Why Your Athlete Still Isn’t Getting Recruited (and How to Fix It)
By Craig Foster
They’ve got the talent—now it’s time to get them seen.
If you’re a parent of a high school athlete, you know the drill. The early mornings. The late-night practices. The private coaching. The travel ball. The sacrifice—not just from your athlete, but from your whole family.
You’ve put in the work. So has your kid.
And yet, as the recruiting window starts to open—or maybe even starts to close—you find yourself asking:
Why aren’t more coaches reaching out? Why isn’t anything happening?
You’ve done what everyone said to do.
Made highlight videos
Sent emails
Posted stats and clips on social media
Paid for camps and showcases
But while your athlete keeps grinding, others are posting commitment graphics, offer announcements, and campus visit selfies. And it stings. Because deep down, you know your athlete is just as talented—maybe even more so.
So what’s the difference?
It’s not talent.
It’s not effort.
It’s exposure.
Talent Isn’t the Problem—Visibility Is
College coaches don’t recruit who they don’t know. No matter how gifted your athlete is, they can’t get an offer from a coach who’s never seen them play or never heard their name.
Recruiting isn’t a secret club—it’s a communication game.
And here’s what most families get wrong: they think doing some outreach is enough. A video here. A camp there. A few emails in the fall.
But that’s not how real recruiting traction builds.
The Truth About Recruiting That No One Talks About
Even great athletes miss out on opportunities every year, and here’s why:
✅ Coaches haven’t seen them play
✅ They’re not on the radar at the right time
✅ Their position isn’t a need that cycle
✅ They haven’t contacted enough schools to build real momentum
Recruiting is a volume game. It’s about making sure your athlete is known by as many college coaches as possible—not just a few favorite programs or a random list of top schools.
Stay Consistent. Stay Patient. Stay the Course.
Just like your athlete didn’t become great overnight, their recruiting journey isn’t going to explode overnight either. That’s where most families lose hope—they try for a while, don’t see immediate results, and stop.
But what if the next email you send is the one that gets opened?
What if the coach who needs your athlete just hasn’t seen the right clip yet?
What if everything changes next week—but you gave up this week?
Staying consistent—even when it feels like nothing’s happening—is the difference-maker. Coaches notice persistence. They recognize names they’ve seen more than once. And when the timing is right, they’ll reach out—if your athlete is still on their radar.
Comparison Will Steal Your Focus
It’s easy to get discouraged when you see other athletes announcing offers. But the truth is, you don’t know their story, their timeline, or what’s going on behind the scenes. Focus on your athlete. Their path is theirs alone.
Control what you can:
Keep sending emails
Keep updating film
Keep researching programs
Keep showing up
Because exposure isn't one moment—it’s a process.
Bottom line: If your athlete has the talent, it’s time to make sure coaches know it. Be consistent. Be strategic. Be relentless.
The results will come when the right coaches see the right player—at the right time.
And that starts with showing up, over and over again.