A Evolution in Recruiting ?

In the 1900's College recruiting was a bit tricky. College college coaches were limited with technology use, they either had to send a coach to watch a player play or recieve film of a player's games. During the time period before the 1970's, some athletes would write to college coaches asking them to take a visit and watch them practice a play a game one weekend. Most of the time College coaches ask about the player's reputation. They would contact the High School that the athlete attends and asked school administrators their opinion about the athlete. But before Video tapes was invented, these were the only options for College coaches to scout a athlete.

Back in the early and middle 1900's college coaches would as look to see if an athlete won a State Championship or statistics. They would also consider what other Colleges were recruiting them, then they would take those factors into mind and decide if that was the player they want to recruit. 

But things change over time. Now since technology is more effective, Video recordings, emailing, Social   networking, facebook and more has helped athletes and coaches recruit faster and more effective. In all High School sports there are networks like ESPN, WIN Magazine (for wrestling) that have national rankings for all different sports. They contain video, highlights and statistics for the whole world to see. On youtube, alot of High School athletes post their highlight film online or they put it on a DVD disc and send it out to colleges. But when College coaches recognize a athlete that they see, they look them up. For example, In High School I am a wrestler for Wyoming Seminary College Prepatory. There is a website for National High school wrestling events that reveals me in competition.

 

 Because of this website, I have had Old Dominion, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, University of Indiana and West Virginia University contact me. Coaches approach athletes differently now a days. Sometimes they contact the head coach of your sport or they contact you online. Some coaches use email ing or Facebook. They stay in touch with you for as long as they want. College coaches also attend sporting events like All star events. In basketball the best college recruiting event is called the ''Mcdonalds All-star game. In this game is the top basketball players from all over the country come together and compete in front of college scouts and N.B.A. scouts

Athletes such as Carmelo Anthony, John Wall, Josh Smith and other great basketball players competed in this event. In Football there are websites as well as All Star games that reveal athletes to coaches. Such as the ESPN top 150 rankings, the Army All American football game and websites that reveal athletes profiles, information and game film. 

Many athletes have took advantage of these opportunities in these all star events. For example Tim Tebow, Terell Pryor, Desean Jackson and many more have participated in this honorable event. 

Throughout the last forty years college recruiting has become easier for Coaches. But at the same time it does not guarantee them the right choice. Athletes that are recruited, do not sometimes have a happy ending. There are still struggles for coaches, not only at the College level but at the professional level also. The N.F.L. has a pratice before the draft called the ''Combine.'' All college athletes that are invited, practice in front of NFL scouts. But recruiting has overall become better because of technology.

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