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Relax, Re-Focus, and Re-Organize Your Recruiting Efforts


The corona virus has brought Intercollegiate Athletics to a standstill canceling Winter and Spring Sports Championships as well as recruiting.  The NCAA has suspended both on and off campus recruiting, which means no unofficial or official visits, and no college ID Camps, Clinics, showcases for at least the next month. Now is NOT the time to panic!  Utilize the down time to relax, re-focus, and re-organize your recruiting efforts.

There are thousands of high school student-athletes who are navigating through the college recruiting process whose journey just came to an abrupt stop.   That does not mean you should stop, there are things you can do to stay on your path to play college sports.

RELAX - We are in unchartered territory, everybody is learning as we go on how to deal with this crisis, college coaches included.  You need to be calm and realize everything will be ok.

RE-FOCUS -  There isn't much you can do about what is happening right now, so focus on the things you can control.  Control the controllables.   Continue to take care of your health, eat well, and exercise and workout.  Think about what you can do to get re-focused on your recruiting efforts.  Go back and review what was your vision for 2020.  And how can you adapt and adjust it during these trying times. What are your goals?  Are they still achievable?  Do you have to set new ones due to the crisis we are in.  If so, that is ok?  Again, worry about the things you can control.

RE-ORGANIZE -  Did you have recruiting activities planned for the next month, campus visits or attending showcase events?  What can you do instead?  Now is the time to be creative.  Reach out to college coaches see if they are interested in a face time call, video conference, or some kind of virtual tour.  Technology is incredible and it will allow us to do things we couldn't do 20 years ago.   Planning on attending a showcase, camp, or clinic where a college coach would see you play.  Record an individual training session and send it off to a coach with a message saying sorry didn't get to see me play but I am still working hard and would love the opportunity to play for you.   As a former college coach, I would be very impressed by anyone who would send that to me.  Start reviewing some of the info of the schools you are interested in.  What has the communication been like with the coaches,  is it time to start cutting that list down.  Maybe reach out to the colleges you have not heard from in a while to see if they are still interested.  But continue to reach out to the ones who are.  Don't go dark over these next few weeks.

As difficult as it may be, try to stay positive and upbeat.   Invest time and energy into your future.  Don't let things slip though the cracks because of this crisis.  Continue on the road and keep working towards your goals.   This is just one of those times to see what you are made of.  As things get tough will you quit or will you endure and face the challenges head on.  How you handle this obstacle will be a learning experience like no other. 

I hope you continue to take care of yourself both physically and mentally, and wish you all the best through these difficult times, and know that we will all come out on the other side of this better than before.  All the best in your college journey!

Want to learn more about the college recruiting process visit www.GuidingFutureStarsAcademy.com or Download the GFS App and grab your copy of the Designing Your Pathway to College Sports workbook to get started on your journey to play college sports.





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