16 Crucial Mistakes To Avoid If You Want To Earn A College Football Scholarship (And Real Solutions)
Earning a college football scholarship is a dream for many young athletes, yet achieving this goal requires strategy, persistence, and an understanding of the common pitfalls along the way.
Here are 16 crucial mistakes to avoid:
Mistake 1: Not Having a Strategy
Most athletes randomly reach out to coaches on social media without any structured approach. Instead, allocate your time across different divisions (Division I, One AA, Division II, NAIA, Division III, JUCO) and create a big board of target schools that align with both your athletic and academic goals.
Mistake 2: Misusing Social Media
Social media should be used as a tool to showcase your highlights, workouts, and personality rather than focusing solely on going viral. Make sure to post daily so coaches can learn about you when they visit your profile.
Mistake 3: Posting Entire Highlight Reels on Social Media
Instead of posting a link to a lengthy highlight reel, post individual highlights directly onto platforms like Twitter to make them easily accessible to coaches scrolling through their feeds.
Mistake 4: Reaching Out to Only Position Coaches
Many athletes only contact coaches in their specific playing position, overlooking the fact that schools often have area-specific recruiters. Find out who the area coach is responsible for recruiting in your region.
Mistake 5: Solely Relying on Direct Messaging
Use multiple communication channels to reach out to coaches: calls, voicemails, emails, Twitter DMs, and LinkedIn messages. This multi-channel approach can boost your response rate significantly.
Mistake 6: Using Recruiting Software
Avoid relying on generic recruiting software that sends templated emails, which often go unopened. Instead, send personalized emails directly from your account.
Mistake 7: Letting Others Do Outreach for You
Coaches want to hear directly from athletes, not parents or recruiters. Demonstrating personal initiative reflects the dedication and drive they'll expect from their players.
Mistake 8: Underestimating Volume
It takes substantial outreach to catch the attention of college recruiters. Statistics show that about 1,000 outreach efforts typically result in one to three offers. Increase your volume if you're not seeing results.
Mistake 9: Failing to Follow Up
Single outreach attempts rarely pay off. Follow-up messages have a 70% higher response rate, so make sure to consistently revisit your initial contact efforts.
Mistake 10: Assuming Recruiting Software Does All the Work
Refrain from passively relying on recruiting software to secure offers. Though these platforms can centralize your information for smaller schools, active outreach is essential.
Mistake 11: Delaying Outreach Until Upperclassmen Years
Begin outreach early. Freshmen and sophomores can and do secure scholarships because they've built early relationships with coaches. If you're in 8th, 9th, or 10th grade, get started now.
Mistake 12: Thinking Camps Are Essential
Camps are only necessary if you lack sufficient game film. Focus on effectively marketing yourself online and through visits to potential colleges.
Mistake 13: Obsessing Over Star Ratings
Scholarships are attainable without stars by creating your own offers through proactive outreach. Offers, in turn, help you earn those stars.
Mistake 14: Not Using a CRM
Utilize a Coach Relationship Management tool to track your communication and interactions. This helps you organize your outreach strategy and follow-ups more efficiently.
Mistake 15: Lack of Accountability
The recruiting process can be filled with rejection. Stay accountable and focus on the activities leading to your goals rather than the end results themselves.
Mistake 16: Doubting Your Abilities
Self-belief is paramount. If you're playing varsity football, you have the potential to play at the college level. Evaluate your willpower and commitment to understand if you're ready to seize the opportunity.
Conclusion
Avoiding these common mistakes when pursuing a college football scholarship can significantly enhance your chances of success. Stay committed, stay focused, and keep pushing forward.
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Richie's mentorship program provides access to the entire Next Play® protocol for earning a football scholarship, complete with mentorship, coaching, and accountability for your son, thereby ensuring he develops into an elite communicator, leader, and businessman, and ultimately earns a full-ride scholarship.
