For a lot of high school athletes, finding the best college to keep their athletic career going is a challenging undertaking. The recruitment process may be frustrating, but it is crucial to take the time and be aware of the possible red flags that could develop when analyzing a college program. From high pressure commitments to poor communication and limited playing time, it is essential for potential college athletes to learn these indicators prior to making a choice. Join us as we explore the way to recognize these red flags as well as eventually discover the ideal match for your academic and athletic objectives.

Red Flag #1: High Pressure To Commit

A coach that is recruiting an athlete might tell them that they need to make a quick commitment if they want a spot on the team. Coaches need commits and want to finish their recruiting early, but placing the athlete under high pressure could force an athlete to make a (wrong) decision before they are ready. College recruiting takes a lot of time and it is important to make a well informed decision before taking the leap. 

Remember: Committing to a program is a huge decision and an athlete should fully consider all options before you commit. Additionally, a quick commitment could ruin the athlete's chances of getting recruited by a school that's a better fit. It is important to visit the campus and take time to sit down and have a conversation with a coach before committing. 

Related: Rate your Coaches, Facilities, and Campus Visits

Red Flag #2: Bad Communication

Communication is key in lots of relationships including the one with your future college coach. Inconsistent communication from the coaching staff may indicate negative views about the athlete, as a coach that is recruiting an athlete that they really like will respond to all communication messages. Additionally, a coach that does not respond quickly may indicate that the coach is disorganized or does not put the proper emphasis on recruiting. 

Related: Example Email to College Coaches

However, if a coach does not immediately respond to an athlete, they may not necessarily be uninterested–they might just be busy with dozens of other emails from recruits. So be sure to follow up with all coaches if they don't initially respond–while it is important to be patient with college coaches, a lack of good communication is indicative of a poorly run program or a bad fit for the recruited athlete. If they don't respond after a follow-up or two, it's probably best to move on.

Red Flag #3: Limited Playing Time

It is important to have a conversation with the coach and discuss the opportunities for playing time for the upcoming season. Playing time and opportunity to show the coaches your skills is a big part of an athlete's decision to commit.  Do be wary of any coaches that promise a starting job for recruits though–it's generally a big transition from high school to college athletics and most freshmen will find themselves in supporting roles for at least the first year to learn plays and give the player time to develop before they compete. 

Be realistic about your skill level and the competition within the team for the starting job. It is important to discuss with your coach the role you will be playing and research the programs playing time opportunities. And if you want to play a more supporting role on your team, that's fine too–just be sure to talk about this with your potential future coach to avoid any confusion or mismatched expectations.

Related: The Importance of “Roster Stalking” in the Recruiting Process (and 5 Tips for Recruits)

Red Flag #4: Lots of Coaching Staff and Roster Changes

While it's not necessarily a red flag if a coach leaves a program, if an athlete is committed to a team before the coaching staff changes, it is important to stay informed and reevaluate your decision. The first thing an athlete should do if a coach leaves for another program is to contact the new coaches and introduce yourself. It's a good idea to research the new staff coming to the program and evaluate if their playing style or coaching style is still compatible. However, if there's a lot of turnover within a program, that may be a red flag (and even if it's not, it's worth looking into).

Different coaches may have different criteria on recruiting athletes. If the coach seems disinterested or vice-versa, it might be a good time to consider different options. It may be beneficial to keep the communication lines open with the old coach, as they might land a new job and try to bring their recruits with them. Regardless, it can be a major factor in the decision of the athlete if the coaching staff leaves, so do your research and reevaluate the commitment if necessary. 

Similarly, a red flag might be raised when many athletes leave a team, which can indicate problems within the program. The team might have a terrible attitude, limited playing time or problems with the coaching staff. Consequently, investigate what happened during the transfers and the reason why before you made the decision to join the team. Frequent transfers also can impact the team chemistry and affect overall performance, making it hard to attain long term success.

Red flags can make a dream school a nightmare. So do your research and be weary if you encounter anything that seems off.

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* Originally published on April 28, 2023, by Ryan Wiley