach. A player they had already signed was told by this coach that he couldn't believe they were interested in a particular player and went on and gave his unsolicited opinion. It made me wonder if the recruiter told me about this buffoon, how many other recruiters he told this story to. It's a small world in the recruiting business. There are not many secrets.

 

Exactly...or talk about the upside of a weakness, ya know? What the projectability is. And THEN, to TELL the player this? Heartbreaking. How can you run a successful program (there's no way you could) when your players feel like there is nothing left after your time is done!!???

 

Unless the HS coach has built a trusting relationship with the college coach, the college coach is not wanting that type of information. They have already made their own opinion on his talent, but they are wanting information on his character and of course.....grades!

The character issue, particularly to determine if he is mentally tough and is a leader, is one of the best sources a HS coach can provide. Unless he has a close relationship, anything else he provides in terms of on the field talent is largely dismissed.

 

Well..that's good to hear, but it's still an unfortunate situation in my book.

 

You have too many books

 

herein lies the rub.. if 90% overselling is the culture and your HS coach is not.. do you trust the person receiving the information to be able to discern if he is in the 90% or the 10%?

In this pool of coaches this 100% must represent those that are willing to get involved in the process. I know for a fact sucessfull HS coaches in my area who are even involved in Legion ball have publicly stated they will not get involved in helping kids be recruited.. this was after another HS coach specifically told him that certain colleges would be coming to watch one of his players.

 

Will step lightly into this one.....

I call a HS coach to inquire about a potential recruit as a courtesy. Seldom if ever do I rely SOLELY on that coach's assessment of the player. Whenever a coach starts downplaying a player's abilities, I politely end the phone call (usually with a thought about the coach being a "jerk" or some similar sentiment).

You are DARNED RIGHT it's the HS coach's job to being an advocate for his players!!!!! Not every kid has the means ($$$$) to afford high caliber showcase/travel ball. Does not that kid also deserve an opportunity?

Ok....I'll stop...

 

And in direct response to this...the family has had to try to find the means to play showcase (with mom having to work a second job) in order to get their kid seen because the HS coach isn't providing this courtesy to their son. And the kid is deserving. For many...getting their kid a baseball scholarship is the only way they could afford to send their kid to school too. There are so many benefits to helping a kid than to NOT helping one. I just don't see how a coach can't see this as something that is just part of their job.

I have just enough books, Luis!!!