#1 Mistake Recruits Make When Choosing a School
THE COLLEGE GOLF RECRUITMENT PLAYBOOK: INSIGHTS FROM OVER 50 COACHES
THE COLLEGE GOLF RECRUITMENT PLAYBOOK: INSIGHTS FROM OVER 50 COACHES
CHAPTER 8 | #1 Mistake When Choosing a School
Below are the upcoming posts in the series. All of these posts will be available to paid subscribers.
The introductory email
How to get a coach’s attention
Which schools to email
Social media
Coaches evaluations and perception of skills
Parents’ involvement / help with recruiting
What is the number one red flag in a recruit?
→ What is the number one mistake recruits make when choosing a school? ←
Open-ended recruiting advice from coaches
Timing
Summary
Every recruiting process begins with the same lofty goal: finding the perfect fit. However, the reality is that a perfect fit might not exist. Every place has its positives and negatives. Moreover, circumstances can change as the recruit matures, the coach might leave, or the school might change conferences.
The truth is, you will never have complete information about what your experience will be like when you make your college decision. No matter how thorough your research, how strong your connection with the coaching staff, or how great your impression was during the visit, there will always be a degree of uncertainty about what awaits you.
It’s unfortunate that we need to discuss mistakes in choosing schools. I wish everyone could find their perfect fit. However, it's wise to consider the common pitfalls coaches have observed in recruit’s choices. By being aware of these, you can avoid the most common mistakes when making your decision.
I asked over 50 coaches: “What’s the #1 mistake recruits make when choosing a school?”
Just like the previous chapters, coaches provided a wide range of perspectives in their comments. I have listed all the comments further down in this chapter, but let’s look at the top seven categories of comments:
1. **Prioritizing Facilities and Glamour:**
- Recruits often focus too much on impressive facilities, flashy aspects, or the school's prestige rather than their development as student-athletes.
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Coach at Vika Golf Club in Oslo. Former NCAA Division I coach at Texas Tech, Baylor and SFA, and former Baylor golfer.
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First published on the MikkelGolf newsletter on Substack.