Advice For Parents: From College Coaches
It’s a package deal. If any parents(s) seem really difficult or could pose a problem in the future I stop recruiting the player immediately.
- Mick Statham – Lafayette College Women’s Soccer Head Coach
I think parents should take an active role in the recruiting process. With players deciding so early, it is nice to have an adult who has their child’s best interest in mind, there to listen, help sort out information and be a rational sounding board. College tuition is increasing every year, and parents need to be extremely involved in the financial piece of the puzzle to make sure attending a school is feasible. However, I do think that the players should be the driving force and the one’s that initiate contact, express their interest and keep lines of communication open. College coaches want to get the feeling that we are recruiting the player, not the parent.
I think it is a good reflection on the student-athlete if they do the leg work that is requested of them (i.e. if a coach asks for transcripts to be faxed or a schedule to be emailed to them, it is best if the student takes an active part in this process). I am turned off by parents emailing me and saying, “My daughter is so busy with school that she doesn’t have time so I will send it to you”. On one occasion I asked a player who had committed what her shoe size was so we could order her cleats for pre-season and the mom was the one that sent back the size. It is a red flag that some kids are not quite ready to be responsible enough to be a student-athlete at a university. It is also great practice to get the student-athletes ready for being on their own.
- Amy Griffin – University of Washington, Associate Head Coach
Parents should encourage their sons/daughters to look at a wide variety of schools and to keep an open mind. Help your child create a priority list of criteria that will be important in the college search and help him or her stay true to that list, regardless of the scholarship offers when possible.
- Erica Walsh – Penn State University, Head Coach
Don’t make excuses for your child’s shortcomings in the classroom or on the field. I have found the making of excuses to be hereditary and an undesirable trait. Let your child take responsibility. It’s a good indicator of maturity.
- Ken Parson – Metro State, Head Coach