Interest Isn’t Intent

The single biggest mistake that players and parents make in recruiting is mistaking interest for intent.

Coaches are always interested in new recruits. They are highly incentivized to create as many options for themselves as possible.

Especially the Ivy League where admissions offices get a significant veto power in the successful recruitment of a player (unlike FBS programs where, more or less, the coaches can admit whoever they want).

Because of this, Ivy League coaches must catch a wide net to get a single catch. They amount of players they must sift through who are both great athletes and great students is astounding.

Since it is often families’ first rodeo and coaches’ 30th, they do not know what they don’t know: a coach following you back on X, a coach meeting with you in HS or a coach sending you a blanket invite to a campus junior day are all great, but ultimately are just what I would count as “interest”, not “intent” in my book.

Interest is data collection. It is uncovering possible academic/athletic fits. It’s talking to everyone. It’s in the endless handshakes and school visit that happen in the off season. It’s surface level.

Intent is when interest turns to action. A phone call, a FaceTime or Zoom, a warm, in-person visit or, most importantly, a committable offer is how you can tell there is actual intent to get you through admissions as a football recruit.

An easier question to decide if you’re dealing with interest or intent: Am I doing the recruiting, or is the coach doing the recruiting? Am I doing the pursuing? Or, is the coach doing the pursuing?

A good rule of thumb:

If you are wondering if you are being recruited or not, you aren’t.

Brendan