by bart16761 » Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:12 pm
I got this in my email today. My daughter and I participated in a free seminar that Kim gave on line about recruiting it was interesting and helpful for newbies like me. Anyway I though this might throw a little fire on this already hot topice,
Be well
What does it mean? New NCAA recruiting rules
From Kim Gwydir, Founder FPOS
With the New Year the NCAA, in an attempt to streamline its voluminous recruiting rules, instituted rule changes that will take effect in the upcoming months. After reviewing the changes, two revisions stand out to me regarding Division I. There were multiple proposals implemented but below are two I believe are important to focus on:
#1 - Eliminates restrictions on methods and modes of communication during the allowed recruiting dates (after July 1 between junior and senior year).
So in theory, a player can begin receiving daily, if not hourly, texts from a coach. Will this overwhelm the player? Will it create a frenzy to be the coach who "shows the most love?"
I do not see this rule change effecting how the top players are recruited in any major way. At this time, the players who are considered the top young prospects in 8th, 9th and 10th grade are many times verbally committed before their junior year. In softball unlike other sports, once a player verbally commits there is a hands off policy by other college coaches. This is an unofficial code of conduct for softball coaches and is not an official rule. The "late bloomers", who do not make it onto the radar of college coaches until later (junior year), may see an increase in communication but many schools will already have players committed making these openings a small percentage.
#2 - Eliminates the restrictions on the number of coaches who can be out recruiting at one time.
This rule change has the potential to have a major impact. At this time, no matter the staffing of the school, only 2 coaches can be out recruiting at anytime. In the near future, a school that has 3 full time coaches can have them all out recruiting at the same time and evaluate more players than a smaller budget school.
These changes have the potential to create a bigger divide between the "have" and "have not" schools. For example, big budget schools have the staff and the money to take advantage of these rules. Already you are seeing mid major and smaller schools bypassing the universally considered top prospects and looking for the late bloomers. Coaching at a mid-major myself for many years, I found myself changing how I recruited a player after the "big schools" starting recruiting her. I could not compete from a facility, equipment and support perspective.
As with any change, it will take time to measure and see the effects. Are we moving farther away from a "level playing field"? Within Division 1 softball there has never been a level playing field when it comes to recruiting. Will these new rules only widen the gap? Will these changes be a positive or negative for the players being recruited?