This is a real sign.
It would certainly cause anyone to stop and take notice, right? Especially if you happened to be on that trail where it’s posted and didn’t want to be eaten by a crocodile. But does it only apply to individuals in wheelchairs? What’s causing it to happen? And, what else is living down there at the end of that steep decline?
It’s all kind of confusing.
And in recruiting, the confusing signs that many coaches accidentally give their prospects can cause serious (albeit less tragic) results. They may not be signs that a coach are meaning to post on the trail their recruits are taking towards making a decision as to which school they commit to, But, the recruits are looking out for any signs that might tell them your road isn’t the one they should be traveling down. And while you’ve got that metaphor bouncing around your head, here’s something you need to know:
Most cautionary signs they encounter along the way, and accidentally given by you, are interpreted as red flags, and can grind the entire process to a screeching halt. They are on the lookout for anything that could cause them feel like they’re making a mistake, choosing the wrong program, or feeling like they might want to commit to a coach who isn’t telling them everything (like why there’s a crocodile waiting for them down at the end of the trail). Confusing signs that include:
- Inconsistent communication. Specifically, the outbound story you tell them about you, your program, and your plan for them. When you have big gaps in writing and talking to them, they almost immediately question how serious you are about them. And when that happens, it’s tough to reignite that flame you need to carry them through towards a commitment you want to see them make.
- No definition of cost or potential scholarship money. When there’s no offer, or definition of what financial aid could be coming their way, it causes them to lose interest slowly. Not right away, but over time…they drift towards coaches who are open about what they may be able offer, or schools that define a total financial package Especially these days, parents and their student-athletes are trying to figure out what financial package is going to help them achieve their goals. Relaying financial details sooner rather than later is to your advantage, and it helps clear up misconceptions they may have acquired during their time communicating with you.
- No clear path in the process. When coaches don’t define what the steps are in their decision-making process, and how their program will decide which prospects will be invited onto their rosters, it’s confusing to recruits. And confusion causes delay, and delay opens the door for another coach that is defining the path in their process. And that’s a sign that leads them down the road you don’t want them to go down.
- Not being asked to commit. Of course, you as a coach have to want them in your program…I’m not suggesting you ask every recruit to commit, because of course, they could say yes. And if you aren’t wanting them on your roster, well, that’s a problem. But for the ones you do want to coach during their college careers, not asking them to commit is the ultimate sign that you aren’t sure they are right for you. In other words, your politeness and intention of not ‘pressuring’ them to make a decision is actually coming back to bite you. You’re giving them a sign that you’re not convinced you belong in their program…maybe that’s true, and maybe it’s not. But that’s what is getting communicated. Is that the sign you want to give them?
The interesting aspect to this whole idea is that the signs (most of them, anyway) are accidental. Coaches don’t intend to communicate what they often end up communicating, in fact as I indicated previously most of them are trying to be kind, deferential and patient with their prospects who they want – but don’t want to pressure. And in talking with coaches over the past two decades of researching the recruiting process, and the coaches who lead it, we’ve come to learn that recruits will misinterpret those actions for disinterest on your part. That’s the danger of not communicating clear signs.
The fix for all of this? Clear, consistent, early communication. It erases doubt, and provides them with the evidence they need in order to feel like they should keep moving forward with you. So if that’s your goal, provide the clear signs. Over and over and over again.
Your recruit will appreciate it.
Helping college programs communicate clearly and consistently is one of the primary jobs we do for more than 700 coaching staffs around the country. We do it through detailed research, and a customized communication play we design and manage for them. If you want to know more about how it all works, and how we deliver the right signals and signs to each recruit on your list, click here.