Athletic Recruiting Advice from Former Columbia University Rowing Coach - Part II
College Rowing Recruiting
Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. Poignant words from a guy who was in the midst of seceding from tyrannical British rule to start a new country. Based on my indepth research, he and his team were successful ( although the current political climate may say otherwise ). Regardless of your opinion of the state of our nation, you must agree that it is one that has afforded you an opportunity to attend and row at the college of your dreams.
Hopefully by now you’ve had the opportunity to begin the process of defining your ideal school. Setting your goal, or as we prefer, “definition of success” is the critical first step in our process. If you haven’t already, see Step 1: Starting at the Finish Line , before continuing with the current article.
Step 2: Making your Plan
Picture this, you are competing in the Head of the Charles Regatta next week. It is the world-famous time trial (or “head” race as we refer to it in rowing) held on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. The event twists and turns for 3 miles as crews battle for an inside track while not crashing into one of the many bridges along the course. Unlike lesser events, such as the Olympics, there is no second, let alone, third place medals. The winner gets the coveted Head of the Charles 1st Place Medal, everyone else - YOU GET NOTHING, GOOD DAY SIR! Needless to say, you don’t win the Head of the Charles without a good plan. The course is challenging, the turns need to be skillfully executed, and you need to be prepared for the unexpected because, as good as your plan is, the race never goes as planned. Believe it or not, getting recruited to college is much like planning for the Head of Charles. We start by getting an overview of the course…in other words, what is the timeline for our plan? I like to start at the end and work backwards.
Establish End Point and Milestones
To keep with our Charles analogy, you never want to hear your coxswain say, midrace, “ hey, where did that bridge come from!?!?! ”. Get a calendar and mark all known important dates. These must include due dates for applications and any other critical milestones that you cannot miss.
You should also include other information such as when might you make an unofficial visit (eg. spring break). When you plan to contact coaches for the first time. When SAT/ACTs are offered. Knowing when things are due allows you to be well prepared for them. This may seem simple and obvious but it is the key to success and a potential pitfall for the unprepared. Lack of preparation often drives us into crisis mode (and bridges!!!).
Identify Necessary Resources
“ I am a rock, I am an i-i-island… ”. While these iconic Simon and Garfunkel lyrics are part of a catchy tune, they are not good advice when trying to get yourself recruited. We must identify the resources you’ll need during your recruitment process. These could include things like,
A Journal - keep notes about schools, conversations, ideas, etc.
A Workspace - a place where you can keep your research, documents and thoughts organized, away from the probing fingers of little brothers and overly tidy moms (JK we love you mom…but where did you put my earbuds!!!!!)
Money - unofficial visits, SAT prep courses, recruiting advisors (shameless plug) cost real money. If you need to start socking away some allowance or paychecks from that after school job, you’ll need to get on that early.
People - who you have in your corner throughout the recruiting process can help with decision making, preparing for conversations with coaches, completing applications, etc. (mom, dad, friend in college, school counselor, coach, Burgess Merideth).
Prioritize
It is time to execute our race plan and we need to clearly lay out what we are going to do and in what order. Prioritizing your efforts and energy is necessary for success. It keeps us from spending too much or not enough time on things. Make a list of what needs to be done based on your Goals and Milestones and get to work. I’m not kidding, get to work!
Procrastination is a key pitfall in this section and it’s insidious because it isn't always the result of laziness or lack of motivation. Sometimes procrastination occurs because we feel overwhelmed, under prepared or simply afraid. Make no mistake, the recruitment process can be daunting but you must get started. The overwhelming feeling will subside and you will be on your way to success!
Evaluate the Plan
To quote one of the greatest philosophers of our time, just kidding , it’s Taylor Swift, “Just because you make a good plan, doesn’t mean that's what's gonna happen”. Plans change, new information arises, setbacks occur…these things happen. We must make time to evaluate and adapt throughout our recruiting process. Choose fixed dates in your timeline such as at milestones, to reflect and evaluate. Just make sure not to change things too often because that can get messy. If you’ve made a well informed and thorough plan, tweaks should be expected. You may even have to turn the ship in a different direction. Either way, preparation is your key to staying on course even when that bridge comes out of nowhere !
During your planning, if you find that one of your resources should include a recruiting advisor with decades of experience, give us a call. You don’t have to race the Charles alone…think of us as your well prepared, sometimes annoying, but mostly trusted coxswain.
Stay tuned for Step 3: Get Educated - The Skinny on Rules, Contacts and Visits