The Untold Secret to Earning a D1 Football Scholarship
Introduction
If you're a parent of a young athlete with aspirations of earning a college football scholarship, chances are you've been told countless times that exposure and getting noticed by coaches is key. While that's true to some extent, many players fail to understand what truly matters and, as a result, do not put in the right effort. It's not just about raw talent, stats, size, or even connections; it's about developing the right mindset. Let's explore the secret to earning a Division 1 football scholarship that goes beyond physical attributes.
Rethinking the Recruiting Process
It might sound crazy, but approaching the recruiting process is not the same as improving your game on the field. Failing to separate the two can lead to missed opportunities, resulting in a high likelihood of your son quitting out of frustration with the business side of things. To understand this better, we need to redefine what it means to win.
Traditionally, winning is about coming out victorious in competitions. However, in the world of business, marketing, and sales, this notion doesn't apply. Winning in these realms is more about progression rather than immediate success. It's about continuously moving forward and learning from what doesn't work. In recruitment, this means that rejection from coaches isn't a loss—it's a lesson on how not to lose.
Redefining Loss and Winning
When I was at Ole Miss, I faced setbacks and repeated stays on the practice squad, which felt like a failure at the time. But these experiences taught me to push forward and find new ways to succeed. Many young athletes make the mistake of viewing lack of response from coaches as a reason to quit. In reality, they are progressing towards their goals without realizing it, by refining their outreach and marketing strategies.
Recruitment should be viewed as an ongoing process—a continuous effort to learn and improve. You only lose when you stop trying. Every setback is a stepping stone to achieving your long-term objectives.
Introducing the Next Play Mentality
To keep moving forward, adopt the "Next Play Mentality." This mindset helps athletes focus on the immediate next step rather than dwelling on past failures or worrying about future goals. In sports and life, the most important play is the next one. Here's how to implement it:
Define Your Next Play: After any setback, determine the next step you need to take to overcome it.
Plan with Purpose: Understand what you're going to do, how you're going to do it, and set a timeline.
For example, if a coach rejects you, don't dwell. Instead, evaluate your outreach strategy. Ask yourself: Is my highlight reel compelling? Am I pitching myself effectively? Utilize your time learning and polishing your approach.
Creating Continual Progress
The strength of the Next Play Mentality lies in its simplicity. By answering three questions—What am I going to do? How am I going to do it? When am I going to do it?—you maintain action-oriented progress, turning potential losses into wins.
In the recruiting process, staying active is crucial. Continuous efforts in outreach and marketing ensure you’re always learning, growing, and finding ways to enhance your strategy. Remember, quitting is the only true loss.
Conclusion
This approach isn’t just limited to securing football scholarships but can impact every area of life. Embrace the Next Play Mentality to navigate challenges and keep moving forward. In teaching others this valuable perspective, I ensure athletes understand that progress equals winning.
Stay ahead and keep moving forward—because with the Next Play Mentality, you can’t lose.
Apply To Work 1-on-1 With Richie
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.
