Often in the recruiting space, club teams do not clearly articulate their recruiting infrastructure or plan clearly to their families, in many instances because they themselves don’t have one.
This is one of the most important things to have in place, as it sets the tone and expectations for your players and parents from Day 1.
Let’s take a look at this inefficiency in further detail and how to remedy the problem.
Inefficiency: No Clear Recruiting Plan or Infrastructure
Many clubs – depending on the sport – have been in existence for a decade or more, and as such, have not updated their systems to act in accordance with the growth in technologies.
During that time, as more participants have entered the space, so to have new clubs. Eager to set themselves apart, newer clubs have often adapted newer technologies and infrastructure as a means of attracting clients.
The result is a quagmire for many in the “old guard” – they falsely believe the way it has always been done will still work. However, as they grow and develop, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide personal attention to everyone in the club. Players become lost in the shuffle, and churn sets in.
This does not mean that older clubs – or newer clubs not adopting an updated infrastructure – are not doing a good job. However, they are putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage to rely on things like excel sheets, notebooks and a cornucopia of email chains.
It’s the equivalent of taking out a pen and paper to solve a math equation when there is a calculator sitting on the table.
Solution
There is a way, however, to work smarter, not necessarily harder. Advances in technology are such that any number of solutions are readily available.
A club needs to first clearly articulate it’s plan for recruiting. Knowing plenty of college coaches is a nice start, and pointing to lists of recent commits is similarly helpful. But what is the plan that will aid all members of the club, not necessarily the best players – but everyone?
Once you have your position articulated and visible, the next step is to show you have a plan. Does this mean one-on-one meetings with all players once a month to keep up with their process? Articulating and sticking to a roadmap – e.g., by Freshman year X, by Sophomore year Y – is vital in showing parents you both take the process seriously and have a tangible way to assist them.
Now that you have an articulated plan and roadmap, what are the actual steps you take to help? This is where technology comes into play. Any number of online tools can assist, from dedicated recruiting companies to simply updating your club’s website to accurately reflect individual progress with things like profiles and calendars.
To decrease churn and increase value for your club families, it is imperative to have a clear recruiting infrastructure for your club.
